Girls basketball

Latoya Wily doesn’t know much about ‘Iolani’s Lily Wahinekapu and Jovi Lefotu. She does remember being a kid and seeing their auntie, Sharon Wahinekapu, run the point for OIA powerhouse — at the time — Kalaheo. “My parents would always take my sister Artevia and I to watch players like Sharon and Brandy (Richardson) of Kalaheo,” Wily recalled. “Just like her, Lily and Jovi are fun to watch.” The sisters are as unassuming and humble as state champions could be. […]

For 16 minutes, the Punahou Buffanblu virtually matched everything No. 1 ‘Iolani threw at them. The Raiders found their answers in the second half, turning a two-point halftime lead into a 41-32 win over No. 6 Punahou in the ILH regular-season opener for both teams. Jovi Lefotu scored seven of her game-high 18 points during a 12-5 run to begin the second half. “Punahou was knocking down a lot of their shots,” said Lefotu, a 5-foot-9 sophomore who can play […]

There’s much work to do in the eyes of Coach Charles Chong, but the Lady Rams of Radford showed plenty of reasons why the OIA West is theirs for the taking. Kailani Tenorio scored nine points as Radford used an unselfish passing game and tenacious defense to stifle Kapolei 45-25 in the regular-season opener for both teams on Wednesday night at James Alegre Gymnasium. Angel Asaah scored six points and hustled for eight rebounds, and Angela Howell and Ashlynn McGarrah […]

Fluid and fast. The girls basketball preseason is flying by. Finding nice, new gems is a hobby itself for hoop fans. Example: KVIKS TV. Apparently, Hilo High School is way ahead of the pack when it comes to media in the BIIF. Games are streamed live, as well as other announcements and events at the historic institution. I still haven’t been in their “new” gym. Back in the day, when I came over from the west side, Hilo’s boys games […]

Defending state champion ‘Iolani is riding high already in the new girls basketball season. The Raiders are 4-0, including a lopsided win over Konawaena, and collected all 10 first-place votes in the Star-Advertiser Top 10 on Monday. Konawaena (3-1), which defeated Kamehameha and Maryknoll two weeks ago, is No. 2. Punahou finished last season out of the Top 10, but is already 9-1 in nonconference play and landed at No. 6 between Waiakea and Hilo. Kalani, which finished No. 4 […]

Keone Labuanan says there was absolutely no way that revenge played a motivational factor when his Seabury Hall Spartans met Hawaii Baptist on Thursday night. Nine months after HBA edged Seabury Hall in the Division II state final, 43-39, Labuanan’s team learned plenty. Senior Anau Tu‘ivai powered the Spartans with 21 points in a 33-29 win over the Eagles on Thursday in the opening round of The Invitational at Sacred Hearts Academy. “I wouldn’t say revenge because it’s just the […]

The transition is a work in progress on and off the court for the Mililani Trojans. On a day when former point guard Dahlis Sablay signed a letter of intent to play at Southern Oregon, the Lady Trojans met up with ILH powerhouse Punahou at the Sacred Hearts Academy Invitational. It was a lesson as much as a loss as Punahou overwhelmed Mililani 47-21. Kianna Ponce led the Lady Trojans with eight points. Long and athletic, Ponce sees the floor […]