Top Performers
Kaiser's Khansmith, Waipahu's Manding honored


The Cougars' senior and Marauders' sophomore lead this week's Top Performers. ScoringLive photo illustration

Male Athlete of the Week: Jaymin Khansmith, Kaiser basketball
In some ways, the seasons for both the Kaiser boys basketball team and Jaymin Khansmith have mirrored one another.

Both the Cougars and their 6-foot-1 senior swingman have seemingly found a groove since the new year.

Since losing its first three games, Kaiser has won four of its last five to sit at 4-4 on the season, good for a tie for fourth place in the Division I East standings of the Oahu Interscholastic Association. During that stretch, Khansmith is averaging 21.8 points per game. That includes a 25-point effort against Kaimuki in which he hit a season-best five 3-pointers, followed by a season-high 29-point output against Farrington five nights later.

"He's done a good job as far as his offensive assertiveness, he's really improved in that aspect," Cougars coach Brandon Kawazoe said of Khansmith, who can play the shooting guard and power forward positions, but is predominantly as a small forward.

"He's taken the opportunities when it's there. He's doing a good job of not settling for only 3s, but he's getting to the rim and finishing, he's getting to the free-throw line and his overall offensive game is really developing and credit has to go to his teammates for finding him in good spots; They execute the sets well, so I really like how his game is improving," Kawazoe said."

Khansmith kept the ball rolling last week with a near double-double performance to lead Kaiser in a crucial 56-51 win over Kailua Thursday. He shot 7 of 13 from the field, including 6 of 7 from inside the arc, and was a near-perfect 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. In addition, Khansmith grabbed nine rebounds, dished out three assists, recorded two blocks and even logged a steal.

Saturday night, Khansmith poured in a game-high 18 points to go with six rebounds, one steal and a block, but it wasn't enough as Kaiser saw a four-game win streak snapped in a 48-42 loss to No. 7 Kahuku.

Khansmith has been on the team since his sophomore season — when he was promoted from the JV for the postseason — and has been a starter the past two years.

"He's been around our program since the eighth grade because he was our manager, so he knows what the expectations are and he's seen it through the good times and the bad," said Kawazoe.

Kaiser won its first OIA Division II championship in 2014 and claimed both the league state D2 crowns the following season.

"Jaymin's been with us the whole time we went through all of that, so as we were trying to piece together what our team was going to look like back following the 2016 season, when we lost 12 seniors, we knew he would be a big piece of what we wanted to do in the next few years," Kawazoe said.

Kawazoe said Khansmith's growth since then can be measured both on and off the court.

"He's always working hard, both in the offseason and in season, and there's still room for growth, but all the work he's put in throughout the years is coming to fruition now. Basketball is so much of a mindset and right now he's rolling with it. I think it's just about his confidence and his belief in his abilities and the belief that he's ready for this time," Kawazoe said. "We're going to continue to ride him and hopefully he takes us where we need to get."

With the 10-game regular season winding down this week, Kawazoe said his team is turning its sights on another postseason run.

"We're all here trying to get better on a daily basis and the recognition that Jaymin is receiving is solely the product of everybody's work as well," Kawazoe said. "Our mantra is ‘we're a family,' and we go through everything together, so hopefully we'll continue to grow and finish the regular season strong and hopefully we can get into playoffs and make a run at the OIA."

Khansmith and the Cougars host Kalaheo Thursday and visit McKinley Saturday.


Female Athlete of the Week: Kaycee Manding, Waipahu soccer
Kaycee Manding tends to find herself in the middle of the action.

The 5-foot-7 sophomore midfielder has been a key contributor to the success of the Waipahu girls soccer team this season. Manding is tied for the team lead with seven goals scored and her latest came in a pivotal match last week.

Manding scored early in the second half last Tuesday to lift the Marauders to a monumental 1-0 road win over Kapolei in both team's regular-season finale.

"I've been here for three years now and I don't think Waipahu has beaten Kapolei before," Marauders coach Brent Murakami said. "Two years ago they got us at the end of the game, then last year we tied them and this year we beat them and it ultimately ended up being a battle for fifth place in the West."

The win was the fourth straight for Waipahu and locked up the Western Division's fifth seed in this week's Oahu Interscholastic Association D1 tournament.

"Getting that fifth seed was huge for us just to put us in the best possible position for the playoffs," Murakami said. "It would have been a big difference between playing the third East seed and the fourth East seed in the (opening round), so it gave us a little better chance. We preached that it was really the start of our playoffs even though it was our last regular-season game. We told them that this was our first playoff game and that we needed a win."

Manding broke the scoreless tie on a combination play with junior midfielder Mya Tolentino.

"It was a give-and-go type of play," Murakami recalled. "Kaycee made a midfield run through the back line on a combination, slipped behind, took a few dribbles and had a good finish. That was huge; Running from the midfield is critical for us."

