Girls basketball

The arrival of Lily Wahinekapu is no surprise. The ‘Iolani junior landed at No. 1 — player of the year — in the Star-Advertiser Girls Basketball All-State Fab 15 published Sunday morning. Here’s a look at the 2020 class, which includes six sophomores and freshmen and just four seniors, the lowest count of 12th graders in a decade. There were six freshmen and sophomores who made the team for the second year in a row. Only one girl from the […]

Ledjan Pahukoa could have chilled out on the bucolic slopes of Haleakala over the three-day weekend. Instead, she and her parents journeyed to Oahu on President’s Day to enjoy a full day of hoops at the 27th annual Mufi Hanneman Basketball Jamboree. The King Kekaulike freshman was active on both ends, launching long-range 3s, and standing her ground on defense. On a play during the tournament’s championship game, Pahukoa of Team Light Gray blocked a shot by ‘Iolani’s leading scorer, […]

It will be a truly rugged 2020-21 girls basketball season statewide. Just about every title contender this season, including two-time champ ‘Iolani, returns most of its starters and key reserves. >> ‘Iolani has Division I all-tournament MVP Lily Wahinekapu, Alexis Huntimer, Jovi Lefotu, Alexsandra Huntimer and Kyra Tanabe back next season for the three-peat dream. >> Between Julianna Losalio-Watson, Braelyn Kauhi and Jayla Medeiros, next year’s Konawaena Wildcats should have enough rebounding and interior defense to keep the tradition strong. […]

Start to finish, the ‘Iolani Raiders left little doubt. Coming into the Snapple/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships, defending champion ‘Iolani was the season-long leader atop the Star-Advertiser Top 10. But in recent weeks, the vote was not unanimous. In fact, two of the 10 voters who submitted ballots last week sided with BIIF champion Konawaena. The only teams to beat ‘Iolani were Mater Dei, back in December, and Maryknoll, in January. It stayed that way through the weekend. The Raiders […]

The bar is sky high to the heavens. Twenty-three wins. Four losses. Two Wildcats on the Snapple/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships All-Tournament team. Nine Division I state titles since 2004. Thirteen appearances in the state final. When the 2020 state championship game concluded and ‘Iolani claimed the big trophy, Bobbie Awa gave her team some space. The players, their families and friends congregated near one of the locker rooms, draped in lei and smothered with hugs. The mood, though, was […]

An hour after watching his girls basketball team win the first state championship in the 20-year history of Hanalani as an HHSAA-member school, Royals coach Charles Hiers had to make a pit stop after leaving Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium. “I’m buying some steaks to take back and cook up for the team,” Hiers said when reached by phone. “Can I call you back?” The interview could wait. A well-deserved meal of the best red meat Hiers could find late on […]

The ‘Iolani Raiders are generally positionless, but their status is on a throne. ‘Iolani withstood everything the Konawaena dynasty brought to battle. Even after losing a 14-point lead, trailing 33-28 in the third quarter, the Raiders never wilted. They just grew stronger. The skill is across the roster. The savvy is, as well. The power, though, generates from sisters Lily Wahinekapu and Jovi Lefotu, who combined for 42 points, 10 rebounds and five steals as ‘Iolani made it back-to-back state […]