The Saints' junior guard and Spartans' senior center paved the way for big wins last week for their respective teams. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Kameron Ng, Saint Francis basketball
Saint Francis boys basketball coach Ron Durant does not mince words when speaking of Kameron Ng.

Durant puts his junior guard atop the list of standouts statewide.

"I think he's the most exciting player in the state right now," Durant said of Ng, a 5-foot-7 scoring machine.

Ng's numbers certainly back up his coach's words. He is averaging a staggering 26 points per game, including another prolific effort last week.

In a span of three games on consecutive days at the Walter Wong Tournament, Ng totaled 77 points and 10 3-pointers. He scored 28 points in a 77-43 win over Saint Louis II Wednesday, then followed that up with 25 points in Thursday's 76-60 win over McKinley, before closing the week out with a 24-point effort in a 50-46 win over Saint Louis in the championship game.

Durant said the victory over the Division-I Crusaders on their home court at McCabe Gymnasium was a monumental one.

"It was a battle and it was a championship-game atmosphere. Winning on their court was very, very nice, and beating another D1 school gives us confidence because we were down and we battled back, we were down and we battled back," Durant said. "We never stopped battling even when we got down four or five points. We just kept battling back and it was a very physical game — which was one of my concerns — so I'm proud of them."

Ng was the lone Saint Francis player to score in double figures Friday. He made three of his team's six 3-pointers in the win, but what impressed Durant most about the junior's performance can't be found in the stat book.

"He actually made some suggestions to us as a coaching staff during some of the timeouts and he was able to be like a coach on the floor and we were able to take advantage of it," Durant said. "There were some things that he picked up before the coaching staff picked up, so I was really impressed with that. He made that game-time adjustment on his own."

And then there's the on-the-court skills that Ng puts on display seemingly nightly.

"His ball-handling skills are well above anybody that I've seen. He can shoot it, he can pass it — his court awareness is off the charts — and he's fun to watch," Durant said. "People after our games tell us that they want to come watch us more because he's fun to watch and our team is fun to watch the way we get up and down the court. Of course, he's the engine and the guys just come along."

Ng first burst onto the season as a freshman two years ago, when he averaged 11.3 points per game. His sophomore campaign saw him post a 19.8 points-per-game average and claim Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II Player of the Year honors while leading the Saints to a 26-4 overall record and their first D2 state championship since 2013.

Durant noted improvements in Ng's strength and defense this season.

"I think everybody watches his offense, but I think he's gotten better defensively," Durant said. "He's playing tougher defense, he's guarding guys a little bit more aggressive and he's a lot stronger this year. We had a conversation during the summer that if he wants to play at the next level, he's got to play both sides of the court, so I challenged him to step it up defensively and I think he's done a good job."

Saint Francis is off to a 12-1 start this preseason and is No. 5 in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Power Rankings.

Female Athlete of the Week: Bella Cravens, Maryknoll basketball
Bella Cravens has proven to be a game-changing force for the Maryknoll girls basketball team.

The 6-foot-1 senior center has established herself amongst the top rebounders and rim-protectors in the state, and is quickly finding her groove offensively for the top-ranked Spartans.

Cravens turned in another solid performance in a pivotal home win over No. 2 Kamehameha Friday night. She scored 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds – both team-high marks — to lead Maryknoll to a 46-38 victory over the Warriors.

"Bella just really gives us a weapon that we've got to make sure we don't ignore," Spartans coach Chico Furtado said. "Bella offers something that no other player offers."

Cravens, who is averaging 8.8 points per game through three Interscholastic League of Honolulu games, also registered an assist. She had just one block, but changed a number of other shots, Furtado said.

"She's playing good, sound defense without getting into foul trouble — and that's the key. Sometimes it's just the presence and understanding of forcing guys to finish over your length. It doesn't have to be a volleyball spike and send the ball into the bleachers, but altering shots and making people adjust to her being around the rim is just as good," Furtado said. "The other thing is boards that she cannot get clearly she ends up tipping out to the guards and she's keeping balls alive even if she cannot get at it, so she has an awareness of what's going on around the basket."

Cravens' 13-point effort against Kamehameha came just six days after a 14-point game in a win over Oregon City on the final day of the Iolani Classic. Still, it's her defensive prowess that the Spartans rely on most.

