At this point, there is no denying it.
Chanelle Molina is a force of nature, a gravitational device that could shine brightly on her own, but instead, turns her teammates into stars of their own, circling one another in a dynastic system known as Konawaena girls basketball.
Molina, a 5-foot-8, five-position senior, was voted unanimously as the Star-Advertiser Girls Basketball All-State Player of the Year once again. She sparked the Wildcats (27-1) to a second state championship in a row last month, furthering the small school’s run of seven Division I state crowns in a span of 13 years under coach Bobbie Awa.
Awa was voted All-State Coach of the Year by the panel of coaches and media. It is her seventh COY honor. Chico Furtado of Maryknoll and Simon Bitanga of Kaiser were second and third in coach of the year voting.
The POY honor is the third in a row for Molina, who is bound for Washington-State. She joins select company as the first girls basketball player to be voted POY three years in a row since Brandy Richardson of Kalaheo (1999-2001).
She also is one of just six players who have been selected to the All-State team as freshmen, along with sister Cherilyn Molina and Lia Galdeira of Konawaena, Ta Nitra Byrd of Radford, Vicky Tagalicod of Hilo and Shawna-Lei Kuehu of Punahou.
Molina was at her best in the clutch, as usual. Despite a significant ankle injury, she turned in stunning performances at the ‘Iolani Classic and Title IX (Washington D.C.) tournaments, and in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation championship game. Then came a most outstanding player run in the Wildcats’ three wins at the state championships.
Her highlights included:
>> ‘Iolani Classic: 26 points, including four treys, against Mililani; 28 points in a win over South Medford (Ore.); 22 points, seven steals, six rebounds and four assists in a 62-50 win over Bishop O’Dowd (Calif.) for the title. She was named the tourney’s MVP.
“I enjoy watching her play and scouting her,” O’Dowd coach Malik McCord said. “She’s a great player and the best thing about her is that she makes everyone around her better.”
>> Title IX Holiday Classic: After two wins to start the BIIF season, Konawaena was ranked No. 7 by MaxPreps and No. 21 by ESPN. The ’Cats traveled to the East Coast, losing to defending Maryland state champion Forestville Military Academy 60-54 before defeating Myers Park (N.C.) and Benjamin Mays (Ga.). It was in the Mays game that Molina suffered an ankle injury.
>> BIIF final: Back from the injury, Molina had 13 points and teammate Ihi Victor scored 16 as the Wildcats defeated Hilo 56-32, extending the program’s BIIF win streak to 92 games. That includes eight league titles in a row and 14 in 15 seasons.
>> OC 16/HHSAA State Championships: Seeded No. 1, the Wildcats ousted ILH runner-up Punahou 51-27 behind a balanced attack. Still a bit wobbly on the ankle, Molina had nine points, 11 boards, four assists and two steals in the win.
Konawaena eliminated Kaiser 63-25 in the semifinals as Molina had eight points, eight caroms, six dimes and two steals.
In the state final, a 44-34 victory over Maryknoll, she didn’t hold back. Her ankle held up and she looked like her old self, with 24 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field, along with six rebounds, three assists and one steal. For the tourney, she committed just five turnovers, playing 92 out of 96 possible minutes.
The Wildcats are ranked No. 24 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings.
Star-Advertiser’s Fab 15
Rank Name |
School |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Yr. |
1. Chanelle Molina |
Konawaena |
G/F |
5-7 |
Sr. |
2. Ihi Victor |
Konawaena |
F |
5-11 |
Sr. |
3. Cameron Fernandez |
Lahainaluna |
G/F |
5-10 |
Sr. |
4. Keleah-Aiko Koloi |
Lahainaluna |
F/C |
6-1 |
Sr. |
5. Cherilyn Molina |
Konawaena |
G |
5-5 |
So. |
6. Tyra Moe |
Punahou |
F/C |
6-1 |
Sr. |
7. Celena Jane Molina |
Konawaena |
F |
5-9 |
Jr. |
8. Keala Quinlan |
Roosevelt |
F |
6-0 |
Sr. |
9. Fa-Ko-fiemea Hafoka |
Lahainaluna |
G |
5-7 |
Sr. |
10. Rhianne Omori |
Maryknoll |
G |
5-2 |
So. |
11. Alexis Pana |
Hilo |
G/F |
5-10 |
Jr. |
12. Kamaile Kandiah |
Punahou |
G |
5-5 |
Sr. |
13. Roselynn Shimaoka |
Kaiser |
G |
5-7 |
Sr. |
|
14. Mikayla Tablit |
Konawaena |
F |
5-4 |
So. |
15. Alexis Delovio |
Maryknoll |
G |
5-7 |
Sr. |
Player of the Year: Chanelle Molina, Konawaena
Coach of the Year: Bobbie Awa, Konawaena
HONORABLE MENTION
Molimau Heimuli, Farrington
Chayse Milne, Maryknoll
Jazmina Lafitaga, Mililani
Ally Wada, Hawaii Baptist
Camy Aguinaldo, ‘Iolani
Va’e Malufau, Punahou
Kyle Johnson, Radford
Naai Solomon-Lewis, Kohala
Tianna Hanohano, Leilehua
Mikiala Maio, Kamehameha
Sharlei Graham-Bernisto, Hilo
Kalina Obrey, Kamehameha
Victoria Kintz, Kaimuki
Stephanie Dang, Hawaii Baptist
Faith Loeak, Hilo
Tara Takata, Kailua
Tau Williams, Kailua
Tywanna Abbott, Leilehua