Damien's Kobe Ikari and Mililani's Cassandra Stetser both help lead their teams in wins over Saint Francis and Campbell respectively. ScoringLive photo illustration

Purchase image 1 of 1

Male Athlete of the Week: Kobe Ikari, Damien basketball
The Damien boys basketball started off the Interscholastic League of Honolulu season with a bang Friday night. Led by Kobe Ikari's game-high 19 points, the Monarchs upset reigning Division II state champion Saint Francis, 59-53, at their home gym.

"That was huge, I'm still speechless about that win," Damien coach Alvin Stephenson said when reached by phone Sunday. "It was a huge confidence-booster for the program and the kids."

It was the first league loss for Saint Francis in two years since it lost a playoff game to Island Pacific in 2011, which ironically was also played at Damien.

"I told the boys Thursday that history would be made one way or the other," Stephenson said. "Either Saint Francis' win streak would continue or we can be the be the team that beats them."

Ikari, a sophomore point guard, was instrumental in the win. He scored in numerous ways, including two 3-pointers, and also registered five assists, two rebounds and a steal.

"You name it, he did it," Stephenson said of the 5-foot-7, 140 pound Ikari. "He shot the ball well, layed it up, got steals, was diving for loose balls. He was one of the leaders in charge that night."

Damien trailed at halftime, 30-26, but outscored the Saint Francis 33-23 in the second half, including a 17-11 margin in the fourth quarter.

"In my halftime speech, I told the boys that if they wanted this, they've going to have to fight for it," Stephenson said. "I said that they're not going to give it to us, we had to go earn it. It felt like David versus Goliath, like everything was for them and not us and that we had nothing to lose."

Ikari took his coaches' words to heart and played a big part in the Monarchs' second-half comeback.

"I saw him put the team on his shoulders," Stephenson said. "He hit a huge 3-pointer to put us up and after that shot we never looked back. He just played phenomenal that night.

It was especially redeeming for Ikari, who was a freshman on last year's team that lost to University High in the ILH D2 postseason last season.

"He's been looking forward to that since last year," Stephenson said. "Kobe's very hard on himself. Last year, before we played them, he told me that he was nervous, scared and a little intimidated so he wanted to redeem himself. He's been huge the whole season for us."

Stephenson is as proud of Ikari's academic progress as he is of his basketball exploits.

"He came to us from Washington Intermediate and people didn't really give him a chance," Stephenson said. "He came to Damien and he's been holding a 3.5 GPA for two years now. He has the heart of a champion and he's tough as nails."

The Monarchs are hoping to ride the momentum from Friday's win throughout the ILH season and hopefully into the state tournament.

"Damien hasn't been to states since 1973, so that's our mission," Stephenson said. "That's what we're fighting for and the boys are playing with a lot of pride to get us there. I'm really proud of the boys and hope that we can shock some people this season."

The ILH season continues Tuesday for the Monarchs with a 4:30 p.m. game against University High at Klum Gym.

Female Athlete of the Week: Cassandra Stetser, Mililani soccer
Second place is an unfamiliar spot for the Mililani girls soccer team. The Trojans are a perennial power in the Oahu Interscholastic Association and the reigning Red Conference champions. They have won 14 league titles, including four of the last five year. So Ray Akiona's squad was eager to redeem themselves going into Friday's Western Division showdown at Campbell.

Led by a pair of goals by senior Cassandra "CJ" Stetser, Mililani departed Ewa Beach with a convincing 4-0 shutout to pull within a half-game of the Sabers in the league standings.

"It appeared to be convincingly, but it took a lot out of us," said Trojans' coach Ray Akiona, who has six OIA championships to his credit. "Campbell is very physical and very talented, They're a great team and they're well-coached."

Stetser scored two of her team's three first-half goals in the third and 17th minutes. It was her ninth and 10th goals of the season.

"CJ has been one of those players that comes through when we've needed it," Akiona said. "What I like about her is she's persistent in trying to get that ball in the net. We've been very fortunate in having her there and she's been able to capitalize on a couple balls in the air. We're always happy with her performance and her work ethic."

Akiona said Stetser has an uncanny ability to find the ball in mid-air with her head, which was how she scored her first goal Friday.

"She has this natural timing, which for most girls is hard to do, but she's very patient and is able to focus on the timing of approaching the ball that gives her a knack for tracking the ball and being in the right place at the right time," Akiona said.

Stetser, who scored four goals in a regular-season opening win over Leilehua, has played nearly every position on the field this season.

"She's really not our tallest player, so we found that because she's really good at tracking the ball we moved her back into more of a midfield position where she has a little more responsibility defensively but she can attack as well," Akiona said of the 5-foot-6 Stetser. "It suits her more and keeps her more engaged in the game."

Akiona said that Stetser learned a lot by backing up all-state forward TJ Reyno — who recently completed her freshman season at the University of Hawaii — as a junior last year.

"I think what helped CJ a lot is seeing how TJ would take that responsibility of getting to the ball and completing the scoring opportunities for us," Akiona said. "Hopefully that inspired her now that she's a senior to take more responsibility to step up and finish the play."

The Trojans have won two straight games — outscoring their opponents 14-0 in that stretch — since suffering a 1-0 loss at Kapolei back on Dec. 20.

