LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i High School girls basketball, and Kapa‘a High School boys basketball finished the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation hoops season with best records in their respective divisions. Both teams advanced to the state-level Division II championships representing the KIF at the state tournaments.
Kaua‘i High School girls earned the No. 3 seeding, and was upset in the quarterfinals, 34-29 by Hawai‘i Baptist, and eventually eliminated following a 54-47 loss to the Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy.
Kapa‘a High School boys earned the No. 4 seed in the Division II tournament and opened with a loss, 75-50 at the hands of No. 5 Maui Prep who went on to eventually win the Division II championship.
Undaunted, the Warriors came back with a 66-59 win over Waipahi, and a 53-45 win over LeJardin to end in fifth place at the state tournament.
Coaches of the Year honors went to Neal Fagarang of the Kaua‘i High School girls team, and Kamahalo Ka‘uhane of the Kapa‘a High School boys team in the KIF voting for the basketball all-stars.
On the girls’ all stars, Olivia Malafu from Kapa‘a earned Player of the Year honors, being matched on the boys’ team by Kala Rall who had a strong leadership role in guiding the Warriors through the KIF season, and the state tournament.
Hazel Serapio and Tresten Maka Shigematsu were the sole Menehune representatives on the all-stars, and Josh Dobashi, a strong scoring leader for the Voyagers throughout the season, was the sole representative from Island School. The Voyagers did not field a girls basketball team.
Following an unusual basketball season where all of the KIF teams, players, coaches, and parents grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, to finish the season was an accomplishment in itself with everyone from the KIF leadership, athletic directors and their staff, trainers, coaches, and players should be acknowledged for their collective efforts at keeping the ball in play.
Girls Basketball
All-Stars
Olivia Malafu (Kap), Hema Naka‘ahiki-Young (Kau), Hinali‘i Grance (Kap), Denise Alfonso (Kau) , Hailey Overmyer (Kap), Jaley Medeiros (Kau), Hazel Serapio (Wai)
Player of the Year: Olivia Malafu (Kap)
Coach of the Year: Neal Fagarang (Kau)
Boys Basketball
All-Stars
Kala Rall (Kap), Keaka Ka‘uhane (Kap), Mikey Questin (Kap), Mikey Manera (Kau), Tresten Maka Shigematsu (Wai), Josh Dobashi (Island)
Player of the Year: Kala Rall (Kap)
Coach of the Year: Kamahalo Ka‘uhane (Kap)
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Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
