The Crusaders' junior forward and Warriors' senior guard stepped up with big individual performances for their respective teams last week. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Chris Sykes, Saint Louis basketball
With their backs against the wall, Saint Louis did not want to lose their fifth-straight game in the toughest league in the state.

Chris Sykes stepped up big for the Crusaders with a season-high 24 points to beat Mid-Pacific for their first Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular season win. The ball movement led to open looks for Sykes, who finished it with his patented mid-range jumper and converted two of his three offensive rebounds into putbacks.

"We had to run the things he (coach Silva) wanted to run and tonight we played hard and we had to get a win because it's a tough league," said the junior forward, who averages 8.7 points per game.

Sykes, who also played receiver for the Saint Louis football team, found time to work on his craft in summer according to coach Allan Silva.

"Chris can either go for the short one or a short corner jumper. He perfected it last summer. I tell him to be confident and take it. He's getting better on the inside too, hitting his backboard shots and putbacks," said Silva.

Saint Louis trailed after the first quarter, 12-11, but Chris tied the game at 15 with free throws and a baseline jumper gave the Crusaders their first lead of the second quarter. By halftime, he had 10 of Saint Louis' 25 points.

"I'm glad my teammates got me when I'm open. Coach tells me if I have the mid-range jumper to take it and fortunately it was falling tonight," said Sykes, who also had two steals and two blocks.

Sykes displayed a good shooting touch and was perfect from the free throw line (6-for-6) for the game and scored 14 of his 24 in the second half—eight came in the fourth quarter as the Crusaders led by as much as 20 points.

-Brandon Ching

Female Athlete of the Week: Mikiala Maio, Kamehameha basketball
Timing is of the essence for Mikiala Maio.

The Kamehameha senior has blossomed into a leader for the Warriors this season and has been playing especially well as of late.

Maio, a 5-foot-10 point guard, scored a total of 50 points in three wins last week, including an 18-point effort against previously-unbeaten and top-ranked Maryknoll Saturday.

"She did a tremendous job," Kamehameha coach Joe Cho said. "Her senior leadership really came through, I wouldn't just say in these last three games, but we've had five games in 10 days."

The Warriors went 4-1 during that stretch. Maio scored at least 14 points in all but one of those games. She scored 17 points in a win over Punahou Tuesday and followed that up with 15 points in a win over fifth-ranked Iolani Thursday.

"She's taking the big shot when she needs to, making that big shot when she needs to, taking the ball at the end of games and making free throws," Cho said. "She's leading her teammates, directing them where to go, and that's at practices as well she's helping everybody get to the right spots, so she has really grown up this year."

While she was in middle school, Maio watched as her older sister, Lilia, helped Kamehameha rally past Konawaena for the 2013 Division I state championship. Lilia Maio scored all 14 of her points after halftime to help fuel a 25-0 run by the Warriors en route to the overtime victory.

"She's always wanted to get into that position, to give us a chance to get to state. Obviously, we haven't done that yet," Cho said. "We haven't done it her sophomore year, we haven't done it her junior year and only now do we have at least a legitimate shot. I think that really spurred her a lot and I think she's finally realized that this is it for her as far as basketball in high school. Knowing that this is her last chance to do something, she's really motivated."

The younger Maio has played just about every position on the floor for the Warriors over the years, but a move to point guard this season has paid off nicely.

"Her turnovers were very minimal in our last five games," Cho said. "I think the most she had was two against Iolani. I really stress taking care of the ball and she's been doing that. She's been trying to get the ball to the right people at the right time, she's being aggressive offensively and getting to the hoop and also playing tough defense on whoever we want her to play on."

The Warriors (8-4) have won seven of their last eight games and posted strong finishes in all three wins last week, outscoring their opponents a combined 60 to 33 in the fourth quarters of those games.

"If Mikiala doesn't play how she played we wouldn't have gone 4-1," Cho said. "The other starters played well, too, but she puts so much pressure on the defense because she's fast, quick strong and just a nightmare for other people to guard and so she always gets mismatches and I just think that has helped her tremendous better understand the game."

Maio, one of two team captains, is averaging a team-best 13.1 points per game through 12 league games, which ranks her fourth amongst ILH D1 scoring leaders. However, three other Warriors rank in the top nine in the league in sophomore post Kalina Obrey (12.8 ppg), junior wing Kianna Vierra (9.8 ppg) and junior guard Jewel Paaluhi-Caulk (9.5 ppg).

Cho praised the person Maio has been off the court, too.

"I just think she's a great person," he said. "She's very respectful of everybody, she's well spoken, she's an intelligent kid and she's just a great kid. She cares for her teammates and makes sure that everyone is always a part of the team."

