Mililani quarterback McKenzie Milton and Punahou outside hitter Hana Lishman led their respective teams to big victories last weekend. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: McKenzie Milton, Mililani football
Sometimes McKenzie Milton even surprises his coach with what he can do — not that Rod York ever lets him dwell on it very long.

Milton gave York several of those moments Saturday when he scorched Saint Louis to the tune of 571 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns in the second-ranked Trojans' 63-47 win in the non-league showdown at John Kauinana Stadium.

"It was a sweet night for sure, but it's just one game and I know it'll be hard to match that, but if I can just keep doing my job for this team as the quarterback and the leader, that'll be OK, too," said Milton, junior who earned All-Hawaii Honorable Mention distinction last year.

Milton completed 21 of 31 passes for 367 yards with four touchdowns and rushed for 204 yards and three other scores on just nine carries against the third-ranked Crusaders. He was not intercepted.

"He made plays to extend drives and that's all I care about," said York, the fifth-year Mililani coach. "I mean, he knows and he understands that the only stat that counts is that W, but definitely the way he plays is great. The good thing about him is he plays within the system, he plays within the team and he understands when to run with it and when not to run with it. He made plays with his legs when some of the plays didn't work and you can't put the handcuffs on a guy like that."

Milton scored on two long runs: a 53-yarder in the second quarter and a 47-yarder in the fourth. On both plays he made something out of nothing, burning by defenders on his way to the end zone.

"He has exceptional speed as it is — he ran an electronically-timed 4.6 (second) 40 (yard dash) — but if you watch him, he has game speed," York said. "When you add game speed and his adrenaline and he's scrambling around, sometimes it's like 'wow.' "

Ironically, Milton said he has worked diligently on his passing mechanics — not his speed — in the offseason.

"It's just reaction. You can't really simulate stuff that like in a game until it really happens," Milton said. "I've been working on getting the ball out on time and giving my great playmakers around me the ability to do what they can do."

Less than 12 hours after Saturday's win, Milton was back on the field, honing his craft with his personal coach Joel Lane, a former Saint Louis quarterback.

"I'm definitely proud and happy for him because he works hard in that offseason," York said. "He works hard at it — it's not just natural talent — he does have talent, but he's putting brains behind his game now and he's got that one season under his belt so he's seasoned."

As much as York has high praise for his young quarterback, he just as quickly offers critique.

"I just want to make sure he keeps grounded and stays humble and keeps working to get better," York said. "It's only natural to get complacent when people are telling you how great you are, but I want him to be focused like he was when he was a sophomore."

Milton and the Trojans return to the field Saturday, when they host Kailua.

Female Athlete of the Week: Hana Lishman, Punahou girls volleyball
Hana Lishman knows she has some big shoes to fill this fall. The Punahou junior steps into the role filled by First Team All-Interscholastic League of Honolulu outside hitter Remo-Louise Gaogao, who graduated in the spring, but if last weekend was any indication, Lishman is ready.

The 5-foot-7 Lishman put down eight kills and an ace to help the Buffanblu sweep past Mira Costa (Calif.) in the title match of the Ann Kang Invitational Volleyball Tournament Saturday afternoon. The scores were 27-25 and 27-25. Punahou won all nine of its matches and dropped just one game in the three-day tournament.

"She did awesome in the tournament," Punahou coach Tanya Fuamatu-Anderson said of Lishman, who earned tournament Most Valuable Player honors. "She was a great team player. She performed for us not only in the front row, but in the back row, too, and she was a big reason why our ball-handling was on-point."

Lishman was on last year's Division I state runner-up team, but played sparingly behind a slew of seniors.

"I was kind of surprised — I didn't expect anything — I kind of just played my game, wasn't thinking about MVP or anything, but just taking it one game at a time and helping my team get the win," Lishman said. "If anyone of my teammates got it I would have been happy for them because it was a team effort."

Other than being Buffanblu teammates last year, Gaogao and Lishman are well-acquainted from their days as club teammates.

"Remo has always been a role model for me on and off the court," Lishman said. "Getting to play club and school season with her, I learned a lot of how to be a teammate and a friend and I picked things up from her — she has a high volleyball IQ — so just growing up with her in this sport has helped me be a little more confident in filling the spot."

Fuamatu-Anderson said the pair have made each other better over the years.

"Hana is a competitor and being that she and Remo are from the same club, they're constantly competing against each other, so she's very aware of the level that she needs to play at in order to be on the court and play at this level," Fuamatu-Anderson said.

Lishman has also benefitted from the tutelage of senior McKenna Rose Granato, who also picked up First Team all-league honors last year.

"I really look up to her, not only a captain and senior, but also a returnee and she also knows what it's like to be a younger player — she was a junior in my spot last year — so when I'm confused or lost, I turn to her," Lishman said. "She always finds a way to keep us going."

