Top Performers
Faamausili-Cacoulidis, de Laura keyed big wins


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Male Athlete of the Week: Jayden de Laura, Saint Louis football
Jayden de Laura took a big leap in his maturation process over the weekend.

The junior quarterback factored into four touchdowns Saturday night to lead top-ranked Saint Louis to its fourth consecutive Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship with a 45-21 win over No. 2 Punahou at Aloha Stadium.

The 5-foot-11, 183-pound de Laura threw for 268 yards on 16-of-26 passing with one interception. While it wasn't a perfect performance, it was a far cry from de Laura's first game against the Buffanblu, when he was intercepted four times in a 7-point win back on Sept. 15.

"He did a lot better than the first time," Crusaders offensive coordinator Ron Lee said of de Laura. "The first one he threw four picks — that was bad — but in fairness to him, he didn't play much prior to that game."

Lee explained that de Laura played intermediate football at Damien as a freshman before transferring to Saint Louis and having to sit out his sophomore season due to league rules.

"He sat out the whole year before and he had only played the first half of the first two or three games and that was really his first big game for him, so he's gotten better since then and it's showed not just in his passing, but the leadership and executing the game plan."

Lee said de Laura's willingness to make good decisions was of utmost importance offensively.

"That was the key: not turning the ball over, moving the chains and not making mistakes," Lee said. "Punahou had a great game plan and they defended us well, so getting (536) yards (of total offense) is pretty good for a young guy. We're really thrilled with what he's doing so far and I know he can get better."

Not only did the Crusaders eclipse the 500-yard mark, they were perfectly balanced with 268 rushing yards to balance the aerial attack. De Laura carried a team-high 19 times for 52 yards, including a pair of touchdowns.

With 35 seconds left in the opening quarter, de Laura scampered in for a 4-yard score on a read-option play. A few minutes into the second quarter he went to the air for a 50-yard TD pass to Makoa Close to make it a 21-0 lead.

On the scoring play, de Laura escaped an oncoming pass rush and scrambled near the line of scrimmage before firing a deep pass to a streaking Close in the left seam.

"The throw he threw to Makoa Close — that was a huge throw — that was another big play, scrambling around and hitting him coming across and then he hit Close again (later) on an outside release where that wasn't his first choice, so Jayden's just playing well and we're running the ball more," Lee said. "Last year with Chev (Cordeiro), we threw the ball every down practically, (but) this year we're mixing it up more so his stats are not overly impressive, but this game especially, he showed that he's really making good decisions. That's the key."

Punahou looked to take back some momentum with a 36-yard TD pass from Kobe Muasau to Tamatoa Falatea, but de Laura stole it right back with a thrilling 25-yard TD run on a scramble just before halftime.

"Another difference from the first time (Saint Louis played Punahou), (de Laura's) a little more confident now when he gets into the secondary," Lee said. "He's not just running or sliding or trying to get the first down, now he's thinking of taking it to the house and now he becomes dangerous. We had some nice blocking downfield, but looking at the film, yeah, he got some help, but he made like three or four guys miss and that really turned the game around."

About midway through the fourth quarter, de Laura hit Chance Beyer on a short pass in the left flat that the latter turned into a 19-yard scoring play.

"I think the leadership is what has impressed me most, just taking control. It doesn't look real fancy, but he made some big-time throws on the move, on the run, he did a good job sliding around before of the pressure he had and I'm glad to see him do that. He's starting to play all-around good football."

For the season, de Laura has throws for 1,912 yards with 18 TDs against seven interceptions. He has completed 69.4 percent (111 of 160) of his passes on the year and has also accounted for 296 rushing yards and seven TDs on the ground.

"He's shown tremendous improvement and he's only going to get better because of the confidence, but he's already come a long way," Lee said.

De Laura had the unenviably task of following in the footsteps of Cordeiro — now at the University of Hawaii — and Alabama's Heisman Trophy front-runner Tua Tagovailoa.

"He's treated like the other guys were, too," Lee said. "They understand that they have a big responsibility. You know, they're the captain of the ship on the offense and the same way it was with Tua and Chev, they have to make good decisions. He's got some big shoes to fill, but I think he's handling it well. For a young guy, he's handled it well."

The Crusaders (9-0) will likely draw the top seed in the upcoming First Hawaiian Bank Open Division State Championships, which get underway on Nov. 9.


