Top Performers
Saint Francis' Ng, Mid-Pacific's Kameehonua lead weekly standouts




Male Athlete of the Week: Kameron Ng, Saint Francis basketball
Despite being in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Boys Basketball Power Rankings all season and having one of the state's premier scorers, Saint Francis has largely gone under the radar.

The sixth-ranked Saints (10-0) are one of just a handful of undefeated teams remaining statewide and wrapped up the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II title following wins at Hanalani and Hawaii Baptist last week.

Leading the way for Saint Francis in those victories — just as he has done all season — is sophomore point guard Kameron Ng. The 5-foot-8 Ng scored 20 points in last Tuesday's 79-28 throttling of Hanalani and followed that up with 25 points in Friday's 59-50 win over HBA.

"It's in those big games, like against Damien or HBA or University, that he steps up," Saints coach Ron Durant said of Ng.

In two games against Damien this season, Ng has scored 46 points, including a season-high 28 points in a 73-61 win over the Monarchs on Jan. 27. He is averaging a team-high 19.5 points per game in league play, which ranks him second in the ILH.

"He's got the whole package. In my opinion, he's the picture perfect example of a point guard," said Durant, who likened Ng to Chris Paul, of the Los Angeles Clippers, or former Philadelphia 76ers' great Allen Iverson.

"He can score when he wants to score, he can get people involved, his ball-handling skills are beyond measure and he gets roughed up and still handles the ball and doesn't turn it over," Durant said. "He's got the shot, he's got the handles, his court vision is beyond your average point guard and his skill set is just heads and shoulders over any other point guard in the state."

Durant didn't hold back when gushing about Ng's abilities.

"I would consider him one of the top three point guards in the state, in D1 or D2. He might be in the top two after (Jessiya) Villa from Kahuku, but I think Kam is probably the next best point guard. The only thing is he's still a sophomore and still growing into his body, so Villa has the size on him, but I think overall Kam can go head-to-head with him," Durant said.

The second-year Saints coach and former Kamehameha II coach took it a step further.

"Kam can see things that I don't see sometimes and you just shake your head and say, ‘wow,' " Durant said. "He's the most complete point guard we've seen in a while, maybe since Derrick Low."

Low put together a fantastic prep career at Iolani before going on to star collegiately and Washington State and continuing on to a professional career overseas.

Durant said Ng's work ethic is what sets him apart.

"I've been around for a while and he's one of the hardest working player I've been around," Durant said. "He's in the gym every morning at 6 a.m. shooting, he's been working hard in the weight room and he continues to push himself. Even in practice he's just an all-out competitor."

Durant cautioned, however, that the Saints are far more than just Ng.

"I think we're a well-balanced team. It's not like we run anything just for Kam," Durant said. "We're blessed to have pieces at every position and we're probably eight deep where anybody can come off the bench and pick up the slack."

Ng and the Saints are idle this week and will not play until they open the Snapple/HHSAA D2 State Championships on Feb. 15.


Female Athlete of the Week: Ciera Kameehonua, Mid-Pacific basketball
Ciera Kameehonua saved her best for last this season.

In the biggest game of her prep career, the Mid-Pacific junior poured in 25 points with 10 rebounds to lead her team to its first girls basketball state crown Saturday night.

Kameehonua hit six of her team's eight 3-pointers in the Owls' 63-38 win over Kamehameha-Hawaii in the title game of the Snapple/HHSAA Division II State Championships at Neal S. Blaisdell Arena Saturday night.

"We knew she was capable of having that sort of game and we've been waiting for it all season," Mid-Pacific coach Sherice Ajifu said of Kameehonua, who was selected as the tournament's most outstanding player.

Kameehonua's first 3-pointer capped a 12-0 run to open the game for the Owls. Her second stretched her team's lead to 20-4 and her layup with 19 seconds left in the first quarter made it 24-6.

About midway through the second quarter she recorded a steal, then added another trey that gave MPI its largest lead of the first half at 31-9. Just before the intermission she drained a 3-ball from the right corner and the Owls took a commanding 36-15 lead into the locker room.

"That was a big shot to end that half," Ajifu said. "The kids did a good job of finding her when she was hot."

It was more of the same after halftime. Kameehonua, a second team All-Hawaii D2 selection a year ago, scored MPI's first five points of the third quarter and hit another 3-pointer for good measure at the 5:44 mark of the fourth.

"Ciera is one of my go-to shooters; Whenever she's open I'm always passing her the ball," Owls' senior guard Harley Simon said. "My confidence in her shooting has skyrocketed over the years. She always knows where to move into the open shots, where I can hit her and she's a really good shooter off the dribble and even on the 3-line."

Saturday's blowout victory was MPI's third in as many nights in the state tournament. Kameehonua scored 11 points in Thursday's 82-30 quarterfinal win over Damien and chipped in 12 points in Friday's 62-34 semifinal win over Kalani.

