71
Punahou names girls hoops coach
Kekoa Taliaferro, a 1999 Punahou graduate, has been named varsity girls basketball coach at Punahou School. He replaces Mike Taylor, who resigned to devote more time with his family.
Taliaferro was head coach of the Punahou girls junior varsity team from from 2003-08 and boys varsity assistant from 2009-10.
Amis named UH’s outstanding player
Senior forward Bill Amis was named the Art Woolaway Most Outstanding Player at the Hawaii men’s basketball team’s team banquet last night at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Amis averaged 15.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and a Western Athletic Conference-best 2.2 blocks per game in returning from a debilitating foot injury that kept him out 10 games early in the season. He was named an All-WAC second-team player and will play professionally in the fall, possibly in Europe.
Junior point guard Miah Ostrowski received the Ah Chew Goo Most Inspirational Award after helping to rally the team in midseason. The football slotback didn’t join the basketball team until December, then had to cope with the unexpected death of his father in January. Just a few days later, Ostrowski played a memorable game against ranked Utah State at the Stan Sheriff Center, nearly carrying the Rainbow Warriors to a victory with 15 points and six assists. He was especially important in the season’s stretch run, routinely playing 40 minutes a night with the other UH point guards injured.
Senior point guard Hiram Thompson earned the Academic Award. The tri-captain is set to graduate next year with a degree in business.
Freshman forward Trevor Wiseman was tasked much of the season with guarding other teams’ best players, and was given the Best Defensive Player nod. After leading the WAC for much of the season in free-throw percentage, junior guard Zane Johnson got the team’s Best Free-Throw Shooter award for hitting at a .811 clip. Sophomore center Vander Joaquim was the Best Rebounder for grabbing 8.2 boards per game.
HPU volleyball adds 5 players
Middle blockers Haley Doerfler and Christina Furrer, and setter Hannah Schuett, and outside hitters Krista Whitewood and Jessica Lukso have committed to play volleyball for Hawaii Pacific next fall.
Signing letters of intent are Doerfler, a 6-foot-1 all-state selection from Battle Ground, Wash.; Schuett, a 5-10 all-county pick from Westlake (Calif.) High) and the 6-1 Furrer, from St. Louis.
The 6-foot Whitewood, originally from New Zealand, is a transfer from Big East champion Pittsburgh. The 5-11 Lukso is a recruited walk-on from Liberty (Colo.) High.