"We've got 11 returnees and so we're pretty mature and well-rounded. None of our players get the kind of minutes and stats that other teams might get because we're so well-rounded, so a fourteen-point effort from her is huge for us," Furtado said. "Her biggest asset is still on the defensive end, there's no doubt, but her offense has blossomed. She's a very mature, smart kid and she understands what she needs to do to be successful. I think that has obviously improved over the years; she's become a smarter basketball player."

As a junior last year, Cravens averaged 7.3 points and was named to the All-ILH D1 First Team. She also earned Third Team All-Hawaii honors and helped the Spartans go 28-3 overall and reach the state championship game.

Furtado said Cravens' athleticism can sometimes be overlooked.

"She can run the floor. Everybody thinks she's this kind of gangly 6-1 big, but she got two fast break layups against Mid-Pac, so her athleticism from baseline to baseline is deceiving," Furtado said. "She's more athletic than you think she is and that's kind of benefitted us. It's very difficult because we want her to touch the ball, but we have horses than can run, so we tell our bigs that if they want easy buckets to run the floor and she's done a great job of that when she doesn't grab the board herself."

Cravens, who also plays volleyball for the Spartans, has signed a full scholarship for basketball with Eastern Washington.

Maryknoll, which sits in first place in the ILH D1 standings, is in Las Vegas this week to participate in the Tarkanian Classic, hosted by Bishop Gorman.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Charles Abe, Le Jardin — Scored 30 points in a win over Castle

Cole Arceneaux, Punahou — Scored 16 points with four rebounds, four assists and five steals in a win over Moanalua

Jayrius Alapai, Nanakuli — Scored 25 points in a loss to Kaimuki

Elijah Busenbard, Christian Academy — Scored 19 points in a loss to Castle

Kapono Campos, Roosevelt — Scored 18 points in a win over Waipahu

Ja'Shon Carter, Kapolei — Scored 20 points in a loss to Jefferson

Caleb Corpening, McKinley — Scored 32 points in a loss to Campbell

Cannen Chiu, Kalaheo — Scored 18 points in a loss to Bishop O'Dowd

Raven Ferrer, Aiea — Scored 21 points in a loss to University Lab

Jydon Hall, Damien — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kaiser

Seth Hiro, Saint Louis II — Scored 22 points in a win over Castle

Robert Hutchison, Campbell — Scored 18 points in a loss to Saint Louis, scored 26 points in a win over McKinley

Kyle Lagana, Mid-Pacific — Scored 21 points in a win over Radford

Christian Manera, Kauai — Scored 17 points in a win over Castle

Yoshimi Matoba, Christian Academy — Scored 26 points in a win over Maryknoll II and scored 22 points in a loss to Castle

Micah Mitchell, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 22 points in a win over Mililani

Zoar Nedd, Kapolei — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kailua

Bryce Nishida, Saint Francis — Scored 20 points in a win over McKinley

Reese Pascua, Lahainaluna — Scored 17 points in a win over King Kekaulike

Cyrus Singelman, Kaiser — Scored 19 points with 11 rebounds and two blocks in a win over Nanakuli, scored 19 points in a win over Damien

Fred Taulung, Kaimuki — Scored 25 points in a loss to Aiea

Otto Taylor, University Lab — Scored 19 points in a win over Aiea

Micah Tong, Maryknoll II — Scored 22 points in a loss to Christian Academy

Everett Torres-Kahapea, Kailua — Scored 33 points in a win over Kapolei and scored 20 points in a win over Punahou II

Max Weimken, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 22 points in a win over Mililani

Josh Willis, Castle — Scored 26 points in a loss to Kauai, scored 20 points in a loss to Le Jardin and scored 22 points in a win over Christian Academy

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Gieani Balino, Campbell — Scored 18 points in a win over Pearl City and scored 18 points in a win over Waialua

Jaliyah Casem, Kapaa — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kauai

Kaelyn Espinda, Kaimuki — Scored 18 points in a win over Kalaheo

Braeanna Estabillo, Lahainaluna — Scored 32 points in a win over King Kekaulike

Paige Farhni, Mid-Pacific — Scored 18 points in a loss to Iolani

Julia Fisher, Le Jardin — Grabbed 15 rebounds with six points and three blocks in a win over Damien

