2004 ALL-STATE GIRLS BASKETBALL
Hoist voted Player of Year
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| BOBBIE AWA Konawaena — Coach of the Year Advertiser library photos |
In what is believed to be an unprecedented result, none of the five first-team players are from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. The ILH had been Hawai'i's dominant league for the previous 26 years, coming away with 22 state titles, including 16 of the past 18.
But in a vote of 12 panelists made up of coaches, officials and sportswriters from around state, this year's top five players include two from the Neighbor Islands and three from the O'ahu Interscholastic Association.
Konawaena forward Nancy Hoist was named Player of the Year — the first from a Neighbor Island since Waiakea guard Jenny Kaeo in 1989.
Other members of the first team are Kahuku guard Karla Tailele, Baldwin guard Kami Kapaku, Farrington forward Sunshine Misa-Uli and Kahuku center Latoya Wily.
Hoist, a 5-foot-10 senior, may be one of the most unassuming Players of the Year. She was not the type to grab headlines or dazzle fans with spectacular plays and dominant performances.
Rather, she was the type of player casual fans might not notice much until they look at the final stat sheet to find numbers like this: 19 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal, 13 of 15 free throws.
That was her line in the Wildcats' 51-41 state championship victory over Kahuku, which gave Konawaena its first state title in any team sport.
"We looked at Nancy as our main scorer and rebounder, but she was kind of a silent scorer because the ball wasn't always in her hands," said Wildcats coach Bobbie Awa. "She might get it off an inbounds play under the basket, or off a rebound, but everything was in the flow of the offense."
Hoist also contributed in ways that would not show up in the box score, such as helping bring the ball up against full-court pressure.
"She inbounded the ball on our press-break, but she would get it back if we saw the other team trapping our guards," Awa said. "The other teams usually would put their biggest girl on Nancy, so it was a good situation for us if she could bring the ball up. She was always poised and under control; she never panicked."
That especially was true at the free-throw line, where Hoist might have been the state's best shooter the past two years.
She set a state tournament record in 2003 by sinking all 20 of her attempts, and this past tournament she made 22 of 28 (78.6 percent). Combined, she was 42 of 48 (87.5 percent) in six games.
"Nancy hitting those free throws was so critical," Kahuku coach Wendy Anae said after the championship game. "She held her poise and deserves credit."
Hoist said she shot 70 free throws a day in practice, and in the offseason shoots about 100 a day. Awa said the entire team can shoot up to 100 free throws in every workout session.
"We end every practice with 50 free throws (each), and they'll shoot more earlier, after water breaks," Awa said.
Hoist made the Advertiser All-State first team as a sophomore and was named to the second team after last season.
Wily, a repeat first-team selection, was the state's most dominant player. The 6-foot senior drew comparisons to Shaquille O'Neal because whenever she received the ball in the low post, it usually resulted in a basket, a free-throw attempt or both.
"We tried to front her, but she's just such a great player and such a good force in the post," Awa said after the state title game, in which Wily scored 21.
Wily averaged 19.3 points per game in the regular and postseason, and she was equally dominant as a rebounder. In the Red Raiders' state semifinal victory over Punahou, she scored 20 points and grabbed 20 rebounds.
Misa-Uli, another repeat first-team selection, made it this time despite her team failing to reach the postseason. The 5-10 senior started a bit slowly after winning her second straight state wrestling championship in March, but eventually caught fire and had some of Hawai'i's most spectacular performances.
Misa-Uli ended up scoring at least 12 points in each of the final nine games and finished with a 16.6 points-per-game average.
In two of her best games, she scored 18 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and had eight blocks in a victory over Kailua and poured in 39 points, grabbed 15 rebounds and dished out eight assists in a win over Kaimuki.
Kapaku, a two-time Advertiser All-State first team soccer player, also has been one of Maui's best basketball players the past three seasons. This year the 5-6 senior elevated her game into Hawai'i's hoops stratosphere when she scored 18 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished out three assists and made three steals to lead the Bears to a resounding 48-26 win over Iolani in the state quarterfinals.
That victory was Baldwin's second in 12 quarterfinal tries.
Iolani coach Glenn Takara called Kapaku "the best we've faced" all season.
Tailele's value ironically did not become fully realized until she sprained her right ankle in the state semifinals and sat out the first half of the championship game. That's when Kahuku fell behind by 22 points.
But in the year's most dramatic comeback, the 5-5 senior point guard returned to the lineup in the second half and sparked a rally that drew Kahuku to within three points before Konawaena held on for the title.
Awa was named Coach of the Year for guiding the Wildcats to a 17-0 record after falling in the previous two state quarterfinals.