Murakami emphasized the importance of both Manding and Tolentino due to a season-ending knee injury to senior striker Alysha Somera.

"We've been adjusting to try and create some offense without her, so our midfielders have to do a lot of work and contribute offensively with whatever forward we do have," Murakami said.

Manding, one of the Marauders' center-mids, helped set up the lone goal in Waipahu's 1-0 win over Roosevelt in Monday's opening round of the OIA tournament.

"It was similar to the goal that she scored against Kapolei, but she assisted to Amber Williams this time," Murakami said. "Kaycee was able to make a run through, she took a couple of players on and crossed it over to Amber and Amber had a good finish."

Murakami said part of what makes Manding special is her ability to quickly, and accurately, assess a given situation.

"Probably one of her biggest assets is she can play a long ball if she needs to, she can go across the field or diagonally, but also another asset of hers is her ability to make runs and support her teammates in that respect," Murakami said.

Manding earned Honorable Mention All-OIA West distinction as a freshman last season, when she netted seven goals and helped the Marauders to a D2 league crown and a state tournament appearance.

"Kaycee's had a lot of growth from the winter of last year. I think she was kind of forced to step up, but I think she also grew a love to compete and I think that what's driving her is she wants to be a good soccer player," Murakami said. "From the start of last high school season to now there's been continuous growth. It wasn't just that she got really good and then plateaued and it's exciting because she's only a sophomore."

Murakami added that while Manding's soccer abilities are tremendous, her character makes her all the more special.

"I think what makes her a player that is enjoyable to coach and to cheer for is that she has a good personality. She's not one to act out or be like, ‘I'm the best,' she doesn't walk with a swag — she just plays and those are the kind of players that I want to be around. It's exciting and it's enjoyable when she's successful because you know it's genuine," Murakami said. "At the same time, she doesn't get the success either without her teammates and so I think she would say the same thing, that a lot of it has to do with her teammates and her support."

Waipahu saw its five-game winning streak snapped by Pearl City, 3-0, in a quarterfinal Tuesday night.

Manding and the Marauders (8-4) can clinch a D1 state tournament berth with a win over Castle in a fifth-place semifinal Wednesday.


BOYS BASKETBALL
Charles Abe, Le Jardin — Scored 22 points in a loss to Damien

Kekaukahi Alameda, Hilo — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kealakehe

Kiai Apele, Waiakea — Scored 24 points in a win over Hilo

Naighel Calderon, Lanai — Scored 25 points in a win over St. Anthony and scored 25 points in a win over St. Anthony

Cannen Chiu, Kalaheo — Scored 22 points in a win over Kaimuki

Braden DeFries, Kamehameha — Scored 21 points in a win over Saint Louis

Kaimi Dunaway, Punahou II — Scored 23 points in a win over Iolani II and scored 21 points in a win over Kamehameha II

Cameron Henry, Mililani — Scored 19 points in a win over Waipahu

Isaiah Hopson, Kailua — Scored 25 points with 15 rebounds, five steals, two assists and a block in a loss to Kaiser

Hunter Hosoda, Punahou — Scored 18 points in a win over Iolani

Andrew Kearney, Kalaheo — Scored 23 points in a win over Kaimuki

Christian Manera, Kauai — Scored 20 points in a win over Waimea

Micah Mitchell, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 24 points in a win over Le Jardin and scored 30 points in a win over Hanalani

Zoar Nedd, Kapolei — Scored 19 points in a win over Nanakuli

Kameron Ng, Saint Francis — Scored 40 points in a win over Hanalani and scored 33 points in a win over University Lab

Adam O'Leary, Iolani II — Scored 20 points in a win over Saint Louis II

AJ Ulufale, Assets — Scored 23 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist

Tolu Smith, Kahuku — Scored 34 points in a win over Farrington and scored 15 points with 11 rebounds, one steal and an assist in a win over Kaiser

Emmanuel Stevenson, Damien — Scored 19 points in a win over Le Jardin

Fred Taulung, Kaimuki — Scored 22 points in a loss to Kalaheo

Micah Tong, Maryknoll II — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kamehameha II

Micah Visoria, Roosevelt — Scored 22 points in a win over Moanalua

Jayden Wyatt, Nanakuli — Scored 30 points in a loss to Kapolei

Ryan Yamamoto, Pearl City — Scored 21 points in a win over Radford

Kobe Young, Kamehameha — Scored 20 points in a loss to Maryknoll


GIRLS BASKETBALL
Sheri Alvarado, Castle — Scored 16 points in a win over Waipahu

Gieani Balino, Campbell — Scored 16 points in a win over McKinley

Hooiliesu Baptiste, Christian Academy — Scored 22 points in a win over St. Andrew's

