Kaiser's Taylor 'Shota' Takada and Roosevelt's Keala Quinlan helped guide their teams to OIA championships last week. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Taylor "Shota" Takada, Kaiser soccer
Back in December, Taylor "Shota" Takada wasn't even sure he'd play high school soccer this year. But with a little encouragement from Marco Antonio Gloria, Takada came out for the Kaiser boys' team and has proved to be a difference maker right away.

The senior center midfielder is in his first year at Kaiser after playing on Punahou's state championship team as a freshman in 2011 and in 2012. After his sophomore season, Takada moved to Los Angeles, where he participated in the LA Galaxy Youth Academy before moving back home and enrolling at Kaiser last Fall.

"We actually played against him three years ago in the state final in 2011," said Gloria, the Cougars' coach who led them to a state runner-up finish that year. "I didn't even know he was on that team that year."

Takada, a member of the elite Honolulu Bulls soccer club, initially had no intentions of playing for Kaiser this year, but was approached by Gloria before the season began.

"He was just going to get ready for college, but I went and talked to him," Gloria said. "At the time he wasn't ready to go, but then a couple weeks later, he e-mailed me and had changed his mind. He spoke to his club coach, Phil Neddo, and it was mutual agreement between all of us that it would be a good idea for him to come out for Kaiser. It's all worked out and the rest is history."

Takada has scored three goals this season — none more important than his 56th minute goal that broke a 1-1 tie in Friday's Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference championship win over Kalani.

"He's not a flamboyant player, he's more of the hard-working guy who will rally the team," Gloria said. "He works the hardest, is very humble, knows the game and has a professional-like approach to the game. He's just a joy to coach."

Gloria said that despite it being his first year on the team, Takada has fit right in with the rest of his teammates.

"He jells right in, it's like he's been here all along," Gloria said. "We have a nice chemistry on the team and that's been a big part of our success."

The Cougars, who improved to 11-2 with the win over Kalani, captured their first league championship and will be one of four seeded teams in next week's Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Division I Boys Soccer State Championship.

"We have a really good team this year," Gloria said. "I told them that this is probably the best team we've had in my five years here. In 2011 we lost in the OIA final and the state final, but this team right now is more even than that team. It's been a huge team effort, but Shota has contributed a lot to it."

Female Athlete of the Week: Keala Quinlan, Roosevelt basketball
One year has made all the difference for Keala Quinlan.

After coming off the bench in limited duty as a freshman, Quinlan has blossomed into a key component of the Roosevelt girls' basketball team this year.

The 5-foot-11 sophomore forward came up huge Wednesday, scoring a team-high 17 points lead the Rough Riders to the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red (Division I) Conference championship with a 62-44 win over Mililani.

"She came up big for us," Roosevelt coach Hinano Higa said. "She worked hard during the week and came with energy during the game. She understood what kind of player her opponents were — as far as (Mililani center) Sarah Liva being a dominant low post — and she was a big part of that win for us."

Quinlan made eight of her 17 shots from the field and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds to go along with three steals and three blocks.

"She came off the bench as a freshman last year, but she was a younger player and mostly just followed along," Higa said. "I think her having those minutes as a freshman and knowing what it feels like to be in tough situation has played to her advantage, but this year her confidence level is a big-time difference and she's been right in there in the mix of all of our other players who we've needed to step up."

Quinlan scored a team-high 22 points in a regular-season win over McKinley back on Dec. 18 and has averaged a team-high 12.4 points per game, good for 13th-best in the OIA Red.

"She loves to shoot the ball anywhere on the court," Higa said. "When she's feeling it and she hits, she's pretty consistent on it, but she understands that it has to be a quality shot at the right moment and the right time and she's been pretty good in that sense."

Over the course of the season, Quinlan has displayed the versatility to step out and hit long-range shots, as well as a ball handler at times.

"She's a scorer for us, but she understands when to pass the ball as well," Higa said. "She'll make the extra pass, run the floor, rebound and handle the ball. She does her part and that's made us look better as a team."

Higa said that Quinlan's teammates have helped to make her a better player in practices this season.

"We're a young team, but we have two seniors (Tavae Sina Sofa and Devyn Kauhi) that really jell us together and they don't let Keala get away with anything being a sophomore," Higa said. "They're always competing in practice with each other — they don't give her a break — and she now has that same competitiveness and hunger."

