Moanalua senior came up big in clutch

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Moanalua's Patti Hardimon, who will play volleyball at Chaminade, was seventh among OIA East scorers with an 11.9 ppg average. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Hardimon's average of 11.9 points per game ranked her only seventh among East scorers, but she was the Menehunes' undisputed leader in a 10-0 championship regular season.

In two crucial division games against eventual state tournament teams, Hardimon scored a team-high 18 points against McKinley and 16 points despite a sprained ankle in a 49-44 victory over previously unbeaten Kahuku.

Hardimon, a 5-foot-8 guard who has signed to play volleyball at Chaminade, is one of four repeat first-team selections.

She is joined on this year's first team by McKinley center Amber Lee, Farrington post Sunshine Misa-Uli, Kaimuki wing Dalia Solia and Kahuku center Latoya Wily.

Lee, a 6-1 senior, led the East in scoring with 15 points per game. One of her clutch performances came against Farrington, when she scored 16 points, including two free throws with 16 seconds remaining, to help the Tigers win, 37-34.

She has signed to play for Hawai'i.

Misa-Uli, a 5-10 junior and the lone newcomer to the East first team, was third in the division with 14.2 ppg.

Solia, a 5-8 senior, was second in East scoring with 14.8 ppg. She also has signed with UH.

Wily, a 6-foot junior, made the all-star first team last season for Kalaheo. She transferred back to Kahuku this year and averaged 13.4 ppg, helping the Red Raiders to a 9-1 regular-season record.

Moanalua's Roy Dias was named Coach of the Year for leading the Menehunes through the treacherous East schedule unscathed.

Correction: Kalaheo's Taylor Smith is a sophomore. She was listed at another grade level in a previous version of this story.