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Jeremiah White

Kaimuki basketball  •   #2  G/F  Junior

In Jeremiah White's world, there are no days off. 

The Kaimuki junior's hard work is paying off for him on the basketball court this season, where White is averaging nearly 21 points a game for the Bulldogs.

White, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound combo guard, has scored in double-digits in all but one of Kaimuki's nine league games, including a string of four straight 20-point games since the start of the calendar year. 

"What he does overall is amazing," Bulldogs coach Greydon Espinda said of White, a second-year starter and team captain. "He's not afraid to complete, he's always up for the challenge and he never backs down."

And he's been doing it all year long. White had 15 points in his very first game of the preseason, which came against Interscholastic League of Honolulu contender Maryknoll on Nov. 25 — just about a month after he finished up the fall sports season as a standout wide receiver/defensive back/kick returner for the Kaimuki football team. 

"He obviously doesn't need to be motivated. He motivates himself and is self-driven," said Espinda, whose squad includes more than a handful of football players. 

"When he's in football, I want him to focus totally on football. I tell him that football is his future and to use basketball as a tool to make him better in football, but he's just a smart and savvy player. The greatest thing about his conditioning is that the transition from football to basketball for him was very minimal. He took the court and he was running already," Espinda added. 

Just a day after his 15-point effort against Maryknoll, White had 21 points against Hawaii Baptist. Two days after that, he accounted for 28 points against Damien. White poured in a season-high 34 points in a 48-45 win over McKinley in early December. 

"Jeremiah plays hard, he plays really, really hard. He's very aggressive, he attacks the basket, he can shoot the ball when open and at the same time he's not afraid to go to the basket and take it to the hole," Espinda described. 

White tallied 20 points against first-place Kailua five days before Christmas and notched 28 against Kalaheo five days after it. However, the Bulldogs dropped their first five games in OIA East play. It wasn't until Jan. 7 that they notched their first league win, when White exploded for a team-high 26 points in a 68-63 victory. 

"We had a rough start playing the top teams in a row — it was hard — but we're finally getting our groove and hopefully it's not too little, too late. We're coming together slowly, but surely," said Espinda, whose team won a string of eight straight games to reach the Division II state title game a year ago. 

"After we lost to Kailua, we won every single game until the state championship game," Espinda reflected. "So we're hoping to repeat the process, but not the end."

The Bulldogs made it back-to-back victories with a hard-fought 55-53 win in overtime against Castle last Wednesday. White led the way once again with 22 points; He shot 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. They extended their win streak to three games Friday with their 60-57 win over Farrington, in which White contributed 24 points; He matched his season-high with three made 3-pointers in the victory. 

"He puts the team on his back," Espinda stated. "I tell him that don't be afraid to take risks, don't be afraid to take challenges. There's no doubt about it, there's a big drop off when he's not in there." 

Needless to say, White plays a ton of minutes for the Bulldogs. 

"That's an understatement," Espinda laughed. "There are times when he just doesn't come out. I feel so much more comfortable when he's in there."

It's not just his offensive production that White brings to the table. He is most certainly in a position of leadership. 

"His overall leadership on the court is huge. When players are getting down on each other, he'll just say positive things and encourage his teammates and they follow his lead," Espinda said. "He has a bigger role as a captain because he's one of the returning starters, so the expectation from him is even greater. When there is a concern with the team, I will address it to him, so he's actually like a player-coach out there. 

As far as his leadership style? It's by example, to be sure. 

"He never has a bad day of practice. He always practices hard every single day and no matter what we're doing, he always puts all his effort into it and that, a lot of times, is contagious because now his teammates want to do the same thing, so he's just an outstanding young man who works hard no matter what accolades come his way; He's never satisfied and he's always willing to work hard, push hard and push his teammates to work harder," Espinda said. 

White averaged 10.4 points per game as a sophomore last year and earned All-OIA East Second Team honors. He was also a Second Team All-Hawaii selection. 

On the football field this year, White was an All-OIA D2 First Team pick at wide receiver, defensive back and on special teams. 

"I don't doubt he would be able to pick up a baseball bat and hit a home run, too," Espinda said. "He's that athletic."

Despite his athleticism and many achievements in the athletic realm, White remains a down-to-Earth teammate. 

"He's very, very humble, very respectful and just a really super good kid. You couldn't ask for a better kid," Espinda said. "I just hope someone is willing to give him an opportunity to play football at the next level because he deserves it and he's earned it."

