Female players jam at basketball Jamboree
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kahuku point guard Karla Tailele was handling the ball and Red Raiders center Latoya Wily was scoring points — for opposing teams.
Kaiser coach Lisa Mann instructed from the bench while Cougars forward Sharde Pratt battled for baskets — against her coach's team.
O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division rivals Chaunte Jackson of Campbell and Pikake Nutter-Gaudet of Leilehua combined to lead their team to victory.
It was all part of yesterday's 11th annual Mufi Hannemann Basketball Jamboree, billed as the state's only postseason showcase of women's and girls' basketball.
"This tournament can be serious, but it's a fun time for us to come as basketball players and do what we enjoy," Wily said.
In the featured game, the Gray team defeated the Red team, 38-35, at the Moanalua High School gym.
The Jamboree included star players from both O'ahu leagues, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation and the Maui Interscholastic League, several University of Hawai'i alumnae, and college players still competing or just finishing their careers.
"I like coming here and meeting new players and friends," said Wily, who scored a game-high 15 points for the Red team. "I never would have pictured myself playing for Kaiser's coach."
The championship game featured two league players of the year in soccer — Baldwin's Kami Kapaku and Monica Chock of St. Francis — and included St. Andrew's Holly Saito and Roosevelt's Shannon Miyashiro, who played against each other in the state's Division II tournament title game, which Roosevelt won.
"You always kind of hope it grows into this," Hannemann said of the Jamboree, which also included 12-under and 14-under divisions.
Hannemann pays for the Neighbor Island players to travel to O'ahu and requires no entry fee for any of the players.
"All we ask the girls to do is show up," he said.
Campbell's Jackson, who scored eight points, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
"I like how they mixed it up; we played against the top people," said Jackson, who will play for Missouri Valley State. "Everybody plays different, you can see their styles."
Jackson said she enjoyed playing with Nutter-Gaudet, whom she considers a good friend and someone she always wanted to play with.
McKinley's Bre Carson was selected as the tournament's Most Inspirational Player, and was reunited with Wily, her teammate when they played for Kalaheo in 2002.
"That was fun, we haven't talked for a long time, we got to catch up," Carson said. "(The tournament) is fun, because on the court (as opponents) you don't get to meet them, you don't know how their personality is."
Other teammates who played against each other in yesterday's championship game were Punahou's Shanna-Lei Dacanay and Christine Takara.
"I didn't get to guard her," said Dacanay, who was once a part of the Jamboree 12-under and 14-under teams. "But it was different to see her on the other team."
The Jamboree, which helps benefit the Gender Equity Sports Club, included coaches Mann, Kahuku's Wendy Anae, and former 'Aiea coach Fran Villarmia-Kahawai.
"There's a bonding, a camaraderie," Hannemann said. "Competition is one thing, but to me what is most important is the bonding."
RED 18 17—35
GRAY 20 18—38
Red—Lynette Liu 0, Mayumi Stevens 0, Jerrell Taituave 4, Bre Carson 7, Christine Takara 2, Kami Kapaku 4, Tereva Moore 3, Latoya Wily 15, Holly Saito 0. Totals 13 8-10 35.
Gray—Hedy Liu 2, Shannon Miyashiro 2, Karla Tailele 8, Monica Chock 4, Sharde Pratt 6, Pikake Nutter-Gaudet 8, Nicole Lerner 0, Chaunte Jackson 8, Jamie Rosario 0, Shanna-Lei Dacanay 0. Totals 17 4-8 38.
3-point goals—Red 1 (Carson). Gray none.
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457.
