Punahou senior Dacanay selected Player of Year
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Having a "Fab Five" is great, but any elite basketball team can also use a standout "sixth man."
So in the voting for this year's Advertiser All-State Girls Basketball first team, it was not five but a half-dozen players who clearly stood above the rest:
• Shanna-Lei Dacanay, Punahou senior guard;
• Keisha Kanekoa, Honoka'a sophomore guard;
• Jessica Hanato, Konawaena senior forward;
• Shawna-Lei Kuehu, Punahou freshman forward;
• Taylor Smith, Kalaheo senior forward;
• Jazzmin Awa-Williams, Konawaena sophomore center.
The team was selected in a vote of 11 panelists made up of coaches, officials and sportswriters from around the state. It is the first time since 1999 that the Advertiser All-State first team features six players.
Dacanay and Kanekoa were unanimous choices, while Hanato finished one vote short of unanimous. All six players finished far ahead of the other candidates in terms of votes earned.
Dacanay, a 5-foot-3 point guard, was the overwhelming choice for Player of the Year.
Although her statistics (11.6 points, 3.8 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.6 rebounds per game) were impressive, they told only part of the story when it came to her value to the team.
Dacanay's leadership as a four-year starter, knack for hitting the clutch shot in crucial situations (41.7 percent from 3-point range) and ball-handling ability under heavy pressure were critical in the Buffanblu's unbeaten run through the regular season and state tournament.
Her season high of 21 points came in a 66-51 victory over Iolani that clinched Punahou's third straight Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship. In the memorable double-overtime state title victory over Konawaena, Dacanay played all 40 minutes — she was the only Buffanblu player who did not get a rest — and scored 11 points with two rebounds and two assists.
But again, it was not so much the 11 points as when she scored them. Her buzzer-beating 15-footer cut Konawaena's lead to 21-18 at halftime, and she sealed the 52-50 victory by swishing two free throws with 8.1 seconds remaining.
Kanekoa, a 5-5 point guard, established herself as one of the state's best during an outstanding state tournament after which she was named Most Outstanding Player despite her team not making the finals.
She had 12 points, four assists and two blocks in a 42-39 first-round win over Kaiser; 19 points and five assists in a 53-43 quarterfinal victory over Lahainaluna; 14 points, seven rebounds and four assists in a 54-38 semifinal loss to Punahou, and 21 points, nine rebounds and three assists in a 59-48 win over Kahuku for third place.
For the tournament, Kanekoa made 23 of 31 free throws (74.2 percent) and controlled the tempo for the Dragons, who had their best finish since 1997.
Hanato, a 5-7 wing, capped a brilliant four-year career by helping Konawaena come within a basket of its second straight state championship. Like Dacanay, her value was in leadership and poise, especially when the stakes were high. She had 20 points and six rebounds in a state semifinal victory over Kahuku and played all 40 minutes in the championship game, scoring nine points and grabbing 10 rebounds in setting an example for a team that had just four returnees.
Kuehu, a 5-9 forward, burst onto the scene early in the ILH season and exceeded high expectations in the state tournament. She had 17 points and eight rebounds in a quarterfinal victory over Roosevelt; 15 points and 12 rebounds in a semifinal win over Honoka'a, and 18 points and 15 rebounds in the title victory over Konawaena.
For the season, Kuehu averaged 14.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.4 blocks and 1.9 steals per game and made 57 percent of her field-goal attempts. She also displayed the uncanny ability to grab a defensive rebound and then lead the fast break all the way down the court.
Smith, a 5-11 forward, showed similar versatility for Kalaheo throughout the season. In two key regular season victories, she had 11 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out three assists and blocked one shot against Roosevelt and then contributed 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two assists against Kaiser.
In a state quarterfinal loss to Konawaena, Smith had 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists.
Awa-Williams, a 5-8 center, capped a big year by scoring a game-high 26 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, making three steals and blocking a shot while paying all 40 minutes in the state final.
Punahou's Mike Taylor was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Buffanblu to their second state title in three seasons.
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
• • •
First team
Pos.—Player School Ht. Cl.
G—Shanna-Lei Dacanay Punahou 5-3 Sr.
G—Keisha Kanekoa Honoka'a 5-5 So.
F—Jessica Hanato Konawaena 5-7 Sr.
F—Shawna-Lei Kuehu Punahou 5-9 Fr.
F—Taylor Smith Kalaheo 5-11 Sr.
C—Jazzmin Awa-Williams Konawaena 5-8 So.
Player of the Year: Shanna-Lei Dacanay, Punahou
Coach of the Year: Mike Taylor, Punahou
Second team
Pos.iPlayer School Ht. Cl.
G—Hennasea Tokumura Iolani 5-3 Jr.
G—Hina Kimitete Konawaena 5-5 Sr.
G—Nicole Lehner Kaiser 5-7 Sr.
G—Christine Takara Punahou 5-8 Sr.
C—Aisha Ale Kahuku 5-11 Sr.
Honorable Mention
Guards: Camilla Ah Hoy Kahuku; Jessica Akamine, Maryknoll; Shanadee Cannon, Kalaheo; Nicole Fu, Maryknoll; Kelci Fushikoshi, Lahainaluna; C'ani Kealoha, Farrington; Ulu Kelekoma, Kaua'i; Tatri Lorenzo, Kamehameha; Flora Mesa, Kaimuki; Caasi Nakasone, St. Andrew's; Holly Saito, St. Andrew's; Rachel Taira, Kaua'i; Artevia Wily; Kahuku.
Forwards/Centers: Kilioe Ali'ifua, Kaiser; Tati Beasley, Roosevelt; Leilani Galdones, Kamehameha-Hawai'i; Kari Heers, Honoka'a; Shaena-Lyn Kuehu, Punahou; Tereva Moore, Radford; Sharde Pratt, Kaiser; Jerrell Taituave, Kapolei; Siutiti Takai, St. Francis; Alana Wall, Iolani.