White and the Bulldogs (3-5) made the move up to Division I this year. They can lock up a spot in the 12-team OIA tournament with wins over Kalani (2-6) Wednesday and Kaiser (4-4) Saturday. 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Dorn Bromo, Seabury Hall — Scored 24 points in a win over Lanai 

Mizah Carreira, Campbell — Scored 21 points in a win over Aiea 

Noah Deleon, Waipahu — Scored 19 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over Waianae 

Noah Flores Alexander, Lahainaluna — Scored 18 points in a win over Kekaulike 

Roman Gabriel, Mililani — Scored 20 points in a win over Nanakuli 

Gerald Gallardo, Farrington — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kaimuki 

Jaron Gilmore, Kalaheo — Scored 25 points in a win over McKinley and scored 17 points in a win over Castle 

Seth Harman, Kaiser — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kailua 

Akila Indalecio, Iolani — Scored 18 points in a win over Kamehameha 

Kache Kaio, Kahuku — Scored 25 points with six rebounds and three steals in a win over Kalani 

Keaka Kauhane, Kapaa — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kauai and scored 20 points in a win over Kauai 

Blaze Kaululaau, Nanakuli — Scored 21 points in a loss to Leilehua 

Kyle Kelmenson, Haleakala Waldorf — Scored 18 points in a win over Hana and scored 21 points in a win over Hana 

Jayden Kipapa, Mililani — Scored 29 points, including six 3-pointers, in a win over Campbell 

Cyris Laury-Schaefer, Haleakala Waldorf — Scored 17 points in a win over Hana and scored 22 points in a win over Hana 

Kayman Lewis, Roosevelt — Scored 17 points in a win over Kaiser 

Heath Lopez, Molokai — Scored 19 points in a win over Maui Prep 

Daysin Lupica, Kaimuki — Scored 18 points in an overtime win over Castle 

Zelston Militante, Leilehua — Scored 20 points in a win over Leilehua 

Jonny Philbrick, Kailua — Scored 20 points in a win over Kaiser 

Maddox Pung, Kailua — Scored 19 points in a win over Kalani 

Mikey Questin, Kapaa — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kauai and scored 21 points in a win over Island School 

Ernest Rodriguez, Farrington — Scored 21 points in a loss to Kaimuki 

Flavio Sailiai-Leon, Waianae — Scored 22 points in a win over Waialua 

Dylan Schnitzer, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored 21 points in a loss to Lahainaluna 

Pupualii Sepulona, Saint Louis — Scored 19 points in a win over Iolani and scored 19 points in a win over Maryknoll 

Eli Shibuya, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 20 points in a win over Hanalani and scored 21 points in a win over Le Jardin 

Matthew Shigetani, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 17 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over University Lab 

Josiah Shinbara, Castle — Scored 19 points in an overtime loss to Kaimuki 

Hawkins Souffrant, Radford — Scored 22 points in a win over Aiea 

Jackson Swirsky, Le Jardin — Scored 23 points in a win over Damien

Noah Takahata, Hanalani — Scored 18 points in a loss to Hawaii Baptist 

Brennan Wastell, Kapolei — Scored 26 points in a loss to Campbell 

Caden Williams, Radford — Scored 23 points in a win over Aiea 

Flynn Williams, Maui Prep — Scored 24 points in a loss to Molokai 

BOYS SOCCER

Tevin Atwal, Waiakea — Scored three goals in a win over Parker 

Brody Awaya, Iolani — Scored two goals in a win over PAC-5

Colin Bradshaw, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Castle 

Jordan Carbonell, Baldwin — Scored the lone goal in a win over Lahainaluna

Ito Doratt, Waiakea — Scored two goals in a win over Hawaii Prep 

Dominic Edwards, Campbell — Scored three goals in a win over Leilehua 

Kisei Ikeda, Roosevelt — Scored the lone goal in a win over Moanalua 

Aziah Nelson, Waiakea — Scored three goals in a win over Parker 

Koa Palma, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a win over Damien 

Owen Riecke, Kekaulike — Scored two goals in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Sawyer Rogoff, Island School — Scored two goals in a win over Kauai 

Sye Sandobal, Aiea — Scored two goals in a win over Waianae 

Ezekiel-Alan Valdez, Kailua — Scored two goals in a win over McKinley 

Kala Velasco, Kapaa — Scored two goals in a win over Waimea 

Braelyn Kauhi

Konawaena basketball  •   #23  G/F  Senior

There is plenty of motivation fueling Braelyn Kauhi this winter. 

After helping her Konawaena girls basketball team to state runner-up finishes in both her freshman and junior seasons, the senior has set her sights on a state crown and nothing less. 

