Kapolei senior Taituave stepped up in big games

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

The young and still-growing Kapolei High School athletic department has added yet another first to its list of honors.

Jerrell Taituave, who averaged 12.5 points per game, and coach Jesse Baugh helped Kapolei go 11-1 in the regular season and share the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division title. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Taituave, a senior forward, averaged 12.5 points per game and helped Kapolei go 11-1 in the regular season and earn a share of the Hurricanes' first OIA West championship.

She was at her best in some of Kapolei's biggest games, scoring 15 points in an overtime victory over Mililani to open the regular season, 22 points in a 46-43 win over Leilehua and 15 points in a victory over previously unbeaten Radford that put the Hurricanes into position to share the West crown.

She also scored 20 points in a 45-37 win over Nanakuli.

Taituave is joined on the West's all-star first team by Mililani junior Christina Korodan, Radford junior Tereva Moore, Nanakuli senior Sierra Nakea and Pearl City sophomore Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia.

Moore is a repeat first-team selection after earning second-team honors as a freshman. She was a strong contender for Player of the Year honors after helping Radford start the season with 11 straight victories and tie Kapolei for the West title.

Moore averaged 13.6 points per game and had several clutch performances. She scored 13 points in the Rams' season-opening 30-26 win over Leilehua, 15 points in a 29-27 victory over Kapolei and a season-high 27 points in a 39-38 win over Nanakuli.

Nakea was the OIA White Conference (Division II) Player of the Year last season. Nanakuli was promoted to the OIA Red (Division I) Conference this season.

Kapolei's Jesse Baugh was named Coach of the Year. Baugh was a three-time OIA West first team all-star for Nanakuli in the mid-1970s.