Pre-Season Top 20

Players to watch in the 2014-15 Season 

1. Kaleb Gilmore- Kalaheo 

2. Kupaa Harrison- Kalaheo 

3.  Jaycob Smith- Farrington

4  Justin Kam- Punahou 

5.  Erik Yamada- Iolani 

6. Jimmy Nunuha - St.Louis 

7. Chance Kalaughter- Kaiser 

8.  Justin Daise- Mid Pacific 

9. Pikai Winchester- Iolani 

10. Hirkley  Latu- Kahuku 

11. Kekai Smith- Kalaheo 

12. Michael Merchant- Campbell 

13. Joseph Gounty- Leileihua 

14.  Zach Gelacio- Iolani

15. Dayson Watanabe- Punahou 

16. Kanawai Noa- Punahou 

17. Justice Sueing- Maryknoll

18. Robert Mann- Iolani

19. Fatu Sua-Godinet-Kamehameha 

20. Hugh Hogland- Iolani 

Best of the rest: Christian Mejia and Hano Kohatsu (Kailua) ;  Kayson Smith-Bejgrowicz ( Kamehameha); Ihaka Johnson and Colten Nascimoto (St. Louis); Rockland Mori (Damien); Raynan Mamiya (Farrington); Tuli Wiley-Matagi and Samuta Avea (Kahuku)

 

Pre-Seaon Power Rankings

1. Iolani 

2. Kalaheo 

3. Punahou

4.Farrington

5. Maryknoll 

6.  Millilani 

7. Kamehameha 

8. Mid Pacific 

9. Moanalua

10. Kahuku

Final Power Rankings

The Raiders end the year on the top of our power rankings.

1.Iolani

2. Farrington

3. Maryknoll

4. Punahou 

5.Baldwin 

6. Campbell

7. Konawaena 

8. Kamehameha 

9. Millilani

10. Moanalua 

Iolani Wins 10th Title #Dynasty

Every Iolani coach in a black collard shirt won at least one state championship and looked to share the tradition with the current Raiders.  For the first time in more than the decade Iolani great Coach Dr.Muguishi sat in the stands while Dean Shimamota lead his team to a 43-40 victory over Farrington.  Iolani was lead by Ikaika Phillip with 15 points followed by Zach Buscher with 11 points.  Behind the scenes players like Erik Yamada, Robby Mann, Hugh Hogland, and Pikai Winchester were the reason why Iolani was able to finish number one.  Looking in to next the Raiders loose key scorers Ikaika Phillip, Zach Buscher, and Chris Gallacher but have great underclassmen talent coming up.  Chris can be replaced by Zach Gelacio who posses the talent to be one of the top guards in the stae.  Robert Mann will be the main scorer next year and can fill the shoes of Ikaika Phillip.  Shane Lay has the talent and size to replace Zach Buscher.  6'7" freshmen Hugh Hogland has huge potential and will only get better.  But the key to next year will be Erik Yamada who has been the backbone of this team since he was just a freshmen.  Although not many points are scored by Yamada, he is the general of the team.  Exciting future for the Raiders in the upcoming seasons.  

Iolani and Farignton

The Iolani Raiders and the Farington Govenors advance to the HSAA State Championship game on Saturday at 7:00 PM. Iolani had thier way with Campbell thanks to another great outing by Ikaika Philips. The surprise of the night was the Govenors knocking off the Spartans of Maryknoll. Farignton just came out to play, they were hungrier. Jacob McEnroe led his team with a stellar performance and now they are set to take on the Raiders. Our experts give the Raiders the upper hand with Seniors Ikaika Phillips and Zach Buscher but this is the last game of the season, anything can happen.

Campbell Passes Leileihua 46-35

Campbell's Gilbert Dayanan leads the Sabers with 15 points and 9 rebounds to defeat the Mules.  Campbell will face a talented Konawaena team in the next round.  

Lahainaluna Earns Respect by Dominating Kalaheo 57-27

Cyrus Kama is a name to remember after having 14 points and 13 rebounds against the defending state champs.  Kalaheo's best player and one of the states best scorers Kupaa Harrison was held to just three points.  Lahainaluna will face the number one seed Iolani in the next round.  

