KIF girls hoops All-Stars announced

LIHU‘E — With the completion of a thrilling girls basketball season, the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation announced its 2011 season All-Stars, Tuesday, in an e-mail from KIF executive director Diane Nitta.

Kapa‘a senior point guard Jessilyn Aki was named Player of the Year, concluding the regular season with a buzzer-beater against Kaua‘i that sent the Lady Warriors to the HHSAA Division II Girls State Championships.

The KIF champs took fourth place in the O‘ahu tournament.

Fellow Kapa‘a starters Mahea Hanie-Grace and Reggie McCabe also made the All-Star squad. Hanie-Grace, a junior, took one of the two guard positions, while McCabe, also a junior, took the utility spot.

Lady Warrior head coach William Aki added to the Kapa‘a accolades with Coach of the Year honors, compiling a 10-3 regular-season mark.

Kaua‘i sophomore Kristle Henry was named in the second guard position, the top scorer for the Raider Wahine team that came within a few points of capturing the KIF crown for itself.

The Raider frontcourt was saluted as sophomore Kawehi Louis-Diamond and senior Uila Ahosivi were chosen as All-Stars in the forward and center positions, respectively.

The final spot went to Waimea senior forward Jayme Jacinto, who was one of the many Lady Menehune seniors to give Waimea perhaps the deepest and most experienced team in the league.

The boys All-Star team is expected in the coming weeks.

The Kapa‘a Warriors boys squad begins its run at a high finish in the HHSAA state tournament Thursday against University High School.

Coming into the eight-team tournament as the No. 4 seed, Kapa‘a will take the floor at 5 p.m. at Kaimuki High School on O‘ahu.

A victory would move Kapa‘a into the semifinals on Friday at Kaimuki, while a loss would send it into the consolation bracket at Kalani High School.