Girls basketball

Other than “play ball,” there are no sweeter words in sports than “Game seven.” On this date in 1993, Kamehameha and Iolani hooked up for the seventh time, but this one was for the state girls basketball championship. The Warriors were without Nani Cockett for the telling contest, losing their all-star two weeks earlier because of injury. Her mates picked her up, though, beating the talented Raiders in overtime.

The first HHSAA girls basketball tournament turned out to be much like every ILH championship before it. On this day in 1977, Maryknoll beat Punahou 48-39 to finish unbeaten in the first state tournament in girls basketball. Kamehameha took third place to make it an ILH sweep. Maryknoll’s Sue Scott was the MVP of the first tournament, scoring 73 points in three games and playing solid defense on Punahou’s Manu Meyer.

The first prep event in UH’s Special Events Arena was quite special. On this day in 1996, Radford beat Punahou 75-74 in overtime in the quarterfinals of the state girls basketball tournament. The contest came down to the buzzer, with Radford’s Nikki Appleberry blocking Hilary Arakaki’s shot at the buzzer. Appleberry, who went on to play college ball in Maryland, hit four of her final six shots after starting 0-for-15 and pulled down 12 rebounds. She finished with 15 points. […]

On this day in 1998, Punahou won the ILH girls basketball championship and Kalaheo clinched the OIA East. Onaona Miller led the Buffanblu with 22 points and Brandy Richardson tallied 12 to take care of Farrington 72-37. Both stars made it to the state tournament and had to know that a showdown was in their futures. It happened in the state final, where the Buffanblu beat the Mustangs 64-51 to break Kalaheo’s 27-game winning streak. Miller, who transferred from Hilo, […]

It took more than a sister act for Aiea to win its first OIA West championship in girls basketball. On this day in 1987, Fran Villarmia and Nadine Villarmia combined to score 18 points and Jann Merseberg added 16 as Aiea beat Waipahu 48-41 to win its first division title. Na Alii are still looking for their first OIA championship after Farrington took it in in Fran Villamia’s senior year thanks to a 25-23 win. Aiea ended up the top […]

On this day in 2005, Iolani stayed unbeaten with a 43-31 win over Maryknoll after a strong start. Alana Wall led the Raiders with 10 points and three different Iolani players hit from long range. Iolani ended up making the state tournament while Maryknoll did not, finishing fifth. ILH champion Punahou won states.

On this date in 1920, Maui had no definitive champion in girls basketball. Maui High and Alexander House of Wailuku were unable to reach terms on a championship after both schools finished the regular season at 3-1 in the three-team league. The contention was on where the championship would be played. Maui wanted it held on an outdoor court and Wailuku preferred to stay indoors to suit its faster style of play. Alexander House handed Maui its lone loss indoors […]

On this date in 2001, the Punahou girls basketball team beat Kamehameha 51-48 in a battle of unbeatens. Becky Hogue led the scoring for the Buffanblu with 13 points, handing the Warriors their first ILH loss in more than a year. Elyse Umeda added 11 points and Caroline Ane contributed nine. Players and coaches on both teams had Kamehameha assistant coach Dennis Agena on their minds. Agena was in his 35th year (and still going) as a basketball coach in […]