Roosevelt, which won its fourth OIA championship last week and first since back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007, has a perfect 13-0 record going into this week's state tournament. The Rough Riders are the No. 4 seed in the 12-team tournament and will play tn a quarterfinal Friday against the winner of a first-round game between Hilo and Leilehua.

"It's a tough bracket with a potential matchup against (No. 1-seed) Lahainaluna, but we have to take care of business one game at a time," Higa said.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Daniel Andrews, Punahou — Scored 19 points in a win over Mid-Pacific Wednesday

Jonah Bredeson, Konawaena — Scored 24 points in a loss to Kohala Thursday

Bronson Brown-Kaopua, Waianae — Scored 26 points in a loss to Mililani Thursday

Noel Bueno, Mililani — Scored 19 points in a win over Waianae Thursday

Josh Burnett, Maryknoll — Scored 21 points in a win over Punahou Saturday

Anthony Canencia, University High — Scored 29 points in a loss to Damien Wednesday and 18 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist Friday

Jalen Carvalho, Hilo — Scored 27 points in a loss to Waiakea Monday and 26 points in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii Thursday

Zac Chong, Punahou II — Scored 18 points in win over Maryknoll II Thursday

Wilton Cravens, Kahuku — Scored 18 points in a win over Anuenue Monday

Haku Durant, Kamehameha II — Scored 18 points in a win over Iolani II Wednesday

Logan Earles, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 19 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist Thursday

Kaimana Equires, Waialua — Scored 19 points in a win over Nanakuli Tuesday

Kaleb Gilmore, Maryknoll — Scored 19 points in a win over Punahou Saturday

Frederick Harris III, Christian Academy — Scored 18 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist Saturday

Kupaa Harrison, Kalaheo — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kahuku Thursday and 21 points in a win over Kaimuki Saturday

Antoine Hines, Moanalua — Scored 22 points in a win over McKinley Thursday

Seth Jackson, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 21 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist Thursday and 19 points in a win over Island Pacific Saturday

Preston Kamada, Iolani II — Scored 19 points in a win over Saint Louis II Saturday

Chance Kamaka, Kapolei — Scored 18 points in a win over Radford Tuesday, 18 points in a loss to Leilehua Thursday and 18 points in a win over Aiea Saturday

Jordan Kauwe, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 19 points in a loss to University High Friday

Nayton Koki, Saint Francis — Scored 19 points in a win over Hanalani Saturday

Hirkley Latu, Kahuku — Scored 19 points in a win over Anuenue Monday

Jaylen Layco, Damien — Scored 21 points in a win over University High Wednesday and 20 points in a win over Le Jardin Saturday

Jacob McEnroe, Farrington — Scored 27 points in a win over Kalani Tuesday

Derrick McLamore, Radford — Scored 18 points in a win over Pearl City Saturday

Michael Merchant, Campbell — Scored 24 points in a win over Mililani Tuesday

Bryson Naito, Aiea — Scored 24 points in a win over Waipahu Tuesday

Ian Namu, Mililani — Scored 18 points in a loss to Campbell Tuesday

Matthew Nuumanaia, Saint Francis — Scored 18 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist Wednesday and 21 points in a win over Hanalani Saturday

Macjun Otarra, McKinley — Scored 19 points in a loss to Moanalua Thursday

Makana Piilani, Waianae — Scored 18 points in a win over Campbell Saturday

David Rapanot, Molokai — Scored 30 points in a win over Lanai Saturday

Tolby Saito, Pahoa — Scored 30 points in a win over Honokaa Thursday

Ian Schumaker, Island Pacific — Scored 24 points in a loss to Hawaiian Mission Saturday

Kekai Smith, Kalaheo — Scored 21 points in a win over Castle Tuesday

Lucas St. George, Waiakea — Scored 27 points in a win over Hilo Monday

Aaron Stuart, Moanalua — Scored 26 points in a win over Kaimuki Tuesday and 22 points in a win over McKinley Thursday

Matthew Urcia, Christian Academy — Scored 19 points in a win over ASSETS Thursday and 18 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist Saturday

Pukana Vincent, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 30 points in a win over Hilo Thursday

Isaiah Visoria, Farrington — Scored 20 points in a win over Kailua Thursday

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Tezrah Antonio, Kohala — Scored 16 points in a win over Hawaii Prep Saturday

Jade Botelho, Iolani — Scored 27 points in a win over Sacred Hearts Tuesday

Erica Brenner, Island Pacific — Scored 23 points in a loss to Lanakila Baptist Monday

