Moanalua's Ciera O'Brien recorded 7 steals against Mililani. Sylvia Lee | SL

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Kauai's James Bukoski recorded a game-high 10 tackles and intercepted a pair of fourth-quarter passes against Pearl City. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Male Athlete of the Week: James Bukoski, Kauai Football

By his own standards, James Bukoski just did what we was supposed to do. What he did was have the best individual game of any defensive player across the state this weekend.

Bukoski, a senior linebacker on the Kauai football team, led an impressive defensive performance by the Red Raiders in their 13-7 win over Pearl City Saturday afternoon. The 5-foot-8, 170-pound Bukoski recorded a game-high 10 tackles and intercepted a pair of fourth-quarter Chargers' passes to help secure the victory, which earned the Kauai Interscholastic Federation champions a shot at reigning six-time Division II state champion Iolani.

"The defense as a whole, we did really great," said Bukoski, who is a third-year starter for first-year coach Tommy John Cox.

With a new quarterback at the trigger of the offense, Cox knew coming into the season that the defense — namely Bukoski — would have to lead the way in 2013.

"Our defense has been keeping us in ball games the whole year and they did it again (Saturday)," Cox said after Saturday's win. "We live and die by our defense and the offense always does just enough to get us the 'W.'"

The Red Raider defense came up with four takeaways — three coming after halftime — and limited the Chargers to just 2 of 14 on third-down conversions. Pearl City punted on its first four drives and threw interceptions to end its next three drives.

Bukoski halted the Chargers' opening drive of the game when he batted away quarterback Jordan Taamu's pass intended for Matt Dulatre on a third down. One drive later, Ramsey Lopez and Kelii Kelekoma combined on a sack of Taamu to force a third-and-long, which Pearl City also failed to convert.

Kauai took a 7-0 lead on Kanoa Iwasaki's 1-yard touchdown run one play into the second quarter and the defense kept the momentum going by forcing consecutive three-and-out by the Chargers. 

Kelson Andrade's 13-yard touchdown pass to Pono Bukoski gave the Red Raiders a 13-0 lead. Pearl City then put together a nine-play drive, but defensive back Damien Butac picked off Taamu and returned it 41-yards deep into Chargers' territory.

Early in the third quarter, Pearl City strung together a 52-yard, 11-play possession that included four first downs by rush to drive just outside the red zone, to the Kauai 21-yard line. On a third-and-20, Taamu threw to the end zone, but was intercepted by Kaiea Iwasaki.

Pearl City got the ball back on a lost-Kauai fumble after a completed pass, but Bukoski got his first interception seven plays later. The Chargers got their only score with seven minutes and 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter and had a chance to tie or take the lead on their following drive, which started with 5:10 left at their own 40-yard line. Three plays later, however, Bukoski picked off Travis Joe's pass at midfield and returned it nine yards.

Pearl City eventually got the ball back with 1:32 remaining, but got no further than the Kauai 49-yard line.

Kauai, which improved to 6-9 all-time in the state tournament, is making its sixth apperance in the semifinal round. Kickoff Saturday at Iolani's Kozuki Stadium is set for 2 p.m.

-By Kalani Takase

Female Athlete of the Week: Ciera O'Brien, Moanalua girls basketball

Bukoski may have put in the best defensive performance on the gridiron, but Ciera "Cici" O'Brien bested him on the hardwood floor.

The junior Na Mehenune point guard garnered seven steals in the Moanalua Girls Peek tournament final against Mililani Saturday afternoon. Even though Moanalua game up short in the final, O'Brien has proven that she will be a force to be reckoned with this year.

"She's smart; she has the instinct when to reach for the ball," said Moanalua coach Tani Almont-Done on O'Brien's defensive prowess.  "Against Mililani she was on the off guard (so) she was in position to read the passing lanes."

"She's so quick that we've been really trying to tighten up her defense because she likes to reach a lot; we really got on her to move her feet.  She made a complete adjustment for that Mililani game."

O'Brien only scored three points in the final game, but she was red hot in Moanalua's semifinal game against Leilehua.  She finished with a game-high 18 points, sinking two treys in the process.

"She has good decision making," said Almont-Done on her point guard. "She's quick; she knows how to keep her composure. She's quiet on the court, but she gets the job done."