Jaliyah Casem, Kapaa — Scored 27 points in a loss to Kauai

Caylie Kaupu, Konawaena — Scored 16 points in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Bella Cravens, Maryknoll — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kahuku

Angelica Cudiamat, Kapaa — Scored 17 points in a loss to Waimea

Kaelyn Espinda, Kaimuki — Scored 26 points in a loss to Leilehua

Braeanna Estabillo, Lahainaluna — Scored 20 points in a win over Maui

Julia Fisher, Le Jardin — Scored 20 points in a win over Iolani II and scored 19 points in a win over La Pietra

Sage Hottendorf, St. Andrew's — Scored 20 points in a loss to Christian Academy

Kelsie Imai, Waiakea — Scored 21 points in a win over Hawaii Prep

Kaimi Kalei, Saint Francis — Scored 18 points in a win over Damien

Kamalu Kamakawiwoole, Maryknoll — Scored 11 points with 10 rebounds and a steal in a win over Sacred Hearts and scored 16 points in a win over Iolani

Kaylen Kamelamela, Leilehua — Scored 23 points in a win over Kaimuki

Kawena Kaohimaunu, Konwaena — Scored 27 points in a win over Kealakehe

Sisilia Kaufusi, Kahuku — Scored 22 points in a win over Campbell

Brillie Kovaloff, Mid-Pacific — Scored 19 points with eight rebounds, two steals and an assist in a loss to Sacred Hearts

Marissa Layosa, Kauai — Scored 26 points in a win over Kapaa

Tehani Malterre, Kamehameha II — Scored 19 points in a win over Punahou II

Dallas Martinez, Sacred Hearts — Scored 25 points with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in a win over Mid-Pacific

Kianie Medeiros Dancel, Kau — Scored 21 points in a loss to Hawaii Prep

Cherilyn Molina, Konawaena — Scored 19 points in a win over Kealakehe

Kyley Nakagawa, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 16 points in a loss to Saint Francis

Moe Notoa, Maryknoll — Scored 17 points with four rebounds, two steals, one block and an assist in a win over Sacred Hearts

Kalina Obrey, Kamehameha — Scored 19 points in a win over Punahou and scored 18 points in a win over Punahou

Alyssa Oshita, Pearl City — Scored 17 points in a win over Kalaheo

Rayanna Pauley, Lanakila Baptist — Scored 19 points in a loss to Hawaiian Mission

Dahlis Sablay, Mililani — Scored 16 points in a win over Kaiser

Nani Santos, Saint Francis — Scored 17 points in a win over Damien

Kaye Serapio, Waimea — Scored 17 points in a win over Kapaa

Coco Shafer, Hawaii Prep — Scored 24 points in a win over Kau

Mikayla Tablit, Konawaena — Scored 23 points in a win over Kealakehe

Pumehana Uslan, Le Pietra — Scored 17 points in a loss to Hanalani and scored 16 points in a loss to Le Jardin

Kiana Vierra, Kamehameha — Scored 18 points in a loss to Iolani

Ally Wada, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 16 points in a win over Le Jardin

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


BOYS SOCCER
Ryan Bansihan, Kapaa — Scored the lone goal in a win over Island School

Jonathan DeMotta, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored three goals in a win over Keaau

Claudio Dortait, Campbell — Scored two goals in a win over Waialua

David Erksine, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored the lone goal in a win over Konawaena

Kody Gardner, Waimea — Scored two goals in a win over Kauai

Keoni Ichiyama, Kalani — Scored three goals in a win over Kaimuki

Ayden Lawes, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Radford

Kotaro Minawa, McKinley — Scored three goals in a win over Kaimuki

Jon Orrezoli, Radford — Scored three goals in a win over Aiea

Jake Schneider, Hawaii Prep — Scored two goals in a win over Kealakehe

Hikaru Seki, Roosevelt — Scored the lone goal in a win over Castle

Arsany Sokar, McKinley — Scored three goals in a tie against Farrington

Sean Yoshida, Kapolei — Scored three goals in a win over Nanakuli


GIRLS SOCCER
Camille Aiu, Damien — Scored two goals in a win over Le Jardin

April Barnes, Kapaa — Scored two goals in a win over Kauai and scored three goals in a win over Island School

Chenoa Fredrick, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored two goals in a win over Konawaena

Hevanilea Haunga, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored two goals in a win over Keaau

Camille Kimoto, Baldwin — Scored two goals in a win over Lahainaluna

Shaley Mercado, Kaiser — Scored two goals in a win over Kalani

Ciana Rivera, Castle — Scored three goals in a win over Castle

Teah Van Bergen, Hawaii Prep — Scored three goals in a win over Kealakehe

Kehela Ventura, Kauai — Scored five goals in a win over Waimea

Hiilei Wong Yuen, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored two goals in a win over Keaau

Kekaimalie Woods, Sacred Hearts — Scored four goals in a win over Le Jardin



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].