Kamehameha is the No. 2 seed in the five-team, single-elimination ILH tournament this week.

Maio and the Warriors will host third-seeded Iolani in a semifinal Wednesday at Kekuhaupio Gymnasium. Tip off is slated for 5 p.m.

-Kalani Takase

BOYS BASKETBALL
Kaina Adolpho, Molokai — Scored 17 points in a win over Lanai

Edel Mark Alvarez, Molokai — Scored 18 points in a loss to Lanai

Samuta Avea, Kahuku — Scored 22 points in a win over Roosevelt

John Baltero, Lanai — Scored 21 points in a loss to Molokai and scored 19 points in a win over Molokai

Ikaia Bernardino, Saint Louis II — Scored 20 points in a win over Iolani II

Trey Boatwright, Leilehua — Scored 18 points in a win over Nanakuli

Carlos Brown, Nanakuli — Scored 20 points in a win over Radford

Eli Busenbark, Honolulu Waldorf — Scored 18 points in a win over Damien II

Jaylen Cain, Maryknoll — Scored 19 points in a win over Mid-Pacific

Naighel Calderon, Lanai — Scored 22 points in a loss to Molokai

Ja'Shon Carter, Kapolei — Scored 17 points in a win over Aiea and scored 19 points in a win over Mililani

RJ Dominguez, Moanalua — Scored 24 points in a loss to McKinley

Leif Fautanu, University Lab — Scored 17 points in a win over Damien

Liam Fitzgerald, Leilehua — Scored 18 points in a win over Nanakuli

Keyson Goins, Aiea — Scored 31 points in a loss to Kapolei

Isaiah Higa, Kapolei — Scored 18 points in a win over Mililani

Hugh Hogland, Iolani — Scored 18 points in a loss to Punahou

Kevin Kim, McKinley — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kahuku and scored 17 points in a win over Moanalua

Reid Kim, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 18 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist

Lancen Kuni, Waialua — Scored 18 points in a loss to Waianae and scored 20 points in a loss to Pearl City

Cameron Ma, Kaiser — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kailua

Supilani Mailei, Saint Francis — Scored 24 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist

Jeffrey Mangahis, Lanakila Baptist — Scored 23 points in a loss to Hawaiian Mission

Zachary Marrotte, Kailua — Scored 19 points in a win over Kaiser

Yoshimi Matoba, Honolulu Waldorf — Scored 22 points in a win over Island Pacific

Patrick Mears, Keaau — Scored 22 points in a win over St. Joseph

Christian Mejia, Kailua — Scored 25 points in a win over Moanalua and scored 21 points in a win over Kaiser

Douglas Mitchell, Waianae — Scored 20 points in a win over Waialua

Micah Mitchell, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 23 points in a loss to Saint Francis and scored 19 points in a win over Hanalani

Zoar Nedd, Kapolei — Scored 29 points in a win over Aiea

Kameron Ng, Saint Francis — Scored 20 points in a win over University Lab

Jaymason Nunuha, Saint Louis — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kamehameha

Ryan Pardini, Kalaheo — Scored 18 points in a win over Farrington

Kaleo Pogue, Mililani — Scored 23 points in a win over Waipahu

Keegan Scanlan, St. Joseph — Scored 19 points in a loss to Keaau

Frank Schmidt, Honolulu Waldorf — Scored 17 points in a win over Damien II

Joseph Sealy, Maryknoll II — Scored 21 points in a loss to Saint Louis II

Ryan Shin, Maryknoll II — Scored 20 points in a loss to Saint Louis II

Garren Spillner, Pearl City — Scored 20 points in a win over Waialua

Ruka Suda, St. Joseph — Scored 17 points in a loss to Keaau

Fred Taulung, Kaimuki — Scored 19 points in a win over Castle

AJ Ulufale, Assets — Scored 17 points in a win over Damien II

Dominic Venezia, Le Jardin — Scored 20 points in a win over Hanalani

Jessiya Villa, Kahuku — Scored 17 points in a win over McKinley and scored 20 points in a win over Roosevelt

Micah Visoria, Roosevelt — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kahuku

Moustapha Wagne, Nanakuli — Scored 19 points in a loss to Leilehua

Captain Whitlock, Kalaheo — Scored 18 points in a win over Farrington

Josh Willis, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 17 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist

Ryan Yamamoto, Pearl City — Scored 18 points in a win over Waialua

Kobe Young, Kamehameha — Scored 19 points in a win over Saint Louis

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Saydee Aganus, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 17 points in a win over Kau

Jasianna Ah Nee Green, Campbell — Scored 16 points with 16 rebounds in a win over Kaiser

