For the eighth time in 10 seasons, the top girls basketball player from the state hails from Kona.
Of course, those eight player of the year awards belong to only three people and for the fifth year in a row, the winner has the same last name.
Konawaena’s Cherilyn Molina adds her second All-State player of the year award following older sister Chanelle Molina, who just completed her sophomore season at Washington State. Chanelle won three, Cherilyn has two and Lia Galdeira won three, missing out only during her sophomore season after winning it as a freshman.
Four different ILH schools are represented on the Fab. 15 list. Maryknoll led all schools with four selections — center Isabella Cravens, forward Kamalu Kamakawiwo’ole and guards Rhianne Omori and Kodee Viena. Kamehameha had center Kalina Obrey and forward Kiana Vierra make the team while Sacred Hearts was represented by forward Dallas Martinez and Hawaii Baptist’s Ally Wada also made the list.
Joining Molina on the Fab. 15 list from Konawaena are guard Mikayla Tablit and post Caiyle Kaupu. Lahainaluna had guard Braeanna Estabillo-Donato and forward Susitina Namoa make the team.
The OIA was represented by Kahuku’s Sisilia Kaufusi and Kaimuki’s Kaelyn Espinda.
Kona’s Bobbie Awa won her fourth straight coach of the year award.
A full-page spread and story is in Sunday’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser. You can read it here.
Below is a slideshow of the top 15 in order, followed by every girls basketball player named All-State.
Agree with the Molina pick. But about 5-6 of these picks have me scratching my head. It’s almost like the people who voted for these kids either paid too much attention to the boys or barely watched the girls.
Need some clarity on the OIA’s picks
The scoringlive picks are way more legit. Some of these picks have me scratching my head. Kids from losing teams. Others who missed a lot of games due to injury. Striking out on some neighbor island kids.
I don’t agree with the Molina pick. Sure Kona won the championship, but who do they play during the regular season. NOBODY. She is a damn good pick if it was for Player of the Tournament (even though she benefited from a lot of phantom calls, if you don’t believe, re-watch Mr. Honda’s video footage). For the girls, the ILH is the toughest division, and that’s where the POY should have came from.
I agree with ILH being the toughest division, but their was a reason Kona won the Championship and its because no ILH team could beat them twice. Once during preseason, but that’s about it. As for phantom calls that would be an excuse for losing. POY is chosen by the media and coaches so Molina is definitely the best pick throughout the State of Hawaii because with her leadership and stepping up in big games is what it takes to win a Championship both in BIIF and HHSAA, even Chico from Maryknoll himself said so. Congratulations to All the FAB15
ONE TEAM,
If you watched the tournament, you probably would’ve been able to say that Waiakea is no pushover, and neither is Hilo, who got left out of the tournament. I agree Maryknoll is a great team with tons of talent and pride, but the rest of the ILH wasn’t looking that hot this season. Take for instance in D2 Saint Francis for all that hype and the Rank 5 in the pre-tournament Star-Advertiser OVERALL poll lost rather convincingly to KS-Hawaii, who could never beat the 3rd D1 BIIF team Hilo throughout the season. Don’t get me wrong ILH is a great league, but I feel this year wasn’t its year, and Molina and Coach Awa showed what it takes to perfor when it really matters.
@hoops4life I think that is a pretty reasonable theory. There is some merit. This is who I am thinking should have been on this list like scoringlive has.
Iolani – Maeda
Hilo – Kawaha
Waiakea – Imai
Campbell – Balino
I would have left 3 girls off this list.
Take for instance in D2 Saint Francis for all that hype and the Rank 5 in the pre-tournament Star-Advertiser OVERALL poll lost rather convincingly to KS-Hawaii, who could never beat the 3rd D1 BIIF team Hilo throughout the season….
@ Viking Pride, I think you are taking this a little out of context. St. Francis’ starting center Mata Sagapolutle who made second team All-ILH and is a rebounder and rim protector hurt her MCL in the semis. I think she tried to play and only played 4-6 mins being really ineffective.
Also, Lani Neves, arguably their top player who played the entire preseason, then stopped playing when the ILH season started, left the school.
The St. Francis team that was rolling during the preseason was a drastically different team than you saw in the state final. Give that team Neves and a healthy Sagapolutele and I am confident they beat KS-Hawaii by 15-20.
Feel free to post your personal Fab 15, everyone. There’s no perfect list. We do everything by vote, so the chips fall where they fall.
I know there’s sometimes a bias toward championship or winning team records. But I also know this is a vote based on individual accomplishments to some extent. Ernie Banks won the NL MVP once. Chicago was a last-place team. Go figure.