Girls basketball

The week has gone quite nicely so far for Kiana Vierra. On Wednesday, the 5-foot-10 wing signed a letter of intent to play basketball at UC Santa Barbara. On Thursday, she sank five treys in nine attempts and finished with 15 points as Kamehameha defeated McKinley 56-28 at the McKinley Black and Gold Classic. A year from now, she’ll be suiting up for the Gauchos, who are in the Big West Conference. That means home-and-home matchups with Hawaii. “Their coaches […]

Todd Rickard has seen more than his share of great team basketball. The longtime Lahainaluna girls basketball coach has high expectations every winter for the Maui Interscholastic League’s dynastic program. For now, though, that elite standard is just a bit out of reach, and Rickard is none too pleased. After a 49-45 loss to ‘Iolani on Thursday at the McKinley Black and Gold Classic, he was as cranky as an rusty engine. “I’m disgusted. We didn’t have one plus tonight. […]

This week, eight is enough for Konawaena. The three-time defending state champions of girls basketball suited up in McKinley Student Council Gymnasium in their black uniforms, green lettering with white accents. Eight players strong. In a 59-28 win over Sacred Hearts, the Wildcats played lock-down man-to-man defense, their forte through more than a decade of excellence under Coach Bobbie Awa. Mikayla Tablit and Cherilyn Molina pestered the Lancers everywhere, but most effectively at midcourt. The senior guards scored 15 points […]

The latest incarnation of ‘Iolani girls basketball is deep and fresh. Fresh as in freshman Lily Lefotu Wahinekapu, who poured in 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Lady Raiders wore down Lahainaluna for a 49-45 victory on Thursday night at the McKinley Black and Gold Classic. The 5-foot-7 wing was an energizer on both ends of the floor, and Coach Dean Young went 10 deep. Kellie Okamura scored 10 points and added five rebounds, two steals and two […]

When Shawna Kuehu began to torch the Interscholastic League of Honolulu — and the rest of the state — as a dominant player, she was just a freshman. Of course, in the 12 years that have passed, Punahou basketball has endured ups and downs. The world has changed in some ways. Kuehu was named Honolulu Star-Bulletin All-State player of the year during that freshman season of 2005, back when the girls season was still in the spring and Buffanblu hoops […]

Former University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine and Punahou standout Shawna Kuehu is the new girls varsity basketball coach at Punahou. Co-Athletic Director Kale Ane confirmed the news this afternoon. “We have a former player who has had outstanding success in the high school and college Division I level. She’s excited about giving back,” Ane said. “She’s thrilled to build the program up to something everybody can be proud of.” Kuehu was the most dominant player of her generation as a […]

If Konawaena is part of a statewide game of thrones, House Awa has both a formidable castle and a moat filled with ferocious, hungry creatures. Few, if any, ever want to leave the dynastic program, which has won seven of the last 13 girls basketball Division I state crowns. Konawaena, with its modest enrollment (roughly 800 students), has plenty of talent returning from last year’s back-to-back championship squad with All-State guards Cherilyn Molina and Mikayla Tablit, along with promising young […]