"We didn't need it the first two nights, but she hit some big shots Saturday," Ajifu said.

MPI's depth and balance were on display in all three games. Sophomore Brilie Kovaloff had 23 points against Damien and 28 against Kalani — both team-high marks — and Simon chipped in 22 points against Kamehameha-Hawaii Saturday.

"I think (Kameehonua's) opportunities also opened up because of the play of her teammates like Brilie," Ajifu said. "I think (KS-Hawaii) was focused on defending Brilie and forgot about someone like (Kameehonua) and that allows her to get a big game, so it was a total team effort, but I'm proud of (Kameehonua) and the game that she had."

Kovaloff and Simon were also named to the all-tournament team.

Ajifu said that Kameehonua, one of three captains on the team, was an important link in the communication between the players and the coaching staff.

"Early on in the season we went through some things as a staff where we weren't seeing where our players were coming from so we needed to create really good communication and dialogue on how we could do a better job of motivating them and she played a big role in that," Ajifu said. "She was able to read the temperate of the team and that was helpful going into the postseason with helping one another."

Ajifu said a difficult mid-season stretch ultimately forced Kameehonua to round out her game.

"She went into a shooting slump and struggled a little bit with that, but our goal was to get her to use the other aspects of her game and drive to the basket more and I think that opened up her shot more," Ajifu said. "Her game as a whole improved and she was attacking the basketball especially when her shot wasn't falling. She did a good job getting to the free-throw line, and although she's not a superb free-throw shooter, she worked on it where she knocked down enough shots to help us win games."

Kameehonua and the Owls completed the season with a 14-0 record and at No. 10 in the final ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Girls Basketball Power Rankings released Monday.


ScoringLive reporter Michael Lasquero contributed to this report.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Hauoli Akau, Konawaena — Scored 19 points in a win over Waiakea

Austin Aukai, Konawaena — Scored 18 points in a win over Waiakea

John Baltero, Lanai — Scored 20 points in a win over Seabury Hall

Carlos Brown, Nanakuli — Scored 32 points in a win over Roosevelt

Jaylen Cain, Maryknoll — Scored 16 points in a win over Saint Louis

Caleb Casinas, Moanalua — Scored 28 points in a win over Kalaheo

Kasen Castro, Waimea — Scored 24 points in a loss to Kapaa

Jeremy Coloyan, McKinley — Scored 19 points in a win over Waianae

RJ Dominguez, Moanalua — Scored 20 points in a win over Mililani and scored 21 points in a win over Kalaheo

Jared Elwin, Roosevelt — Scored 19 points in a loss to Nanakuli

Leif Fautanu, University Lab — Scored 19 points in a win over Le Jardin

Frederick Harris, Christian Academy — Scored 30 points in a win over Damien II

Jaemi Harris, Kalani — Scored 20 points in a win over Campbell

Noah Hartbarger, Aiea — Scored 18 points in a win over Kaiser

Tristen Hawelu, Kapaa — Scored 18 points in a win over Waimea

Cameron Henry, Mililani — Scored 19 points in a loss to Moanalua

Jerry Lawson, Le Jardin — Scored 22 points in a loss to University Lab, scored 19 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist and scored 22 points in a win over Hanalani

Yoshimi Matoba, Honolulu Waldorf — Scored 19 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist

Calvin Mattos, Waiakea — Scored 22 points in a loss to Konawaena

Micah Mitchell, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 32 points in a loss to Le Jardin

Zoar Nedd, Kapolei — Scored 24 points in a win over McKinley

Brayden Nueku, Kaiser — Scored 20 points in a loss to Aiea

D.J. Pabre, Waimea — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kapaa

Javan Perez, Hawaii Prep — Scored 20 points in a win over Honokaa

Jerek Prudencio, Waiakea — Scored 18 points in a loss to Konawaena

Frank Schmidt, Honolulu Waldorf — Scored 20 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist

Joseph Sealy, Maryknoll II — Scored 23 points in a loss to Saint Louis II

Zion Shepherd, Mid-Pacific — Scored 19 points in a loss to Punahou

Ruka Suda, St. Joseph — Scored 22 points in a loss to Kau

Dominic Venezia, Le Jardin — Scored 18 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist

Matija Vitorovic, Hawaii Prep — Scored 19 points in a win over Honokaa

Captain Whitlock, Kalaheo — Scored 24 points in a loss to Moanalua

Max Wiemken, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 26 points in a loss to Damien

David Zimmerman, Assets — Scored 32 points in a win over Hawaiian Mission


GIRLS BASKETBALL
Isabella Cravens, Maryknoll — Scored 13 points with 10 rebounds in a win over Kaimuki