Female Athlete of the Week: Makenzie Faamausili-Cacoulidis, Sacred Hearts volleyball
When Raymond Patcho took over the Sacred Hearts girls volleyball team prior to the 2017 season, he foresaw a bright future for a Makenzie Faamausili-Cacoulidis as a setter.

The only thing was, Faamausili-Cacoulidis had never played the position before.

"She was actually a middle (hitter) and an opposite, but I just liked what I saw in her ability and her work ethic," Patcho said. "Her hands were all right, not all the way there, but there was something that I believed I could teach her."

Coming into this season, the Lancers had plans to run an offense utilizing six hitters and two setters, but that quickly went out the door due — largely due to Patcho's faith in Faamausili-Cacoulidis.

"She has worked really hard with the medicine ball and IQ, as far as where to go with the ball, but her work ethic is second to none," Patcho said. "She wants to be the best out there. She works hard. Every water break in practice she'll come out early and throw up some sets and she'd even get mad when we put in our other setter at times, but I told her it was because we have to prepare for every situation, but she's taken the reins and ran with it — and the thing is she's actually a real good hitter. We could have utilized her offense, but to me, I thought we'd be best with her at setter and she wanted to be a setter and trained hard to be the best setter out there and if somebody wants to do something that badly, hey, give them the reins."

The season got off to a dubious start after Sacred Hearts dropped matches against Le Jardin, Damien and Mid-Pacific to start their Interscholastic League of Honolulu campaign.

However, the Lancers turned it around by winning their next eight matches and eventually punched their ticket to the New City Nissan Division II State Championships as the ILH's fourth and final representative.

"We had a lot of individuals in the beginning. I'd heard ‘I want to be the best,' which is fine, but I told them that you have to do it in system and if you do your job, play within the system, then it's gonna work out," Patcho said. "When we lost the first three matches, I just said to ‘trust the system, keep on doing the same thing: working on defense, offense, serve-receive and then we went on that long winning streak."

At the state tournament, however, was when Faamausili-Cacoulidis and the Lancers elevated their game.

They started off last week with a three-set sweep of Konawaena in Wednesday's first round, in which Faamausili-Cacoulidis had 27 assists, eight digs, four kills and one block assist. The following night, she recorded 40 assists, nine digs and six kills to lead her team to a stunning upset of ILH champion and tournament top seed Mid-Pacific in four sets in quarterfinal action.

"She spread the offense really good. We watched film on Mid-Pac and I asked her, ‘do you see what you can do?' and she said, ‘yeah, I got it coach,' and she did what she needed to do. I think their big middle (6-foot-3 Kaehu Keala) was tired in the fourth set because she had to run to the right and she had to run to the left because Makenzie was spreading the offense all over. That was just something special to watch her set."

In Friday night's semifinal round, Faamausili-Cacoulidis posted 35 assists with five digs, five kills, one solo block, an ace and a block assist in a sweep of Waimea.

Faamausili-Cacoulidis closed out her week with 43 assists, 13 digs, four kills, three block assists and a solo block in Saturday night's four-set win over defending champion Le Jardin in the title match.

"I think everybody stepped up, but I think she elevated her leadership on the court. Her IQ, who to set, when to set it and then she just hustles so much. Bad passes, she's always running down the ball. I'm a setter myself and my daughter who coaches with me, she's a setter, too, and we both believe she can set at the next level," Patcho said of Faamausili-Cacoulidis.

It was the second state championship for Sacred Hearts and the first since 2006.

A total of five Lancers (13-4) were selected to the All-Tournament team. Shaydee Afoa, Ryanne Burnett, Ramsaye Wakinekona and Alissa Bautista were joined by Faamausili-Cacoulidis, who was tabbed as the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

"She kind of touched me when I sent the information to her that she won the MOP of the tournament," Patcho said. "She said, ‘you believed in me and everything I'm doing is because of you and you made me the player I am today.' She was uncomfortable because she had never played setter all of her volleyball career until this new coach came in and said, ‘I'm gonna make you a setter.' I've been playing setter all my life and I just saw something in her that she could do it and the way she ran the offense last week and the way it worked out for us as a team and everything just makes me so happy."

