Athletes about to sign officially

The state’s top football players will be among the athletes signing their National Letters of Intent at 7 a.m. Wednesday, the earliest time prospective college recruits can officially commit to their schools of choice.

Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance’s signing ceremony at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel will be the largest of the ceremonies.

Gatorade honors Ka‘ahanui

Ku Ka‘ahanui of Kamehameha has been named Gatorade Hawaii boys cross country runner of the year.

Ka‘ahanui won the individual state title with a time of 17 minutes, 7.9 seconds to help the Warriors capture the state team championship.

Overtime games frequent on Oahu

Extra work has been a much more frequent theme in the past two weeks.

There have been eight basketball games — six on the boys’ courts — that have gone to overtime. It began with an 81-76 double-OT win by McKinley at Kaiser on Jan. 24.

The next night, Kalaheo’s girls won at McKinley, 42-37.

Last Tuesday, Kailua skunked Farrington in the extra period for a 48-37 home win.

On Wednesday, Kamehameha escaped from ‘Iolani with a 54-47 triple-overtime victory.

On Thursday, Leilehua toppled Mililani in two overtime periods, 58-55, for the OIA Red Conference girls championship.

On Friday, Aiea went to Nanakuli and won a rowdy matchup 83-78 in a mere one overtime.

Nanakuli’s Joseph Shelton scored 43 points in the loss, a single-game high for any player statewide.

Then, on Saturday, Seabury Hall won at Molokai in overtime, 56-55, and St. Anthony took a road game from Lanai, 77-71, in extra time.

Eight overtime games in the span of 10 days.

Applaud your officials whenever possible. They don’t get overtime pay.