It was Punahou's third consecutive Ann Kang Invitational tourney title. Senior setter Kiani Tuileta was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

"The expectations that I had of our team coming into the Ann Kang this year — of course, everyone's ultimate goal is to win the tournament — but our main goal was to build team chemistry and learn about each other, on and off the court. The kiids worked really hard and we got the end result that we wanted."

FOOTBALL
Manaia Atuaia, Kahuku — Scored on a 7-yard fumble return in a win over Kapolei Friday

Kesi Ah Hoy, Kahuku — Rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown, threw a touchdown pass and also scored on a 94-yard kickoff return in a win over Kapolei Friday

Payton Awaya, Kalani — Scored on a 30-yard interception return in a win over Waialua Saturday

Markus Banagan, Konawaena — Recorded six tackles and a sack in a 14-5 win over Kauai Saturday

Jayce Bantolina, Campbell — Caught five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown in a win over Castle Friday

Tsubasa Brennan, Pac-Five — Caught 19 passes for 292 yards and four touchdowns in a win over King Kekaulike Saturday

Makoa Chapa, Saint Louis — Recorded seven tackles and recovered three fumbles in a loss to Mililani Saturday

Tyler Ching, Kalani — Passed for 250 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Waialua Saturday

Zeno Choi, Kaiser — Recorded two sacks and recovered a fumble in a win vower Aiea Friday

Allan Cui III, Saint Louis — Caught 10 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Mililani Saturday

Kainoa Ferreira, Pac-Five — Passed for 515 yards and six touchdowns on 34-of-64 passing in a win over King Kekaulike Saturday

Makaila Haina-Horswill, Nanakuli — Rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries in a win over Kalaheo Saturday

Kawika Homalon, King Kekaulike — Rushed for 129 yards with three touchdowns on 20 carries and threw a pair of touchdown passes in a loss to Pac-Five Saturday

Tyrell Johnson, Campbell — Rushed for 151 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries in a win over Castle Friday

Kawika Keama-Jacobe, Moanalua — Threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-26 passing in a win over Waianae Friday

Sean Kinel, Pac-Five — Caught four passes for 133 yards and a touchdown in a win over King Kekaulike Saturday

Nayton Kuresa, Waianae — Had six tackles, one sack and recovered a fumble in a loss to Moanalua Friday

Storm Lotomau, Iolani — Rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries Saturday

Seufagafaga Luafatasaga, Farrington — Scored on a 22-yard fumble return in a win over Waipahu Saturday

Jedadiah Lulu, Saint Louis — Recorded nine tackles in a loss to Mililani Saturday

Vavae Malepeai, Mililani — Rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries in win over Saint Louis Saturday

Ranan Mamiya, Farrington — Rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns on four carries in a win over Waipahu Saturday

Blaise Manabe, Kalani — Caught three passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Waialua Saturday

Randy Manewa, Nanakuli — Recorded seven tackles and intercepted a pass in a win over Kalaheo Saturday

Gavin Marques, Waipahu — Forced a fumble and recovered a fumble in a loss to Farrington Saturday

Jensen McDaniel, Kaiser — Rushed for 155 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries in a win over Aiea Friday

Destin Moss, Kaiser — Caught six passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Aiea Friday

KJ Pascua, Iolani — Rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries in a win over Mino Jiyu (Japan) Saturday

Manase Paul, Kaiser — Recorded two sacks and forced a fumble in a win over Aiea Friday

Ty Purcell-Apana, Mililani — Recorded eight tackles and intercepted a pass in a win over Saint Louis Saturday

Kea Rodriguez, Moanalua — Had five tackles, one sack and intercepted a pass in a win over Waianae Friday

Brandon Sevelino, Nanakuli — Passed for 271 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-39 passing in a win over Kalaheo Saturday

Jason Sharsh, Moanalua — Caught five passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Waianae Friday

Keanu Souza, Saint Louis — Caught seven passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Mililani Saturday

Tua Tagovailoa, Saint Louis — Passed for 198 yards and five touchdowns on 18-of-28 passing in a loss to Mililani Saturday

Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo, Farrington — Scored on a 57-yard interception return in a win over Waipahu Saturday

Kalakaua Timoteo, Mililani — Caught 10 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown in a win over Saint Louis Saturday

Torin Tuppain, Konawaena — Recorded five tackles and two sacks in a win over Kauai Saturday

Kawika Ulufale, Saint Francis — Threw for 194 yards and two touchdowns on 17-of-24 passing in a win over Keaau Saturday

Dylan Villanueva, Campbell — Recorded two interceptions in a win over Castle Friday

Kainoa Wilson, Mililani — Caught eight passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Saint Louis Saturday

Tuli Wily-Matagi, Kahuku — Threw a touchdown pass and caught another in a win over Kapolei Friday

Isain Wong, Nanakuli — Caught five passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in a win over Kalaheo Saturday