The Buffanblu senior shooting guard and Governors senior forward helped their respective teams to big wins last week. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Chris Kobayashi, Punahou basketball
Chris Kobayashi and the Punahou boys basketball finished off the preseason on a high note.

The 6-foot senior shooting guard averaged 22.3 points in four games last week to lead the Buffanblu to the championship of the 16-team Punahou Basketball Invitiational.

Kobayashi led his team in scoring in three of their four wins. He made 18 3-pointers and shot 11 of 12 from the free-throw line in the tournament.

"He can shoot it if guys are playing off of him, he can drive it and find outlets or he can get to the hole if guys are crowding him, but if he's open he'll shoot it," Buffanblu coach Darren Matsuda said of Kobayashi.

Kobayashi started off the tournament with 17 points in a 33-point win over Hamamatsu Tech (Japan). He followed that up with back-to-back 25-point efforts in wins over Wilson (Portland, Ore.) and Santa Margarita (Calif.). Kobayashi made a season-high seven 3-pointers against Santa Margarita Thursday.

"He's been letting the game come to him and not forcing shots," Matsuda said. "He'll pick and choose his spots and that's been key. He scored 27 points that night but it was because he didn't force it and he let it come and took what the defense gave him."

Matsuda said Kobayashi's growth isn't much of a surprise, given his work ethic.

"He's not one of those guys who are just great athletes. He's someone who has definitely put in the extra work to become a great athlete," Matsuda said. "For us, if you don't defend you don't play. Ever since his sophomore year he's really worked on that and has become a really solid defender for us. He can defend the post, he can defend the perimeter and he's put a lot of work into his body and his strength and his speed and I think that's helped him a lot."

In Saturday's championship game against Bishop Hendricken (Warwick, R.I.), Kobayashi was held to a single point in the first half. After halftime, he exploded for 21 points, including three 3-pointers and was perfect on all eight of his attempts from the charity stripe.

"His all-around game is really taking off," Matsuda said. "When he first came as a freshman, he was just a shooter, but he's really worked to improve the other aspects of his game since then. The biggest thing people don't see is his attention to detail. He's taking way better angles setting up his screens and doing all the small things that are making him a better player and really taking him to the next level."

Over and over again, Matsuda spoke of Kobayashi's "leadership and maturity.

"One of the things we preach is staying in the moment and understanding that the game and season is a marathon, not a sprint, and he's really taken to our philosophy, so whatever happens in an up moment or a down moment, he has really stayed the course," Matsuda said.

Kobayashi also played wide receiver on the Punahou football team the last few years, which Matsuda said has paid off in its own way.

"I think it's good for all of those kids when they play different roles on different teams because you learn to empathize for the role players and I think that helped him a lot," Matsuda said. "Plus, with football I think he can just play. He's a good football player, but in basketball he's kind of the man, whereas on the football team he's kind of a role player and I think that's good. There are times when he'll tell me he wants to get the other guys in the game and it's good to have an attitude like that. That's part of why he's a captain and such a team guy."

Kobayashi and the Buffanblu will open play in the always-rigorous Interscholastic League of Honolulu Wednesday night at defending Division I state champion Iolani.

Female Athlete of the Week: Molimau Heimuli, Farrington basketball
Molimau Heimuli put the finishing touches on a week to remember Tuesday night.

The Farrington senior forward totaled 74 points in three wins for her team last week, including a monster 35-point, 26-rebound effort in a 15-point win over Kalani Tuesday.

"We spoke to her about the impact she has on the team and about taking a leadership role and stepping up," Govs coach Caroline Tatupu said. "(Tuesday) was the best she played and best in terms of taking the ball in her hands and doing what she does best."

Heimuli had 15 points against Roosevelt last Tuesday and poured in 24 points in Thursday's 13-point road win at previously-unbeaten Kahuku.

It was a key victory for Farrington (7-1) to keep pace with first-place Kaimuki (7-0) atop the standings of the Oahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division.

The Govs lone loss of the year came against the Bulldogs back on Dec. 8. Heimuli, a Third Team All-Hawaii selection as a junior last year, was held to a season-low eight points in that game. It was only league contest that she failed to score in double digits. Heimuli is averaging 20 points per game in OIA East play.

"Moli is Moli," Kalani coach Chi Mok said after Tuesday's game at Farrington's Richard Kitamura Gymnasium. "We told our girls she's going to get her points, but we have to let others beat us."

Heimuli shot 16 of 22 from the field against the Falcons. She had 12 of her team's 14 first-quarter points and 23 of its 35 points in the first half.

Eleven of Heimuli's rebounds came on the offensive glass. She also had half (three) of her team's assists and three of its four blocks and made all three of her free throws for good measure.

Farrington has won five consecutive games since the 50-35 loss to Kaimuki and can assure itself at least a second-place finish in the East and a first-round bye in the 12-team OIA tournament with a win in either of its final two games.

"I've seen improvements in certain areas of our game. I'm happy with that," Tatupu said. "There are other things we still have to work on, but for the most part I'm happy with where we're at and I'm looking forward to our girls improving."

