Boys basketball

Quarterfinal and semifinal rounds always have that certain intrigue. Does Kalaheo continue its late-season run? Can Kahuku, the OIA’s fifth-place team, knock out OIA champion Leilehua? Does BIIF champion Kamehameha-Hawaii have the firepower to beat Punahou? Division II is equally unpredictable. With Trey Ambrozich out of the state tournament due to a back injury, can ILH champion University fulfill its potential? Kohala is the defending state champion, but will we see early-season Kohala or Kohala v2.0? Thursday, Feb. 22 HHSAA […]

And then there were eight. The Division bracket of the Heide & Cook/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships took intrigue up a notch on Monday. Kalaheo is living by the simple truth that iron sharpens iron, ousting Mililani on Monday. The Mustangs’ 51-48 win on the Trojans’ homecourt was another case of an OIA 6 knocking out an OIA 2. It happened last year when Mililani lost to Moanalua. Here’s the recent history of OIA 2 vs. OIA 6 in the […]

Here’s a look at Monday’s opening-round matchups in the Heide & Cook/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships bonus notes and a few thoughts on all things roundball. Monday, Feb. 19 HHSAA Opening round (OIA 3) Nanakuli (18-11) at (BIIF 2) Hilo (13-4), 4 p.m. This could be a rollicking good time for fans as the Golden Hawks bring their explosive, tenacious style of hoops to Waianuenue Ave. Zion Donnell, Blaze Kaululaau, Dragon Kekahuna fuel the Nanakuli attack, while post man Vainuupo […]

A year older, a year wiser. No. 2-ranked Saint Louis made quick work of a dangerous Kaimuki squad, using a 20-0 first-half run for a 57-32 win on Saturday night at Clarence T.C. Ching Gymnasium. It is the Crusaders’ eighth win in a row since losing to University on Nov. 30 at the Surfrider Holiday Classic. Junior Pupu Sepulona led the way with 16 points while classmate Shancin Revuelto splashed three treys and finished with 11 points. Sepulona and senior […]

Basketball bonanza buffet is the only way I can say it. So much goodness. So little time. The fun part is posting video shot from behind backboards. After all the years, decades really, of filming prep basketball and even our men’s league in the 1990s, I never did it more than once or twice. Now I’m hooked. Instead of sitting up high on the bleachers with the long view from the Handycam, I’m having a blast posting highlights within minutes […]

As for the preponderance of zone defenses in summer leagues and preseason, Maryknoll and Kailua played man to man from the start. Kailua’s come-from-behind win was a classic defensive struggle for 29 minutes, and then pure drama in the final 3 minutes as the Surfriders prevailed over the top-ranked Spartans, 42-40. Here’s a review of the four boys tournaments in play on Thursday night. Moanalua Invitational Thursday’s scores Seaside (Ore.) 51, @ Moanalua 36 >> Sea: Austin Palmer 13. Moa: […]

The run-and-gun unit at Kailua has gone defensive. With Noa Donnelly, Dylan Kunz and Maddox Pung — and help from Sebastian Ledda — battling in the trenches — Kailua used a suffocating 2-3 matchup zone to repel upstart University Lab, 45-37, in the championship game of the Surfrider Holiday Classic on Saturday night at Kailua. It was the first loss of the nonconference slate after five wins for unranked University. They had beaten Campbell twice, on Monday and Friday, and […]

Roman Gabriel scored 17 points as No. 3 Mililani fended off Moanalua, 59-48, in Friday’s action at the 24th Annual James Alegre Invitational. Mililani is now 2-0 in the tournament. The Trojans square off with Punahou on Saturday afternoon. ‘Iolani also remained undefeated in the tournament with a 35-32 win over Western Christian (Ore.). The Raiders battle Lahainaluna on Saturday afternoon. Friday’s scores Honokaa 56, Roosevelt 53 >> Hon: Mauloa Tagabi 19 (3 treys), David Aiona 14, Jastyn Babino 10. […]