Kauhi and the Wildcats, who are ranked third in this week's ScoringLive Power Rankings, are building up toward a postseason run. They have put together a 9-0 record and sit in first place atop the Big Island Interscholastic Federation's Division I standings. 

The 5-foot-10 Kauhi has certainly had a big hand in Konawaena's unblemished run through league play with one week to go in the regular season. It faced its toughest test-to-date last Friday, in the form of an up-to-the-task Waiakea squad, but ultimately held on for a 63-61 win in overtime. Kauhi, a third-year varsity small forward/power forward, led the way with a team-high 23 points in the victory. 

"She did good," Wildcats co-coach Dawnyelle Awa said of Kauhi. 

"We started off the game pounding it inside, but we kind off got away from that, but overall we did OK. In the second half, she missed some easy ones, but she was still that captain and provided that leadership for the rest of the players throughout the game," Awa noted. 

Konawaena led 14-7 after one quarter and 28-22 at the half. The Warriors pulled to within 42-41 after three quarters and sent it into overtime tied at 56. In the waning seconds of overtime, however, Kauhi served as a distributor, while it was sophomore center Kaitea Galletes who provided the game-winning bucket. 

"I think we switched it up there because we knew the other team was gonna key in on her and maybe double her," Awa shared. "Our other big, Kaitea, is only a sophomore — she had a huge game; She had a double-double — but (Kauhi) dished it straight into her and she finished. Our inside game was definitely the key to winning that." 

Awa said that the down-to-the-wire finish was exactly what the Wildcats needed heading into the home stretch of the BIIF schedule. After all, they had won their first eight league contests by an average of more than 50 points per game. 

"Oh, that was a huge win for us," Awa said. "Not to be rude or cocky, but the other teams on the island are pretty bad and so it's really our only competition on the island and to get a good look like that heading into the playoffs next week was huge. We know whoever we play, we gotta play to our level because we know we'll face (Waiakea) again, but it was a huge win. We had a lot of mistakes and a lot to work on until we play them again."

Beyond her nearly two-dozen points, Kauhi brings many intangibles to the hardwood, but none more prominent than her presence on the court, Awa described.

"Just that presence, that leadership on the court — her leadership is always the biggest thing for us — and whether she made mistakes or not, the defense always has to worry about her, which opens it up for others to step up and do something else out there," Awa said. 

Kauhi has added facets to her game that have made her a more well-rounded offensive player over the years. 

"She's a great inside-outside player, so if you're trying to put a guard on her, she'll go inside and post you up and if you put a forward on her, she'll step out and hit the 3 or attack off the dribble, so she's one of those hard inside-outside players to guard, but I would say this year in particular she's posting up a lot more and focusing on our inside game and a lot of people haven't been able to stop her yet," Awa said. "From her freshman year to now, she's become more of an inside player than just an outside player, so I think they overlook that she has some inside game."

Konawaena made a couple of trips to Oahu for preseason tournaments in late 2022, including a 2-1 showing at the Iolani Classic in early December. Kauhi averaged 16.7 points at the Iolani Classic and was named to the all-tournament team. 

"I would say she's playing pretty consistent for us. She's finishing more inside than she has previous, but I think now that whole offense, she's our go-to, so we try to enforce to look to her and she's getting more touches, she's getting more opportunities in the game, and she's finishing a lot more and her shot is looking good," Awa said. 

Although this marks Kauhi's third season and fourth year on the varsity squad, it is her first as a captain. Among the leaders the Wildcats graduated a year ago was All-Hawaii Division I Player of the Year, Kaliana Salazar-Harrell, now a freshman guard at Cal State Fullerton. 

"This year was definitely a huge step for her and big shoes to fill, but she's trying and she's handling it well," Awa said. "We have a huge group of freshmen and they look up to her, they listen to her and they follow her, so she's a good role model for them and then on the court, she's our go-to scorer, so whenever we need a bucket we're looking for her, but even if she struggles, we have to have her in the game at all times because of her leadership."

Konawaena reached the D1 state final in both 2020 and 2022, when Kauhi was a freshman and junior, respectively. It lost to Iolani both times, while the 2021 never came to fruition due to COVID-19. This, she knows, is her last hurrah. 

"Oh, she doesn't want to lose," Awa stated. "She doesn't want to be that second place again. Going all four years and not winning but being so close, but more so even, she doesn't have a whole ton of college looks, so to prove everyone else wrong that she is a good player and good enough for the next level, so she wants to be able to bring this young team a championship."

Kauhi, who also plays volleyball and softball for the Wildcats, is the daughter of a basketball coach; Her father, Brandon, coached the girls at Waiakea a few years back. 