Kaelyn Espinda, Kaimuki — Scored 22 points in a win over Nanakuli

Nora Fenton, Damien — Scored 14 points with 11 rebounds in a win over Lanai

Kayla Garcia, Lanai — Scored 20 points in a win over Kohala

Kalena Gibson, Mililani — Scored 13 points with 10 rebounds in a win over Hilo

Lisa Hafoka, Lahainaluna — Scored 17 points in a win over Mililani

Molimau Heimuli, Farrington — Scored 16 points with 13 rebounds in a loss to Kamehameha, scored 16 points in a win over Kamehameha-Maui and scored 17 points with 10 rebounds in a win over Mililani

Kamalu Kamakawiwoole, Maryknoll — Scored 20 points in a win over Lahainaluna

Taegan Keep, Kauai — Scored 11 points with 11 rebounds in a win over Kohala and scored 14 points with 10 rebounds in a loss to Moanalua

Mikayla Kekoa, Kohala — Scored 10 points with 13 rebounds in a loss to Kauai and scored 17 points with 12 rebounds in a loss to Lanai

Kirstin Kouchi, Kalani — Scored 26 points in a win over Kauai and scored 15 points in a win over Saint Francis

Brilie Kovaloff, Mid-Pacific — Scored 23 points in a win over Damien and scored 28 points in a win over Kalani

Chantal Mailou, Farrington — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kamehameha and scored 15 points in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Mikiala Maio, Kamehameha — Scored 30 points in a win over Farrington and scored 15 points in a win over Lahainaluna

Arianna Maltezo, Lanai — Scored 15 points with 11 rebounds in a win over Kohala

Jordyn Mantz, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 18 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific

Cherilyn Molina, Konawaena — Scored 16 points in a win over Kamehameha

Shania Nakamura, Damien — Scored 17 points in a win over Lanai and scored 15 points in a loss to Kauai

Alana Nuuanu, Nanakuli — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kaimuki

Kalin Obrey, Kamehameha — Scored 26 points with 14 rebounds in a win over Kahuku and scored 19 points in a win over Lahainaluna

Jana Ohashi, Lanai — Scored 12 points with 15 rebounds in a loss to Damien

Dominique Pacheco, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 18 points in a win over Saint Francis

Chyel Palmer, Leilehua — Scored 11 points with 10 rebounds in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui

Brittany Passi, Moanalua — Scored 12 points with 10 rebounds in a win over Seabury Hall

Ashley Peralta, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored 17 points in a loss to Farrington

Raven Rosa-Lasco, Moanalua — Scored 19 points in a win over Kauai

Delylah Sanerivi, Moanalua — Scored 11 points with 16 rebounds in a win over Hawaii Baptist and scored 16 points in a win over Seabury Hall

Brittany Shimono, Kohala — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kauai

Harley Simon, Mid-Pacific — Scored 22 points in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Olivia Vaeatangitau, Saint Francis — Scored 14 points with 13 rebounds in a win over Waipahu and scored 17 points with 18 rebounds in a win over Seabury Hall

Claire Vila, Lanai — Scored 15 points in a loss to Damien

Catherine Votovich, Damien — Scored 13 points with 16 rebounds in a win over Lanai

Ally Wada, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 23 points with 11 rebounds in a loss to Moanalua and scored 16 points in a win over Waipahu


BOYS SOCCER

Skyler Goo, Saint Louis — Scored the lone goal in a win over PAC-5

Reid Murphy, Makua Lani — Scored the lone goal in a win over Honokaa

Kaisen Nakagawa, Iolani — Made two saves in penalty kicks in a win over Punahou


GIRLS SOCCER
Hiwa Brown, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored two goals in a win over Radford

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

Kayla Carabbacan, Waipahu — Scored two goals in a loss to Seabury Hall

Miya Clarke, Hilo — Scored two goals in a win over Aiea

Makena Dougherty, Seabury Hall — Scored two goals in a win over Waipahu

Hevani Haunga, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored two goals in a win over Radford

Emi Higgins, Hawaii Prep — Scored two goals in a win over Seabury Hall and scored the lone goal in a win over Kapaa

Pua Kauhaihao, Makua Lani — Scored two goals in a win over Waipahu

Andrea Kenagy, Mililani — Scored the lone goal in a win over Pearl City

Kylee Kim-Bustillos, Iolani — Scored two goals in a win over Punahou

Moni Moniati, Makua Lani — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Tare Rillon, PAC-5 — Scored two goals in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Ciana Rivera, Castle — Scored the lone goal in a win over Hilo

Tia Rodriugez, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Aiea

Ellyana Schwartz, Seabury Hall — Scored the lone goal in a win over PAC-5

Jamie-Lyn Shimamoto, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Castle

Mya Tolentino, Waipahu — Scored three goals in a win over Sacred Hearts

Mia Watanabe, Iolani — Scored three goals in a win over Mililani



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




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