Maryknoll Slides Past Moanalua 59-54

The opening round of the playoffs matched two teams with very skilled players.  Moanalua surprised the island on OC16 matching Burnett and Gilmore point for point.  Moanalua proved they belong against what is arguably the most talented team in the state.  Stuart's 19 points and Hine's 18 was enough to keep it close but not enough to out score Burnett and Gilmore who had a combined 51 points.  Maryknoll will face Balwin in the quarterfinals.  

Road to the Championship

Teams that got a seed:

1. Iolani

2.Farrington 

3. Baldwin

4. Konawaena 

This years Seedings  are fair to the league champs but not the best. Maryknoll is deserving of that last seed because their strength of schedule and sheer talent makes them an overall better team then Konawaena.  Our experts believe that we will see Iolani vs. Farrington in the championship.  Our pick to win it all is Iolani by an inch.  Farrington has more talent then Iolani with Jacob MeCenroe but Iolani's hard nose defense a great depth with Pikai Winchester, Shane Lay, and Zach Gelacio.  

Farrington Takes OIA Title

Number 5 Farrington finished off number 8 Campbell in the OIA championship 68-49.  Star Jacob MeCenroe got got some help from fellow teammates Isaiah Visoria who cashed in 23 points and Isaiah Smith who added 18 points.  Our experts believe that Farrington is the only non-ILH team that can compete  for the state championship.  

2 Times? In 2 Nights? Yes The Raiders are ILH Champs

With the ILH Championship on the line, the Raiders from Iolani entered the Maryknoll gym on Friday night. They exited victorious thanks to a stellar performance by Ikaika Phillips and a couple of late buckets by Sophmore Robby Mann. But what was more impressive was that they came back the next night, and did the same exact thing. The second game came down to the wire and if the game had been 0.5 seconds longer, we would have had overtime. A 3pt shot by Kaleb Gilmore went in just late, he released it just after the buzzer rang. And Iolani came out with two close wins, two nights in a row. 

Iolani Punches Ticket to States

It is safe to say that Iolani has Punahou's number. Iolani is 3-0 v.s the Puns this season and are now on thier way to face Maryknoll for the ILH Championship on Friday. With the win the Raiders also guaranteed a state birth, they're first one in two years. Iolani was led yet again by senior forward Ikaika Phillips, Phillips had a game high 21 points. The Raiders were lead on defense by Zach Buscher who shut down key Punahou players.  Buscher proved many doubters wrong that thought of him as a scorer only.  In each meeting between the Raiders and the Puns this year, it has been complete domination by the Raiders. Punahou's leading scorers have been on complete lockdown. Senior Dan Andrews led his squad scoring with 9 points, but those types of numbers aren't going to get your team into states. Andrews Punahou career is over, but he can find a college scholarship somewhere with his height and his Open Court coach Geremy Robinson's college basketball connections. We wish Andrews luck, because it wasn't on his side tonight.  The Raiders should be better in the playoffs with Kamuela Borden and Bryson Hamada, who proved to be one of the sates best ball protectors in the summer, coming back from injury.

Not Even Close!

Number 3 Iolani upsets number 2 Punahou 44-29 to clinch the number 2 seed in the ILH tournament.  After beating Punahou the last meeting the Raiders proved that they can handle business agaisnst a Punahou team with or without Punahous star big man Andrews.  Andrew, who was hurt in their last meeting with the raiders was held to just 6 points.  Many thought the Raiders would struggle without their starting center Kamuela Borden but 6'7" freshmen Hugh Hogland stepped up to the plate.  Punahou's stud Kamerin was help to just 2 points, one of his worst performances this year.  The Raiders were lead by Ikaika Phillip who put up 19 points and Zach Buscher who had 11 points.  

Defense Leads Kailua Over Moanalua

Kailua upsets formally number ten Moanalua 51-44 to clinch a playoff birth.  Kailua did a great job against Moanalua's Antoine Hines, Aaron Stuart, and Jamaal Willis.  All three of the states best scorers  were held well below their averages.  Moanalua season is not over but must turn things around if they want to be successful this season.  

Farrington Runs Over Kahuku for Top Seed

Farrington proves their ranking with a 60-39 win over a decent Kahuku team.  MVP canidate McEnroe scored 14 key points to lead his team to victory.  Farringtons point guard Isaiah Smith only scored six points but has been the unknown hero for the Governors this season because of his abilit to protect the rock, play defense, and command the offense to flow.  He is one of the best true point guard in the state.  A similar player is Junior Iolani guard Erik Yamada.  