Heimuli and the Govs will visit McKinley Saturday before wrapping up the regular season against Kalaheo next Wednesday.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Trey Boatwright, Leilehua — Scored 26 points in a win over Radford and scored 16 points with 10 rebounds and three steals in a win over Waianae

Kolin Galdiano, Damien — Scored 18 points in a win over Sherman County and scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Kamehameha II

Cameron Henry, Mililani — Scored 21 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Pearl City

Shanson Kapanui, Kaimuki — Scored 19 points in a loss to Roosevelt

Lancen Kuni, Waialua — Scored 21 points in a loss to Nanakuli

Drake Lee, Kamehameha II — Scored 17 points in a loss to Damien

Cameron Ma, Kaiser — Scored 14 points with eight rebounds and one assist in a win over Kalaheo

Kaulana Makaula, Punahou — Scored 19 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Hamamatsu Tech

Zoar Nedd, Kapolei — Scored 23 points in a win over Waipahu

Kameron Ng, Saint Francis — Scored 29 points in a win over Bentley, scored 17 points in a loss to Santa Margarita, scored 17 points in a win over Wilson and scored 20 points in a loss to Los Alamitos

Brayden Nueku, Kaiser — Scored 17 points in a loss to McKinley

Jaymason Nunuha, Saint Louis — Scored 17 points in a win over Sherman County

Marcus Parker, Radford — Scored 17 points in a loss to Pearl City

Kaleo Pogue, Mililani — Scored 21 points in a win over Pearl City

Zeke Santiago, Farrington — Scored 18 points in a loss to Moanalua

Tristan Scharfenstein, Punahou II — Scored 16 points in a loss to Bishop Hendricken and scored 17 points in a loss to Kamehameha

Cyrus Singleman, Kaiser — Scored 16 points with six rebounds and two assists in a win over Kalaheo

Everett Torres-Kahapea, Kailua — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kahuku

Kamren Victorino-Kato, Kamehameha — Scored 20 points in a win over Bentley

Moustapha Wagne, Nanakuli — Scored 27 points in a loss to Kapolei

Captain Whitlock, Kalaheo — Scored 19 points with three rebounds and three steals in a loss to Kaiser and scored 27 points, including four 3-pointers, four rebounds and four assists in a win over Kaimuki

Kobe Young, Kamehameha — Scored 20 points in a win over Damien and scored 18 points in a win over Punahou II

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Jasianna Ah Nee Green, Campbell — Scored 14 points with 12 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and an assist in a win over Aiea

Gieani Balino, Campbell — Scored 17 points with nine steals, four rebounds and two assists in a win over Aiea

Tanya Blakeney, Kaiser — Scored 17 points in a win over Kalani

Shayla Cabato-Machado, Farrington — Scored 19 points, including four 3-pointers, in a win over Kahuku

Joselle Ferrer, McKinley — Scored 19 points in a win over Roosevelt

Logo Galeai, Kahuku — Scored 15 points, including four 3-pointers, in a loss to Farrington

Kaylee Ishii, Castle — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kaimuki

Trinidee Kahunahana, Kaiser — Scored 19 points in a win over Kalaheo

Kaylen Kamelamela, Leilehua — Scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over Waialua

Claire Kaneshiro, Waiakea — Scored 18 points in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii

Mandi Kawaha, Hilo — Scored 18 points in a win over Pahoa

Victoria Kintz, Kaimuki — Scored 18 points in a win over Castle

Alizelia Love, Waianae — Scored 15 points in a win over Aiea

Jordyn Mantz, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 17 points in a loss to Waiakea

Chyel Palmer, Leilehua — Scored 18 points in a win over Waipahu

Kailly Paulo, Aiea — Scored 17 points in a loss to Campbell

Samantha Pollard, Kalaheo — Scored 21 points in a loss to Castle

Danielle Silva, Campbell — Scored 15 points with six steals in a win over Aiea

Taylor Sullivan, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 15 points in a win over Pahoa

Anaulei Tuivai, Seabury Hall — Scored 29 points in a win over Lanai

Sunshine Vicente, Roosevelt — Scored 15 points in a loss to Farrington

BOYS SOCCER
Austin Diaz, Moanalua — Scored two goals in a win over Castle

Tate Ebel, Waianae — Scored two goals in a win over Waipahu

Jonathan LeVine, Kalaheo — Scored two goals in a win over McKinley

Chase Manatad, Kailua — Scored two goals in a win over Kaimuki

Ripley Quebral, Kailua — Scored two goals in a win over Kaimuki

Kameron Redona, Kapolei — Scored three goals in a win over Aiea

Samuel Rhyen Smith, Pearl City — Scored three goals in a win over Waialua

Sam Wren, Kapolei — Scored three goals in a win over Aiea

Devan Yoshimura, Pearl City — Scored three goals in a win over Waialua

Kawika Zarko, Mililani — Scored the lone goal in a win over Campbell

GIRLS SOCCER
Kamaile Aluli, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Kaiser

Sophia Aveau, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Kaiser

Randi Fontes, Pearl City — Scored three goals in a win over Waialua

Tommi Hintnaus, Kaiser — Scored two goals in a loss to Kahuku

Alysha Somera, Waipahu — Scored two goals in a win over Waianae

May Tolentino, Waipahu — Scored two goals in a win over Waianae