• • •
STATE ALL-STARS
Each sport selected by coaches of respective leagues
ILH Judo
Boys Varsity
First Team
- 105 pounds—Jordan Lai, Saint Louis
- 114—Scott Fuji, Punahou
- 123—Jared Higashi, Pac-Five
- 132—Pat Nakamura, Punahou
- 141—Kelsey Kokubun, Iolani
- 150—Duane Fukumoto, Iolani
- 165—Brian Ishida, Pac-Five
- 180—Jarrett Ku, Iolani
- 200—Jordan Fontanilla, Kamehameha
- 275—Les Shiroma, Saint Louis
Player of the Year: Jordan Fontanilla, Kamehameha
Coach of the Year: Greg Chow, Punahou
Second Team
- 105—Kirk Yamada, Pac-Five
- 114—Michael Igawa, Iolani
- 123—Myles Mitsunaga, Punahou
- 132—Alapai Bungo, Kamehameha
- 141—Shem Kim, Iolani
- 150—Adam Dengler, Punahou
- 165—Matt Kimbao, Pac-Five
- 180—Forrest Richmond, Saint Louis
- 200—Emmanuel Zibakalam, Iolani
- 275—Jordan Rogers, Saint Louis
Girls
First Team
- 98—Tabitha Lum, Pac-Five
- 103—Catherine Chan, Iolani
- 109—Deena Martinez, Pac-Five
- 115—Raena Campos, Kamehameha
- 121—Aimee Wakai, Punahou
- 128—Kara Takasaki, Punahou
- 136—Lauren Primiano, Punahou
- 145—Darci Hata, Pac-Five
- 160—Chaneal Meletia, Pac-Five
- 200—Randolyn Nohara, Kamehameha
Player of the Year: Tabitha Lum, Pac-Five
Coach of the Year: Jerome Fukuda, Pac-Five
Second Team
- 98—Carla Watase, Iolani
- 103—Alicia Huang, Pac-Five
- 109—Chelsie Arashiro, Punahou
- 115—Serine Tsuda, Punahou
- 121—Kat Jensen, Pac-Five
- 128—Nikki Morin, Pac-Five
- 136—Kelli Furutomo, Pac-Five
- 145—Danielle Espiritu, Kamehameha
- 160—Tilani Kawaa, Kamehameha
- 200—Akemi Holmes, Iolani
OIA JUDO
Boys
First Team
- Thoran Evans, Kahuku
- Gerry Malanog, Leilehua
- Patrick Eglinton, McKinley
- Michael Fujiuchi, McKinley
- Seth Ching, Pearl City
- Tommy Iinuma, Pearl City
- Everett Pavo, Pearl City
- Brad Padua, Leilehua
- Trevor Shibuya, Castle
- Justin Perreira, Pearl City
Player of the Year: Everett Pavo, Pearl City
Coach of the Year: Ivan Yoshimura, Pearl City
Second Team
- Paul Gerona, Leilehua
- Jerrik Feliciano, Mililani
- Jordan Yokoyama, Pearl City
- Reid Kanda, Castle
- Michael Yoshida, Castle
- Brent Yamada, Roosevelt
- Long Nguyen, Farrington
- Travis Barrett, Pearl City
- Artyom Kotlyarov, 'Aiea
- Philip Trani, Kapolei
Girls
First Team
- Whitney Elizaga, Farrington
- Samantha Batoon, Farrington
- Corey Jo Tashima, Mililani
- Sharde Betances, Farrington
- Cory Arisumi, Roosevelt
- Robin Travis, Pearl City
- Amber Horn, Pearl City
- Jenna Nihipali, Kahuku
- Alicia Fu, Moanalua
- Kelli Fujihara, Pearl City
- Player of the Year
- Jenna Nihipali, Kahuku
Coach of the Year: Brandon Teshima, Farrington
Second Team
- Candace Sakamoto, Castle
- Amanda Aquino, Kahuku
- Lisa Katsura, Moanalua
- Lianne Tomishima, McKinley
- Roslyn Maiava, Kahuku
- Summer Stone, Farrington
- Pua Nunies, Farrington
- Lisa Hufana, Farrington
- Karen Florendo, Farrington
- Merita Jennings, Leilehua
Maui baseball
First Team
Pos.—Player School Cl.
- C—Max Young St. Anthony Jr.
- 1B—Marcus Makia Baldwin Jr.
- 2B—JJ Eno Baldwin Sr.
- 3B—BJ Strahan Baldwin Sr.
- SS—Milton Loo Moloka'i Sr.
- OF—Panfilo Bascar St. Anthony Sr.
- OF—Andrew Nakihei Maui Sr.
- OF—Curtis Russell Maui Sr.
- DH/U—Shevis Shima Baldwin Sr.
- SP—Tyler Fujiwara Lahainaluna Sr.
- SP—Jeff Kajiwara Baldwin Sr.
- RP—Kalehua Moniz Baldwin So.
Player of the Year: Tyler Fujiwara, Lahainaluna
Co-Pitchers of the Year: Tyler Fujiwara, Lahainaluna and Jeff Kajiwara, Baldwin
Coach of the Year: Mike Sado, Lahainaluna
Second Team
- C—Charles Wallace Lahainaluna Sr.
- 1B—Joshua Wallace Lahainaluna So.
- 2B—Makaio English St. Anthony Sr.
- 3B—Travis Fernandez Moloka'i So.
- SS—Jareb-James Pacheco St. Ant. Sr.
- OF—Derrick Saito Baldwin Jr.
- OF—Casey Kawaguchi Lahainaluna Sr.
- OF—Jared Keyes Baldwin Jr.
- DH/U—Tyler Fujiwara Lahainaluna Sr.
- SP—Preston Medeiros Lahainaluna Jr.
- SP—Travis Castillon St. Anthony Sr.
- RP—Gavin Takakura Maui Sr.
Honorable Mention
Baldwin—Kimo Klask, Aaron Joyo, Matt Morioka. King Kekaulike—Kealii Murray, Ryan Odanaka, Lono Kekahuna. Lahainaluna—Nathan Fujimoto, Akima Mokiao, Codey Alexander, Rylan Ancog. Maui—Cody Maeda, TJ Padilla, Jon Cayan, Joey Castro. Moloka'i—Randen Abafo, Albert Dudoit. St. Anthony—Korri Kamaka.