"I think that made us aware that every game is a game that needs to be considered and it really made us focus game-by-game," Akiona said. "We have to be prepared for every single game and take every opponent seriously. It was definitely a hard loss at Kapolei, but it helped us in a sense to be a better team and grow from it."

Still, Akiona says there is room for improvement heading down the home stretch of the OIA regular season.

"I think we're moving in the right direction, but we're not at our peak yet," Akiona said. "We're starting to put the pieces in the right place and the girls are starting to get together as a team and as a unit, but we still have a ways to go. Luckily for us we have a team that is willing to play for each other right now — that's the key."

Stetser and the Trojans return to action Tuesday with a home game against Aiea and a road game Friday at Waianae.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Daniel Andrews, Punahou — Scored 19 points in a win over Saint Louis Saturday

Samuta Avea, Kahuku — Scored 23 points in a win over Castle Thursday

Jerry Betiru, Kaimuki — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kailua Saturday

Matthew Bishop, Kailua — Scored 18 points in a win over Kaimuki Saturday

Josh Burnett, Maryknoll — Scored 24 points in a win over Mid-Pacific Saturday

Elijah Butler, Mililani — Scored 27 points in a win over Aiea Thursday and 24 points in a loss to Radford Saturday

Kalen Camero, Hawaii Prep — Scored 23 points in a win over Hilo Friday

Jalen Carvalho, Hilo — Scored 24 points in a loss to Hawaii Prep Friday

Tayler Espinda, Kaimuki — Scored 20 points in a loss to McKinley Thursday

Keanu Furtado, Castle — Scored 18 points in a loss to Farrington Saturday

Kaleb Gilmore, Maryknoll — Scored 19 points in a win over Mid-Pacific Saturday

Kupaa Harrison, Kalaheo — Scored 24 points in a win over Moanalua Thursday

Matthew Henderson, Kapolei — Scored 20 points in a win over Waialua Thursday

Isaac Hurd, Campbell — Scored 18 points in a loss to University High Monday

Kyle Husslein, Mid-Pacific — Scored 28 points in a win over Saint Louis Monday

Ryan Kaleikini, University High — Scored 19 points in a win over Le Jardin Saturday

Cameron King, Seabury Hall — Scored 33 points in a win over Molokai Friday and 20 points in a win over Moloaki Saturday

Hirkley Latu, Kahuku — Scored 22 points in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii Monday

Kelsey Lewis II, Kaiser — Scored 19 points in a win over Kailua Thursday

La'a Manliguis, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 25 points in a win over Ka'u Friday

Cory Mitchell, Kalani — Scored 28 points in a loss to McKinley Saturday

Matthew Nuumanaia, Saint Francis — Scored 23 points in a loss to Iolani Monday

David Rapanot, Molokai — Scored 23 points in a loss to Seabury Hall Friday

Xavier Repollo, Waialua — Scored 28 points in a win over Waipahu Saturday

Tolby Saito, Pahoa — Scored 38 points in a loss to Konawaena Friday

Alex Tatum, Le Jardin — Scored 19 points in a loss to University High Saturday

Amara Toure, Aiea — Scored 18 points in a loss to Mililani Thursday

Isaiah Visoria, Farrington — Scored 20 points in a win over Castle Saturday

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Amayha Dycus, Kapolei — Scored 25 points in a win over Pearl City Friday

Tailii Iinuma, Kalani — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kahuku Friday

Maia Laboy, Maryknoll — Scored 18 points in a win over Mid-Pacific Saturday

Markayisha Masani, University High — Scored 22 points in a win over Hanalani Monday

Tyra Meredith, Kalaheo — Scored 19 points in a loss to Moanalua Friday

Jasmine Moody, Radford — Scored 23 points in a win over Waipahu Friday

Starr Rivera, Roosevelt — Scored 22 points in a win over Kalaheo Monday

Alohi Robins-Hardy, Kamehameha — Scored 26 points in a win over Iolani Saturday

Tiare Sugui, McKinley — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kailua Friday

BOYS SOCCER
Joshua Christensen, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Kailua Saturday

Jhonah Felipe, Kalaheo — Scored three goals in a win over Farrington Saturday

Naia Graham, Kailua — Scored three goals in a loss to Kahuku Saturday

Jae Won Huh, Aiea — Scored two goals in a loss to Leilehua Friday

Brycen Lee, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a win over Damien Saturday

Eshan Mehta, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a win over Damien Saturday

Kai Umeda, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a win over Damien Saturday

Daniel Yamashita, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a win over Damien Saturday

GIRLS SOCCER
Hoku Afong, Moanalua — Scored three goals in a win over McKinley Saturday

Ma'ila Aluli, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Kailua Saturday

Sonest Furtado, Waianae — Scored six goals in a win over Waialua Friday

Haley Graham, Moanalua — Scored two goals in a win over McKinley Saturday

Sarah Lau, Kamehameha — Scored two goals in a win over Sacred Hearts Friday

Kawaiulani Makue, Kamehameha — Scored four goals in a win over Sacred Hearts Friday

Chevyn-Rae Morgan, Nanakuli — Scored two goals in a win over Waipahu Friday

Shay Nakahira, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Saint Francis Friday

Raisa Strom-Okimoto, Aiea — Scored three goals in a win over Leilehua Friday

Caitlin Tatemichi, Roosevelt — Scored two goals in a win over Kalani Saturday