Another Clutch Win for the Spartans

Number one Maryknoll defeats number two Punahou 55-51 in overtime.  Maryknoll is currently number one in the ILH and controls there own destiny.  Maryknoll was lead by Burnett (21 points) and Gilmore(19 points).  Punahou's own pair of studs Justin Kam (15 points) and Andrews (13 points) could not do enough against the best dual threat in the state.  

Week 10 Power Rankings

Campbell Surges Into the Top Ten and Remain Undefeated

1. Maryknoll

2. Punahou

3. Iolani

4. Kamehameha 

5.Farrington 

6. Kalaheo
7. Konawaena 
8. Campbell
9.  Baldwin 
10. Millilani 

Previously in top ten: Moanalua, St.Louis

Controversy with MPI

The Mid Pacific Owls have yet to win a game in ILH play. With the season coming to a close, the best the Owls can strive for is to play the  spoiler role. They could potentially win the ILH playoffs but with a rough regular season, that seems unlikely. MPI has the talent with one of the leagues top scorers senior guard Kyle Husslein and other key pieces. Sources say that there is team controversy however with the Owls. Coaches and players are not quite seeing eye to eye.

They will have to overcome thier differences if they want to make a run in the ILH playoffs.   

Buzzer Beater!

Josh Burnett displays his clutch gene this week against number 3 Iolani with a buzzer beating layup to lead the Spartens in a key victory.  Although Burnett only finished with  season low 11 points, the elite senior showed up where it mattered most.  The Raiders gave their best effort and need to have a couple huge wins in the ILH playoffs in order to have any shot at making states.  In the season ended today, the ILH representitives in sates would be Punahou and Maryknoll. Senior leader Zach Busher needs to take control of his teams destiny.  

Hawai'i's Best Backcourt

Kaleb Gilmore and Josh Burnett have given Maryknoll the best set of guards in the state.  This weekend the two combined for 46 points in a 72-60 win over number 9 St.Louis.  There athleticism, handles, and sheer talent make them unstoppable.  Even when guarded by some of the states top defenders like Pikai Winchester from Iolani, the two will still get there points.  Gilmore is currently averaging 19.2 points per game and Burnett is averaging a whopping 23.5 points per game.  

This Weeks Power Rankings

1. Maryknoll

2. Punahou

3. Iolani

4. Kamehameha 

5.Farrington 

6. Kalaheo
7. Millilani 
8. Baldwin 
9.  St.Louis 
10. Moanalua 

Previously in top ten: Konawaena 

They Do it Again!

For the second time this week Kamehamehe Warriors upset a higher ranked team.  Last night the Warriors beat number 3 Punahou 48-45.  They were lead again by Jaycob Smith scoring 17 points.  Smith is quickly becoming the most improved player this year.  The ILH playoff picture has now become a coin toss between Kamehameha, Iolani, Punahou, and Maryknoll.  Only two teams from the ILH will get the invite to the state tournament.   

Division 2 Power House

St.Francis's 41-37 win over Damien last night put them one step closer to winning the schools second state championship in two years. What was recently an all girls school, St.Francis has emerged as a respected team at all levels and the team to beat in Division 2.  St.Francis has been lead this year by talented senior Mathew Nuumanaia who's is averaging 17.7 points per game so far this season.  

Iolani's Best Kept Secret.

John Lee is evolving into the swingman Iolani basketball has been waiting for. Starting to get more time on the court , Lee the Junior is giving the Raiders quality minutes. With elite accuracy and unique athletic ability, the three point sniper is coming into his own. It is only a matter of time before Lee takes over a starting role and is a weapon of mass destruction for the raiders.

Upset!

Kamehameha's Jaycob Smith hits a half court shot to lead the Warriors into over time and eventually upset number 2 Iolani.  This should stir up our power rankings next week.

Coming off the bench

Pikai Winchester has quickly developed as the best sixth man in the state.  Coming off the bench he provides quick three pointers and lock down defense.  

Mid Season MVPs: Josh Burnett and Jacob McEnroe

Above: Josh Burnett: Maryknoll senior averaging 23.0 points per game

                                     

Above: Jacob McEnroe, Farrington senior averaging 13.1 points per game 

Mid-Season Top Ten Hawaii Prep Basketball Rankings

1. Maryknoll
2. Iolani
3. Punahou
4. Farrington
5. Kamehameha
6. Kalaheo
7. Moanalua
8. Konawaena
9. Baldwin
10. Mililani