Boys basketball

No one man could stop Amari Westmoreland-Vendiola, but a pile of personal fouls certainly did. The high-scoring Kahuku senior sat for a key stretch of the second half with four fouls, allowing No. 8 Kailua to rally from an 11-point deficit for a stunning 50-45 win over No. 5 Kahuku on Thursday night. Westmoreland-Vendiola came into the game averaging 26 points per game. He finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Kailua earned the top seed in the […]

For much of this abbreviated season — most preseason games were wiped out by protocols — there were two. Aiva Arquette and Amari Westmoreland-Vendiola have been unstoppable scoring machines, equally adept from the perimeter and the paint. Maryknoll altered the force on Tuesday night, limiting Arquette to 11 points in a 50-45 win over No. 1 Saint Louis that may have changed the trajectory of the ILH boys basketball season. “We had a good game plan, to make sure Arquette […]

The fate of ILH boys basketball contenders not named Saint Louis rests with Punahou on Thursday night. Yes, when the Buffanblu visit Saint Louis, it will be more than No. 2 trekking to No. 1, more than the Sons of Oahu challenging the gentlemen of Kalaepohaku. Saint Louis is 8-2 in ILH Division I play with two games remaining: Punahou and winless Damien. Punahou, ‘Iolani and Maryknoll are 7-3. A Punahou win on Thursday reshuffles the deck, more or less, […]

Saint Louis received eight out of 10 first-place votes to remain at No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Boys Basketball Top 10 on Monday. The Crusaders are 8-1 in ILH play with three games remaining in the regular season, edging closer an automatic state-tournament berth. No. 2 Punahou, No. 3 ‘Iolani and No. 4 Maryknoll are tied at 6-3 behind Saint Louis in the standings. Unbeaten Kahuku (9-0) moved up a notch to No. 5, its highest ranking of the season. […]

The two teams couldn’t be much more contrasting, which is why the Kaimuki Bulldogs and Kalani Falcons were mesmerizing to watch in Kaimuki’s 48-46 win on Friday night. In one corner, the Falcons, the Floyd Mayweather of prep hoops in Hawaii. A deliberate, jab-and-dodge team that has been a mainstay in the OIA Division II playoffs and state tournament. In the other corner, the Bulldogs, a wildly hot-and-cold squad that can accumulate buckets or head-scratching mistakes in bunches. The potency […]

It’s no different for most boys basketball coaches and players in Hawaii. In Tuesday’s edition of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, girls basketball coaches chimed in with their thoughts about the shot clock, which has been approved nationally by the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) for use in the 2022-23 season. Eight states have already implemented the shot clock over the years, including the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation). A few years back, only three states were using it. The number will […]

Sometimes, close isn’t enough, but close contact — and ensuing protocols — are enough to affect a basketball team. Saint Louis collected nine out of 10 first-place votes to remain atop the Star-Advertiser Boys Basketball Top 10 on Monday. The Crusaders are 7-1 in the ILH gauntlet, where the teams that have stayed healthiest during the regular season are reaping the most rewards. Punahou received one first-place vote. Maryknoll, Punahou, ‘Iolani and Kamehameha round out the top five, all ILH […]

If the boys basketball schedule seems crammed and rushed in the coming weeks, there’s one simple reason. The state tournament, originally set for Feb. 28-Mar. 5, has been moved up a week earlier. The Heide & Cook/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships are now scheduled for Feb. 21-26. The sites remain intact: Moanalua and McKinley in Division I, Kalani and Kaimuki in D-II, and Blaisdell Arena on championship finals night. The HHSAA made the announcement to leagues earlier this week, citing […]