"Her dad still helps her with her game in the offseason and I think just always having basketball, always talking basketball at home, not just at practice, that definitely helps someone's IQ. She's played with other teams and gotten knowledge from a bunch of different coaches so that helps as well," Awa shared. 

Kauhi and the Wildcats wrap up the BIIF regular season this week. They will visit Kohala Wednesday night, then host Kamehameha-Hawaii at Col. Ellison S. Onizuka Gymnasium in Kealakekua on Thursday. 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Shynastee Ahina, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 23 points in a loss to Island Pacific 

Kalena Akinaka, Kekaulike — Scored 16 points in a loss to Lahainaluna 

Denise Alfonso, Kapaa — Scored 16 points in a win over Waimea 

Nahenahe Alo, Sacred Hearts — Scored 22 points with nine rebounds, five steals and two assists in a win over University Lab 

Nina Batacan, La Pietra — Scored 24 points in a loss to Hawaiian Mission and scored 18 points in a win over St. Andrew's

Nihoaokealii Dunn, Kamehameha — Scored 22 points in a win over Damien and scored 19 points in a win over Punahou 

Taimane Faleafine-Auwae, Maryknoll — Scored 16 points in a win over Punahou 

Mia Frye, Iolani — Scored 20 points in a win over Damien 

Jayda Fullum, Island Pacific — Scored 22 points in a win over St. Andrew's 

Miyah Galdeira, Kailua — Scored 22 points in a win over McKinley 

Myah Galdeira, Kailua — Scored 16 points in a win over Kalani 

Puaena Herrington, Waiakea — Scored 23 points in an overtime loss to Konawaena 

Maela Honma, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 18 points in a win over Kohala 

Keanu Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 22 points in a win over Kohala and scored 31 points in a win over Hilo 

Ellana Klemp, Hanalani — Scored 16 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist and scored 23 points in a win over Sacred Hearts 

Kylie La Fountain, Waipahu — Scored 19 points in a win over Nanakuli 

Shailoh Liilii, Moanalua — Scored 16 points with seven rebounds, six blocks, one assist and a steal in a win over Kaiser 

Alexus Maae, Kaiser — Scored 18 points with seven rebounds, three steals and two assists in a loss to Moanalua 

Olivia Malafu, Kapaa — Scored 16 points in a win over Kauai 

Jolie Mantz, Waiakea — Scored 18 points in a win over Kealakehe 

Dynasty Maunakea, Leilehua — Scored 18 points in a win over Nanakuli 

Akaecia Mateo, Moanalua — Scored 18 points with five rebounds, six steals and a block in a win over Kaiser 

Mai Mattos, Radford — Scored 22 points in a win over Mililani 

Daija Mitchell, Island Pacific — Scored 16 points in a win over St. Andrew's and scored 20 points in a win over Hawaiian Mission 

Alana Nagata, University Lab — Scored 23 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific, scored 19 points in a loss to Kamehameha II and scored 21 points with 12 rebounds, four blocks and three steals in a loss to Sacred Hearts 

Hema Nakaahiki-Young, Kauai — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kapaa 

Heather Neumann, Baldwin — Scored 31 points in a loss to Maui 

Haylie-Anne Ohta, Iolani — Scored 18 points in a win over Punahou 

Ledjan Pahukoa, Lahainaluna — Scored 22 points, including six 3-pointers, in a win over Kekaulike 

Leila Paraon, Kapolei — Scored 21 points in a win over Aiea

Kristen Ragasa, Honokaa — Scored 17 points in a win over Kohala 

Schylan Safotu, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 17 points in a win over La Pietra 

Brooke Samura, Hawaii Prep — Scored 28 points in a win over Pahoa 

Alina Stephenson, Kalani — Scored 18 points with 19 rebounds, two blocks and a steal in a loss to Kailua 

Sierra Takamoto, Waipahu — Scored 25 points in a win over Kapolei 

Laynee Torres-Kahapea, Punahou — Scored 18 points in a loss to Iolani 

Karma Westbrook-Cueto, Waianae — Scored 19 points in a win over Aiea 

Kaia Yamashita, Molokai — Scored 16 points in a win over Seabury Hall 

Dorthea Yoakim, Mid-Pacific — Scored 17 points in a win over University Lab 

GIRLS SOCCER 

Leiala Aruda, Kekaulike — Scored two goals in a tie with Kamehameha-Maui

Chloe Ayonon, Island School — Scored two goals in a tie with Kauai 

Nikki Mau, Kamehameha — Scored three goals in a win over Punahou II 

Lily See, Waiakea — Scored two goals in a win over Keaau