Having O'Brien at the point guard has been a real blessing for Almont-Done, who's entering her first year as head coach of the Moanalua girls basketball team.

"We need to work on her being more vocal with her teammates, but she keeps everyone together," said Almont-Done. "As a coach it's easier to have a point guard who understand the game and can run the floor."

"To me, a point guard is very important," added Almont-Done. "Right now me and her (still) needs to work on our communication (since it's only the first week), but Ciera (O'Brien) is the point guard that we need."

-By Michael Lasquero

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Mikaela Limper, Mililani — Scored 20 points in a win over Moanalua in championship game of Na Menehune/Peek Tournament

LaChae McColor, Moanalua — Scored 20 points in a loss to Mililani and 12 points in a win over Leilehua

FOOTBALL
Amosa Amosa Jr., Campbell — The senior receiver caught seven passes for 103 yards and touchdowns of 38 and 11 yards in a win over Hilo

Jeremiah Badillo, Baldwin — The senior quarterback-turned-wide receiver caught a game-high nine passes for 70 yards in a loss to Farrington

Jacob Baguio, Farrington — The senior wide receiver caught eight passes for 115 yards and a 12-yard touchdown in a win over Baldwin

Jeshua Bitanga, Kaiser — The senior running back made a team-high four tackles, intercepted two passes and rushed for 48 yards on four carries in a win over Konawaena

Thomas Buntenbah-Leong, Kaiser — The senior running back rushed for a game-high 65 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown, on seven rushes in a win over Konawaena

Ricky Casco, Baldwin — The senior kicker/defensive back made a 43-yard field goal and made a game-high seven tackles in a loss to Farrington

Blake Cooper, Pearl City — The senior running back/linebacker rushed for a game-high 65 yards on nine carries, made five tackles and recovered a fumble in a win over Kauai

Cody Crail, Pearl City — The senior defensive back made eight tackles in a loss to Kauai

Kelii Efhan, Kauai — The junior defensive end made eight tackles in a win over Pearl City

Filou Fisiiahi, Kaiser — The senior running back/linebacker rushed for 42 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown, caught three passes for 24 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown, and made a tackle in a win over Konawaena

Parker Higgins, Kaiser — The sophomore linebacker/tight end caught five passes for 77 yards, both game-highs, with a 13-yard touchdown and intercepted a pass in a win over Konawaeva

Isi Holani, Hilo — The senior defensive tackle made seven tackles, including one sack, in a loss to Farrington

Isaac Hurd, Campbell — The senior quarterback threw for 375 yards and four touchdowns on 27-of-36 passing and rushed 12 times for 25 yards and another score in a win over Hilo

Melvin Kahunanui, Kaiser — The senior defensive back made three tackles and scored on an 80-yard interception return in a win over Konawaena

Kahoalii Karratti, Kaiser — The senior quarterback threw for 108 yards and two touchdowns on 10-of-15 passing in a win over Konawaena

Donavan Faoa Kelley — The junior quarterback/wide receiver threw for 102 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown, caught a 70-yard touchdown pass and scored on an 11-yard run in a loss to Campbell

Sanele Lavatai, Farrington — The senior running back rushed for 105 yards and a 9-yard touchdown on 16 carries in a win over Baldwin

Montana Liana, Farrington — The junior quarterback threw for 196 yards and a 12-yard touchdown on 14-of-27 passing in a win over Baldwin

Tristan Ludiazo, Campbell — The junior defensive lineman made four tackles, including a sack, and forced a fumble in a win over Hilo

Jordan Miyahira-Young, Konawaena — The senior defensive back made six tackles and intercepted a pass in a loss to Kaiser

Kainoa Perry, Campbell — The senior slotback caught nine passes for 116 yards, both game-highs, and a 23-yard touchdown in a win over Hilo

Suwaiter Poch, Hilo — The junior linebacker made five tackles and recovered two fumbles in a loss to Campbell

Timothy Rivera, Pearl City — The senior wide receiver six passes for 74 yards, both game-highs, and a 10-yard touchdown in a loss to Kauai

Matt Sai, Kaiser — The junior kicker kicked a 37-yard field goal and made all eight of his extra point attempts in a win over Konawaena

Jon Salzman, Hilo — The senior defensive end made seven tackles and forced a fumble in a loss to Campbell

Zebadiah Selu, Pearl City — The junior liebacker made eight tackles in a loss to Kauai