Fetogiaifaasoiatuaoi Fonoti, Punahou — Scored 19 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific

Sage Hottendorf, St. Andrew's — Scored 16 points in a win over Hawaiian Mission

Trinidee Kahunahana, Kaiser — Scored 18 points in a win over Kailua

Sisilia Kaufusi, Kahuku — Scored 17 points in a win over Roosevelt

Taegan Keep, Kauai — Scored 25 points in a win over Kapaa and scored 20 points in a win over Waimea

Brillie Kovaloff, Mid-Pacific — Scored 21 points in a win over Punahou

Tori Lynn Maeda, Iolani — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kamehameha

Arriana Maltezo, Lanai — Scored 18 points with nine rebounds and two assists in a loss to Seabury Hall

Cherilyn Molina, Konawaena — Scored 17 points in a win over Waiakea

Sonia Palik, Kaimuki — Scored 17 points in a win over Castle

Samantha Pollard, Kalaheo — Scored 24 points in a loss to Kaimuki

Dannica Roberts, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 18 points in a loss to Christian Academy

Ilana Sagapolutele, Damien — Scored 11 points with 18 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a loss to Le Jardin and scored 23 points in a win over University Lab

Tati Sampson, Kalaheo — Scored 19 points with six rebounds in a loss to McKinley

Nani Santos, Saint Francis — Scored 24 points in a win over Hanalani

Allani Talapu, Farrington — Scored 22 points in a win over Castle

Sirena Titer, Kaimuki — Scored 17 points in a win over Castle

Keila Tsutsui, Hanalani — Scored 18 points in a loss to Iolani II

Anoulei Tuivai, Seabury Hall — Scored 13 points with 10 rebounds, four blocks, two assists and one steal in a win over Ross Shepard and scored 25 points with 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a win over Lanai

Maddie Venezia, Le Jardin — Scored 14 points with 11 rebounds, five steals and two assists in a win over Damien

Ally Wada, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 18 points in a win over Hanalani

Lily Wahinekapu, Iolani — Scored 19 points in a win over Mid-Pacific

BOYS SOCCER
Michael Bacoro, Castle — Scored three goals in a win over Kaimuki

Buddy Betts, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored three goals in a win over Kau

Jonathan DeMotta, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored two goals in a win over Kealakehe

Gabe Franklin, Kapaa — Scored three goals in a win over Kauai

Zeyz Hughes-Martin, Castle — Scored four goals in a win over Kaimuki and scored five goals in a win over Farrington

Dane Little, Mililani — Scored three goals in a win over Nanakuli

Thomas Mascaro-Keahi, Kapolei — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua

Chaz Watanabe, Kahuku — Scored three goals in a win over McKinley

Trystan Wright, Mililani — Scored three goals in a win over Nanakuli and scored the lone goal in a win over Pearl City

Sean Yoshida, Kapolei — Scored four goals in a win over Waialua

GIRLS SOCCER
April Barnes, Kapaa — Scored three goals in a win over Kauai

Brianna Binder, Kapaa — Scored five goals in a win over Waimea

Hiwa Brown, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored three goals in a win over Kealakehe

Kiara Cuyo, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored three goals in a win over Kau

Hevanilea Haunga, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored three goals in a win over Kau

Taylor Hayes, Moanalua — Scored three goals in a win over McKinley

Ashley Lopez, Kailua — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kalaheo

Tyla Reese Mane, Aiea — Scored three goals in a win over Waianae

Taylor Marascho, Kahuku — Scored three goals in a win over McKinley

Nicole Olanda, Aiea — Scored two goals in a loss to Waipahu and scored three goals in a win over Waianae

Isabella Police, Hawaii Prep — Scored three goals in a win over Kau

Rayna Santiago, Nanakuli — Scored three goals in a win over Waialua

Cheyenne Smith, Campbell — Scored three goals in a win over Radford

Kelci Sumida, Moanalua — Scored four goals in a win over Farrington

Caylie Uyema, Pearl City — Scored three goals in a win over Mililani

Radhika Webster-Shultz, Mid-Pacific — Scored three goals in a win over Le Jardin

Alianna West, Hawaii Prep — Scored three goals in a win over Kau