Boys basketball

Two Maryknoll alums in a basketball chess match. Only one, Garrett Gabriel or Kelly Grant, could leave victorious. OIA champion Mililani opened an 11-point lead by halftime en route to a 49-43 win over two-time defending state champion Maryknoll on Thursday. The second-seeded Trojans advanced to the semifinals of the Heide & Cook/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships. They meet ‘Iolani on Friday night at Moanalua’s gym. The Raiders routed third-seeded Hilo, 57-21, on Thursday. Mililani has reached the semifinal round […]

Back in the day, Baldwin won MIL boys basketball championships regularly. Just like Jon Garcia’s high-post screen offense with its cutters and precision and repetition, the Bears were always there at state tournament time. It was more of the same with Garcia’s predecessor, Wayne Gushiken, but over time, he also retired. Now, the Bears are in juggernaut mode with a faster pace, a different offense and a fullcourt identity. Coach Cody Tesoro, who was a standout guard during the Garcia/Gushiken […]

If you ask, Zach Bailey will tell you why basketball life on the Valley Island is good. Very good. After all, building a Division II powerhouse on an island that had limited access to facilities and offseason leagues for such a long time is not easy. For Bailey, a Physical Education and Health teacher at Maui Preparatory Academy, nothing is quite like the moment. His boys basketball squad is two steps away from a state championship after racing past KIF […]

Jeremiah White knows solitude well. When his family moved back home from Texas a few years ago, there was peace. Reconnection with aunties and uncles and cousins. Then, in a blink of an eye, everything changed. White’s father, Josh “Zeus” White, passed away in 2020. He was 43. The legendary Farrington and Cal running back was simply dad to Jeremiah, who later enrolled at Kaimuki High School. “I knew this kid was special,” Kaimuki boys basketball coach Greydon Espinda said. […]

Kellen Kaneshiro doesn’t call it “32 minutes of hell,” but for opponents facing Hawaii Baptist’s tenacious fullcourt press, it often turns out that way. Back in the day, Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson called his team’s utter devotion to fullcourt pressing, “40 Minutes of Hell.” John Thompson had his furious defenders at Georgetown pressing from start to finish, too. All he wanted was to wear his opponent down in those last four minutes. Often enough, in an even battle, his foes […]

This group of eight sure is elite. Kohala is back to defend its 2020 Division II boys basketball state title, but the field from top to bottom is without a weak link. Kaimuki is the No. 2 seed in a bit of a surprise, but the Bulldogs have quality wins over Division I programs like Radford, Moanalua and Kaiser. Hawaii Baptist, seeded third, may be the most disciplined squad in the bracket, while Kapaa (fourth seed) and Maui Prep (fifth) […]

Coaches share their thoughts on this week’s boys basketball state tournament. The Heide & Cook/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships began on Monday with opening-round play-in games. The quarterfinal round in Divisions I and II are on Thursday. The questions presented to coaches: >> What is your analysis of ‘Iolani in terms of strengths, pace, coaching and style? >> How does your team contrast and compare in this matchup? What will be key for your success? >> How is your team’s […]