AIR RIFLERY
Devez Aniol, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Shot a total score of 645.7 to win the boys individual title at the Civilian Marksmanship Program State Championships

Madissyn Marr, Kalaheo — Shot a total score of 633.2 to win the girls individual title at the Civilian Marksmanship Program State Championships


BOWLING
Jake Brett, Kapolei — Won the boys individual title with a 199.83 pin average at the OIA championships

Christine Madrona, Kapolei — Won the girls individual title with a 190.67 pin average at the OIA championships


CROSS COUNTRY
Chloe Gangnath, Seabury Hall — Won the girls individual title in a time of 19 minutes, 20.73 seconds at the Honolulu Marathon State Championships

Adam Harder, Hanalani — Won the boys individual title in a time of 16 minutes, 50.85 seconds at the Honolulu Marathon State Championships


FOOTBALL (missing HILO-KEAL, KSH-KONA, KAPA-WMEA)
Dane Abarra, Kamehameha-Maui — Rushed 20 times for 117 yards in a win over Maui

Naomas Asuega-Fualaau, Kaimuki — Rushed 27 times for 111 yards with three touchdowns in a loss to Roosevelt

Kealii Barrett, Waipahu — Made seven tackles, including one sack, and forced a fumble in a win over Castle

Zeondre Benjamin, Waipahu — Made three tackles, intercepted two passes and broke up another in a win over Castle

Jordan Botelho, Saint Louis — Made 3 1/2 tackles with one sack, forced a fumble and scored on a 5-yard fumble return in a win over Punahou

Ryan Chang, Mililani — Caught three passes for 124 yards and a touchdown in a win over Farrington

Makoa Close, Saint Louis — Caught three passes for 111 yards and a touchdown in a win over Punahou

Kevin Davis, Roosevelt — Made five tackles with two sacks in a win over Kaimuki

Tysyn Estrella, Lahainaluna — Scored on a 30-yard interception return in a win over King Kekaulike

Alfred Failauga, Waipahu — Rushed 17 times for 175 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Castle

Les Falatea, Punahou — Caught 12 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Saint Louis

Caine Fitiausi-Fung, Roosevelt — Made 9 1/2 tackles and one sack in a win over Kaimuki

Ilaisa Fotu, Kahuku — Scored on a 40-yard interception return in a win over Campbell

Dillon Gabriel, Mililani — Threw for 335 yards and four touchdowns on 14-of-30 passing with two interceptions in a win over Farrington

Marcus Hee, Roosevelt — Made 9 1/2 tackles, including two for losses, forced a fumble and scored on a 73-yard interception return in a win over Kaimuki

Isaac Kaleikau, Roosevelt — Intercepted a pass and scored on a 53-yard fumble return in a win over Kaimuki

Kaulana Kaluna, Jr., Kaimuki — Made seven tackles with two sacks in a loss to Roosevelt

Kamoi Latu, Saint Louis — Intercepted two passes, recovered a fumble, had one tackle and broke up a pass in a win over Punahou

Marist Liufau, Punahou — Made four tackles, two sacks and recovered a fumble in a loss to Saint Louis

Kilifi Malepeai, Mililani — Rushed for a touchdown and caught another score in a win over Farrington

Cody Marques, Waipahu — Threw for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 10-of-18 passing in a win over Castle

Peter John Mataira, Kahuku — Scored on a 26-yard interception return in a win over Campbell

Robbie Paikai, Saint Louis — Rushed nine times for 104 yards in a win over Punahou

Manuele Pulusila, Waipahu — Made 4 1/2 tackles and scored on a 30-yard fumble return in a win over Castle

Branson Jay Reyes, Waipahu — Caught three passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Castle

Jonah Stephens, Kaimuki — Rushed 12 times for 120 yards in a loss to Roosevelt

Mone Tongi, Maui — Scored on a 75-yard kickoff return in a loss to Kamehameha-Maui

Reichel Vegas, Mililani — Caught four passes for 101 yards and scored on a 62-yard punt return in a win over Farrington

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Braelyn Akana, Kamehameha — Had 15 kills and two block assists in a three-set loss to Iolani

Keonilei Akana, Kamehameha — Had 14 kills, six digs, two aces, two block assists and one assist in a three-set win over Moanalua and had 11 kills, 15 digs and an ace in a three-set loss to Iolani

Lexis Akeo, Kamehameha — Had 32 assists, 11 digs, one kill, one solo block, one block assist and an ace in a three-set win over Kahuku