Ula Brostek, Hawaii Prep — Scored 17 points in a loss to Honokaa Friday

Penina Faumui, Farrington — Scored 23 points in a win over Kalani Wednesday

Chancis Fernandez, Honokaa — Scored 17 points in a win over Hawaii Prep Friday and 19 points in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii Saturday

Nicole Kaaihue, Kamehameha — Scored 18 points in a win over Mid-Pacific Tuesday

Keala Kaio-Perez, Kailua — Scored 16 points in a loss to Moanalua Wednesday

Carly Kakuda, Kalani — Scored 21 points in a loss to Farrington Wednesday

Kacey Kuchenbecker, Le Jardin — Scored 26 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist Wednesday and 16 in a win over Hanalani Friday

Kelley Kuchenbecker, Le Jardin — Scored 15 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist Wednesday and 19 points in a win over Hanalani Friday

Sarah Liva, Mililani — Scored 19 points in a loss to Roosevelt Wednesday

Jerri Maluyo, Leilehua — Scored 17 points in a win over Radford Wednesday

LaChae McColor, Moanalua — Scored 20 points in a win over Kailua Wednesday

Chanelle Molina, Konawaena — Scored 23 points in a win over Keaau Friday

Millie Pacheco, Lanakila Baptist — Scored 24 points in a win over Island Pacific Monday

Jeizylin Pananganan, Lanakila Baptist — Scored 17 points in a win over Island Pacific Monday and 15 points in a win over St. Andrew's Tuesday

Taylor Pocock, Keaau — Scored 17 points in a loss to Konawaena Friday

Casey Poe, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 23 points in a win over Kohala Friday and 18 points in a loss to Honokaa Saturday

Deja Tavale, Radford — Scored 23 points in a loss to Leilehua Wednesday

Jeneva Toilolo, Farrington — Scored 20 points in a win over Kalani Wednesday

Patria Vaimaona, Kailua — Scored 18 points in a loss to Moanalua Wednesday

Katherine Walker, Lanakila Baptist — Scored 20 points in a win over St. Andrew's Tuesday

BOYS SOCCER
Stirling Aponte, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a win over Damien Tuesday

GeRysand Cabanilla, Pac-Five — Scored two goals in a win over Damien Saturday

Paul Enriquez, Pearl City — Scored three goals in a win over Moanalua Friday

Antonio Espinoza, Punahou — Scored two goals in a tie against Kamehameha Saturday

Lane Hosaka, Pac-Five — Scored two goals in a win over Damien Saturday

Mortiz Keoppenkastrop-Lueker, Pac-Five — Scored two goals in a win over Damien Saturday

Jonathan Piri, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a win over Damien Tuesday

Demar Stewart, Leilehua — Scored two goals in a loss to Roosevelt Friday

Levi Wong, Waipahu — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington Tuesday

Daniel Woo, Pearl City — Scored two goals in a win over Kahuku Thursday

CANOE PADDLING
Kamehameha boys crew (Kapono Fujitani, Robert Ka‘au Bradley, Lance Ontai, Kainalu Asam, David Kawika Kaleleiki and Taylore Voeller) — won state championship in a time of three minutes, 35.17 seconds Saturday

Kamehameha girls crew (Tressie Ostermiller, Hinaikawaihi‘ile Keala, Tate Keli‘iho‘omalu, Kaira-Faye Lono, Kekahiliokalani Novikoff and Courtney Shook) — won state championship in a time of 4:09.31 Saturday

Punahou mixed crew (Ethan Lewis, Geoffrey Lewis, Steven Falatea, Emalia Eichelberger, Alyssa Basdavanos and Victoria Rooks) — won state championship in a time of 3:47.20

SWIMMING & DIVING
Kevin Frifelt, Mililani — Won the 100-yard butterfly and was on the winning 200-yard freestyle relay team at Saturday's OIA championships

Aimee Iwamoto, Moanalua — Won the girls 50-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley races at Saturday's OIA championships

Paris James, Kalani — Won the 100-yard butterfly and 500-yard freestyle races at Saturday's OIA championships

Corrine Shigeta, Kaiser — Won the 100-yard freestyle race and was part of the winning 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay teams at Saturday's OIA championships

Lara Yasumi, Kaiser — Won the 200-yard freestyle race and was part of the winning 200-yard medley relay team at Saturday's OIA championships