NOTEBOOK

Lahainaluna keeps busy

Playing six games in the span of three days is not what Lahainaluna girls basketball coach Todd Rickard normally does.

For one trip, though, his Lady Lunas got all the hoops action they wanted. Lahainaluna has played 12 nonconference games already and is slated for three more this week at the ‘Iolani Classic, which begins Thursday.

Nearly a month ago, Lahainaluna came to Oahu to play in Farrington’s preseason tourney. Prior to the trip, Kaiser coach Simon Bitanga was in need of an eighth team for his tourney, which ran at the same time as Farrington’s. Rickard opted to go full throttle, playing those six games in three days.

"We needed game experience. We’ve got plenty of talent, but we’re young," Rickard said. "Out of 13 girls, eight of them are freshmen and sophomores."

The Lady Lunas won all three games at Farrington’s tourney and lost all three games at Kaiser’s event. But it was the last game of the stretch, a 54-52 loss to powerhouse Kamehameha, that pops out — a remarkable feat for a sixth game in 72 hours.

"Any night, you have to show up to play. There’s a lot of parity this year," Rickard said, recalling the Lunas’ November tourney. "We saw Konawaena beat ‘Iolani by almost 30 points. Then the next night, Kona lost to Mililani."

Now, Lahainaluna focuses on Oregon City (Ore.), its first opponent at the ‘Iolani Classic.

"I’ve seen them during the summer. They run the floor, fast break. They’re a damn good team," Rickard said.

Ka‘u makes noise

Ka‘u hasn’t made a surge in boys basketball since current coach Ravel Kaupu was its high-scoring point guard in the 1990s.

The Trojans drew some attention last weekend, though, with a stunning 67-59 double-overtime win over perennial D-II power Kohala at the Keaau-Waiakea Classic.

Royden Esperon scored 17 points and Greg Javar added 15 in the upset win.

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Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser

TOP ATHLETES

GIRLS
Princess Lauvao
Kaimuki basketball

The senior had 22 points, eight boards, six steals and five blocks in a loss to sixth-ranked Kahuku on Saturday.

BOYS
Jovan Crnic
Hawaii Prep basketball

The 6-foot-4 guard from Serbia scored 19 points in a win over Waiakea, 27 in a victory over Kealakehe and 26 in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii.

HONOR ROLL

BASKETBALL, GIRLS

» Pati Anae, Kahuku: 19 points and eight rebounds against Kaimuki

» Devyn Kauhi, Roosevelt: 18 points against Kaiser

BASKETBALL, BOYS

» Davin Alviento, Keaau: 20 points against Pahoa

» Makoa Camanse-Stevens, Kamehameha: 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and five blocks in a victory over Leilehua

» Jodd Carter, Hilo: 18 points in a victory over Waiakea; 18 points against Kalani

» Jalen Carvalho, Hilo: 19 points against Waiakea; 19 points against Kalani

» Nick Fisher, Pahoa: 20 points in a win over Kalani

» Keanu Freitas, Honokaa: 20 points in a win over Kealakehe

» Kenan Gaspar, Konawaena: 18 points against Kalaheo

» Shaun Kagawa, Kamehameha-Hawaii: 20 points in a win over Hawaii Prep

» Josh Ko, Kalaheo: 18 points on six 3-pointers as the Mustangs defeated Konawaena in the final of the Waiakea-Keaau tournament

» Kahanu Pu‘ulei-Auld, Moanalua: 17 points in a win over Punahou

» Brenton Shropshire, Konawaena: 19 points, 15 boards in a victory over Kamehameha-Hawaii

» Deion Utrera, Kealakehe: 19 points against Hawaii Prep; 23 points in a victory over Kohala

SOCCER, GIRLS

» Hoku Afong, Moanalua: three goals against Kaimuki

» Ma‘ila Aluli, Kahuku: three goals against McKinley

» Lily Berry Liftee, Kailua: three goals against Kalani

» Aliani Lorenzo, Campbell: three goals against Radford

» Brittney Gideon, Mililani: three goals against Nanakuli

» Storm Kenui, Moanalua: five goals against Kaimuki

» Kristen Maeno, Pearl City: three goals against Waialua

» Noelle Mercado, Kaiser: three goals against Kaimuki

» Renee Oei, Kahuku: three goals against McKinley

SOCCER, BOYS

» Kekahu Aluli, Kahuku: four goals against McKinley

» Dakota Graham, Kailua: two goals in a loss to Kalaheo

» Leo Klink, Kalani: three goals against Kailua; two goals against McKinley

» Lane Tomita, Pearl City: four goals against Leilehua

» Tyler Williams, Kalaheo: two goals in a win over Kailua

GIRLS BASKETBALL TOP 10

The Top 10 high school girls basketball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

>> Also receiving votes: Hilo 10, Leilehua 5, Aiea 4, Kaiser 4,Waiakea 3, Moanalua 2, Kaimuki 1, Kapolei 1, McKinley 1
>> No longer in Top 10 (previous rank):  Waiakea (tied at No. 9)

BOYS BASKETBALL TOP 10

The Top 10 high school boys basketball teams as voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.; not including Monday’s games.

>> Also receiving votes: Kamehameha-Hawaii 22, Farrington 13 (1), Baldwin 8, Mililani 7, Konawaena 5, Pearl City 5, Leilehua 4, University 3, Kailua 2, Campbell 1, Lahainaluna 1