Kiana Anakalea, King Kekaulike — Had 16 digs in a four-set loss to Iolani

Nanea Andrade, Seabury Hall — Had 18 digs and four assists in a four-set loss to Le Jardin

Tiani Bello, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 26 kills, 19 digs, two aces and a solo block in a five-set win over Waianae and had 14 kills, 19 digs and one block assist in a four-set loss to Mililani

Alissa Bautista, Sacred Hearts — Had 19 digs, nine assists and four aces in a three-set win over Konawaena, had 20 digs and one assist in a four-set win over Mid-Pacific and had 24 digs, five assists and three aces in a four-set win over Le Jardin

Isabel Bennett, Seabury Hall — Had 19 kills and 19 digs in a four-set loss to Le Jardin and had 11 digs, 14 kills and an assist in a three-set loss to Mid-Pacific

Cherish Borge, Waianae — Had 15 kills, 14 digs and one block assist in a five-set loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Skyy Botelho, Kahuku — Had 20 digs and one kill in a four-set win over Farrington

Ryanne Burnett, Sacred Hearts — Had 18 digs, nine kills and two block assists in a four-set win over Mid-Pacific and had 15 kills, 13 digs and an assist in a four-set win over Le Jardin

Shelby Capllonch, Damien — Had 19 kills, 11 digs, three aces, one block assist and an assist in a three-set win over Hawaii Prep, had 14 kills, 14 digs and one block assist in a three-set win over Kohala and had 30 kills, nine digs and one assist in a four-set loss to Le Jardin

Ella Conner, Seabury Hall — Had 15 kills, 11 digs, one block assist and an assist in a four-set loss to Le Jardin and had 16 kills, seven digs and an ace in a three-set loss to Mid-Pacific

Falanika Danielson, Mililani — Had 15 kills, 17 digs and an assist in a four-set win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Ellie Diersbock, Le Jardin — Had 25 kills, three digs and a block assist in a four-set win over Le Jardin, had 14 kills, four block assists and one dig in a four-set win over Damien and had 16 kills, three digs and a block assist in a four-set loss to Sacred Hearts

Makayla Fonoimoana-Vaomu, Kahuku — Had 18 kills, four digs, five aces, two block assists and one assist in a four-set win over Farrington

Mariah Fukumoto, Mililani — Had 20 digs and three assists in a three-set loss to Iolani

Kristen Guzman, Waianae — Had 41 assists, nine digs, two block assists and one kill in a five-set loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Halle Hetzler, Le Jardin — Had 28 digs, five kills, two assists and two block assists in a four-set win over Seabury Hall, had 13 kills, eight digs and five block assists in a four-set win over Damien and had 17 digs and nine kills in a four-set loss to Sacred Hearts

Tayli Ikenaga, Moanalua — Had 12 kills, nine digs, one ace and an assist in a three-set loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Nanna Inoue, King Kekaulike — Had 15 digs and three assists in a four-set loss to Iolani

Saryiah Kahakai, Farrington — Had 15 kills, seven digs, three assists and two aces in a four-set loss to Kahuku

Del Kalulu-Sugai, Damien — Had 31 assists, eight digs, two block assists, one oil and an ace in a four-set loss to Le Jardin

Keau Kamakeeaina, Kahuku — Had 36 assists, 11 digs, two kills, two aces and one solo block in a four-set win over Farrington and had 37 assists, 14 digs and three kill in a three-set win over Hilo

Alyssa Kamealoha, Farrington — Had 18 digs and two assists in a four-set loss to Kahuku

Kaehu Keala, Mid-Pacific — Had 15 kills, two block assists and one dig in a three-set win over Seabury Hall

Kamalani Kekoolani, Mid-Pacific — Had 10 kills and 12 digs in a four-set loss to Sacred Hearts

Mahina Kenoi, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 19 digs, one ace and an assist in a three-set win over Moanalua

Nohokula Lind, King Kekaulike — Had 10 kills, 10 digs, two assists and one block assist in a four-set loss to Iolani

Malie McClure, Kamehameha — Had 11 kills, 11 digs and one assist in a three-set win over Kahuku

Kristen McDaniel, Iolani — Had 34 assists, eight digs, two kills, two aces and one block assist in a three-set win over Kapolei, had 29 assists, four kills, four digs, five block assists and one ace in a four-set win over King Kekaulike, had 29 assists, five kills, five digs and one block assist in a three-set win over Mililani and had 35 assists, three kills, three digs and three block assists in a three-set win over Kamehameha