Gieani Balino, Campbell — Scored 18 points in a win over Kaiser

Savanna Christensen, Kahuku — Scored 16 points in a loss to Mililani

Kaitlin DeRouin, Molokai — Scored 17 points in a win over Lanai

Kaelyn Espinda, Kaimuki — Scored 19 points in a win over Radford

Kayla Garcia, Lanai — Scored 16 points in a loss to Molokai

Molimau Heimuli, Farrington — Scored 30 points in a win over Nanakuli

Khrystyna Kanahele, Christian Academy — Scored 25 points in a loss to Hanalani

Kamaile Kandiah, Punahou — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kamehameha

Brooke Keliihoomalu, Molokai — Scored 18 points in a loss to Lanai

Brilie Kovaloff, Mid-Pacific — Scored 14 points with 11 rebounds in a win over Saint Francis

Jordyn Mantz, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 19 points in a win over Kaui

Selene Mizusawa, Iolani II — Scored 16 points in a win over Kamehameha II

Katelyn Nakagawa, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 16 points in a win over Hanalani and scored 16 points in a win over La Pietra

Alana Nuuanu, Nanakuli — Scored 19 points in a win over Roosevelt

Kalina Obrey, Kamehameha — Scored 19 points in a win over Punahou

Jana Ohashi, Lanai — Scored 24 points in a loss to Molokai

Kellie Okamura, Iolani — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kamehameha

Rhianne Omori, Maryknoll — Scored 16 points in a loss to Kamehameha

Alyssa Oshita, Pearl City — Scored 16 points in a loss to Castle

Dominique Pacheco, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 17 points in a win over Kau

Sydney Rawlins, Molokai — Scored 30 points in a win over Lanai

Dannica Roberts, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 19 points in a loss to St. Andrew's

Dahlis Sablay, Mililani — Scored 20 points in a win over Kahuku

Delylah Sanerivi, Moanalua — Scored 10 points with 10 rebounds in a win over Waipahu

Tyana Soberano-Foster, Lanai — Scored 25 points in a win over Molokai and scored 18 points in a loss to Molokai

Mikayla Tablit, Konawaena — Scored 18 points in a win over Pahoa

Kayla Torres, Mililani — Scored 17 points in a win over Kahuku

Keila Tsutsui, Hanalani — Scored 18 points in a win over Christian Academy

Olivia Vaeatangitau, Saint Francis — Scored 14 points with 15 rebounds in a loss to Mid-Pacific and scored 16 points in a win over Island Pacific

Ally Wada, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 17 points in a win over Hanalani

Taylor Wu, Iolani — Scored 18 points in a win over Sacred Hearts

Shayla Young, Castle — Scored 17 points in a win over Pearl City

BOYS SOCCER
Roberto Cardenas, Lahainaluna — Scored two goals in a win over Maui

Jonathan DeMotta, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored the lone goal in a win over Honokaa

Brandon Pagco, King Kekaulike — Scored two goals in a win over Seabury Hall

Carl Mecham, Waimea — Scored two goals in a win over Kauai

Collin Miller, King Kekaulike — Scored four goals in a win over Maui

Gehrig Octavio, Waiakea — Scored two goals in a win over Makua Lani

Kalei Tolentino-Perry, Hilo — Scored four goals in a win over Honokaa

GIRLS SOCCER
Sofia Aguilar, Hawaii Prep — Scored the lone goal in a win over Makua Lani

Hannah Cabral, Kalaheo — Scored two goals in a win over Radford

Chelsie Deponte, PAC-5 — Scored the lone goal in a win over Sacred Hearts

Sunshine Fontes, Kahuku — Scored three goals in a win over Kahuku, scored the lone goal in a win over Moanalua

Bethanee Hanaike, Castle — Scored two goals in a win over Campbell

Kylie Kim-Bustillos, Iolani — Scored three goals in a win over Mid-Pacific

Karly Nikora, Kahuku — Scored the lone goal in a win over Waialua

Nicole Olanda, Aiea — Scored two goals in a win over Kahuku

Layla Santos, Punahou — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kamehameha

Alysha Somera, Waipahu — Scored the game-winning goal in a win over Waianae and the lone goal in a win over Kalaheo

Daelenn Tokunaga, Pearl City — Scored two goals in a win over Kahuku

Shantel Torres-Benito, Iolani — Scored two goals in a win over Mid-Pacific

Kaylee Valentino-Fergerstrom, Waiakea — Scored the lone goal in a win over Makua Lani

Kahela Ventura, Kauai — Scored three goals in a win over Waimea

Karlin Wurlitzer, Mililani — Scored the lone goal in a win over Pearl City