Aysia Miller, Mililani — Had 31 assists, 11 kills, five digs, one solo block and a block assist in a four-set win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Alyssa Muraoka, Mid-Pacific — Had 23 digs, three assists and two aces in a four-set loss to Sacred Hearts

Jaylynn Nihipali, Kaiser — Had 11 kills, 12 assists, seven digs, three block assists and a solo block in a four-set loss to Waimea

Elena Oglivie, Iolani — Had 15 kills, 11 digs, two block assists, one ace and an assist in a three-set win over Kapolei, had 22 kills, eight digs and three block assists in a four-set win over King Kekaulike, had 15 kills, 17 digs, one ace and an assist in a three-set win over Mililani and had 28 kills, nine digs, three block assists, two assists and one solo block in a three-set win over Kamehameha

Paris Oliveira, Kamehameha — Had 16 digs and two assists in a three-set win over Moanalua, had 22 digs, three assists and two aces in a three-set win over Kahuku and had 14 digs and three assists in a three-set loss to Iolani

Rayne Pactol, Damien — Had 20 digs, one ace and an assist in a four-set loss to Le Jardin

Gemma Palleschi, Hawaii Prep — Had 10 kills, 13 digs, two block assists, one ace and an assist in a three-set loss to Leilehua

Gabrielle Peleras, Waimea — Had 19 kills, 11 digs, two aces, one block assist and an assist in a four-set win over Hana and had 19 kills, 14 digs and two aces in a four-set win over Kaiser

Serene Perry, Hana — Had 20 digs, four assists and three aces in a four-set loss to Waimea

Teia Piette, Le Jardin — Had 17 digs, four aces and four assists in a four-set win over Seabury Hall, had 16 digs, one ace and an assist in a four-set win over Damien and had 26 digs, one ace and an assist in a four-set loss to Sacred Hearts

Emma Porter, Mid-Pacific — Had 33 assists, two aces, one kill and a solo block in a four-set loss to Sacred Hearts

Shaylee Roback, Hana — Had 18 assists, 12 digs, seven kills and two block assists in a four-set loss to Waimea

Becca Sakoda, Iolani — Had 15 digs and an ace in a three-set win over Kamehameha

Izzy Sakoda, Iolani — Had 17 digs, nine kills, one ace and an assist in a three-set win over Mililani

Sierra Scanlan, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 55 assists, 11 digs and one block assist in a five-set win over Waianae and had 43 assists, three digs and a kill in a four-set loss to Mililani

Nani Spaar, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Had 33 kills, 12 digs, two assists, one solo block and a block assist in a five-set win over Waianae, had 24 kills, 14 digs, one ace and an assist in a four-set loss to Mililani and had 17 kills, nine digs, one block assist, an ace and an assist in a three-set win over Moanalua

Savannah Taosoga, Kahuku — Had 17 kills, two digs and one block assist in a three-set win over Hilo and had 15 kills, one dig, a solo block and a block assist in a three-set loss to Mililani

Heipua Tautuaa, Waianae — Had 17 kills, 16 digs, two solo blocks, two assists, one block assist and an ace in a five-set loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Nive Tuileta, Le Jardin — Had 25 assists, 10 kills, nine digs and three aces in a three-set win over Leilehua, had 28 assists, 11 digs and nine kills in a four-set win over Seabury Hall, had 24 assists, 11 kills, nine digs, seven block assists and two aces in a four-set win over Damien and had 19 assists, 14 kills, 10 digs, one block assist and an ace in a four-set loss to Sacred Hearts

Kalena Vaivai, King Kekaulike — Had 26 assists, 10 digs, two kills and two block assists in a four-set loss to Iolani

Jerica Vele, Farrington — Had 34 assists, eight digs, two aces and one kill in a four-set loss to Kahuku

Chevelle Wagner-Chun, Waianae — Had 21 digs, four assists, three aces and one kill in a five-set loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Grace Wee, Iolani — Had 15 digs and four assists in a four-set win over King Kekaulike and had 20 digs, three assists, one kill and an ace in a three-set win over Kamehameha

Leiko Yamauchi, Waimea — Had 23 assists, 15 digs, five kills, one solo block and a block assist in a four-set win over Hana and had 24 assists, 10 digs, six kills, one ace and a block assist in a four-set win over Kaiser



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].