Hawaii Basketball

Gene Rivera (photo, Honolulu Advertiser), a 2004 All-State Selection out of Maui High, received Nortwest Conference Honorable Mention honors for his steady contributions as a forward for the Lewis and Clark Pioneers. This season, Rivera led the team in rebounding at 5.7 rpg and contributed 7.9 points per game for the 19-7 Pioneers who won the 2006-07 Northwest Conference Championship with an in-conference record of 13-3.

Also contributing in a limited role for the Pioneers was former Maryknoll Spartan and 2006 Star Bulletin Fab 15 selection, Tyler Tsukazaki.

Divison I:
Kekai Cazimero, Keaau, Sr. *POY
Reeece Alnas, KS-Hawaii, Sr.
Kien Aveiro, Honokaa, Jr.
Kekoa Carvalho, Konawaena, Jr.
Mea Wong, KS-Hawaii, Sr.

Second Team: Collin Cabatbat, Waiakea, Jr.; Colton Collons, KS-Hawaii, Jr.; Komokana Fernandez, Honokaa, Sr.; David Howell, Keaau, Sr.; Kalii Kunitomo, Konawaena, Jr.

Division II:
Ikaika Kahoopii, Kohala, Sr. *POY
Ryan Bautista, Kohala, Sr.
Jake Lee, St. Joseph, Sr.
Thomas Pegues, St. Joseph, Sr.
Vincent Sanekane, Pahoa, Sr.

Second Team: Brandon Bautista, Kohala, Fr.; Kent Graham, Hawaii Prep, Sr.; Devin Marquez, Kohala, Sr.; Tyler Pilor, Laupahoehoe, Jr.; Keoni Ucker, Christian Liberty Academy, Sr.

After a so-so regular season where they finished 7-5 in the OIA Red Division, the highly-touted Kaimuki Bulldogs hit the “on” switch just in time to make a run in the post season. As the #4 seed going into the OIA Tournament, the Bulldogs calmly made their way through to the finals where they defeated the Kalaheo Mustangs to earn their second consecutive OIA title.

Going into the state tournament, Kaimuki was awarded the #2 seed and placed in what was probably the toughtest bracket in the tournament which featured two of the top three teams in the state, the St. Louis Crusaders and the 5-time defending State Champion Iolani Raiders. Needless to say, the Bulldogs made it through to the finals with a 2 point win over the St. Louis Crusaders and a 54-44 win over Kamehameha-Hawaii who upset Iolani the night before.

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The McKinley Tigers… Remember the team. They may be the answer to a trivia question one day asking who the first team was to win a Division II State Basketball Championship in Hawaii.

After finishing in the middle of the pack in the regular season of the OIA White Division, the McKinley Tigers made a strong run in the OIA tournament only to fall in the finals to the Aiea Na Ali’i. That loss, though, would be the last of their 2006-07 season as the Tigers made their way through the inaugural Division II State Basketball Tournament, defeating St. Josephs in the first round, Seabury in the second round and rival Farrington in the semifinals to reach the championship game against the Kohala Cowboys.

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The Iolani Boys Basketball team ended its streak of 5 consecutive state championships last night with a 57-54 loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii. This loss marks their first postseason defeat since 2001 when the Raiders fell to the Kalaheo Mustangs in the finals of Derrick Low’s freshman year.

Having defeated the Warriors by a close margin early in the preseason, Iolani knew to expect a tough battle from the BIIF champions, but didn’t quite expect to shoot 16 of 39 (41%) from the freethrow line in the loss. Only down 6 at the half after shooting 31% from the field including 0-6 from three, the Raiders gave up 7 consecutive points on their first two defensive possessions of the second half - made foul shot, offensive rebound and 3-pointer, then 3-point play layup - and got down by as much as 14 before making a comeback near the end of the 3rd quarter.

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As the UH regular season comes to a close and speculation grows as to who will take over as the next head basketball coach, Bobby Nash (shown, Star Bulletin) and his “fabulous” father remain optimisitic about the team’s chances this year and are hopeful they can remain united and make a run next season.

Bob Nash, current associate head coach, has already been endorsed by current coach Riley Wallace and is a leading candidate to take over the reigns next season when Coach Wallace retires. But there’s no guarantees…

There is also no guarantee that Bobby will return to be a part of the Warriors next year either. The 6-6 junior guard, who is currently averaging 10.6 ppg and 3.9 rpg, will graduate from UH in May and be in a position to choose his final destination as a part of a newly created NCAA transfer rule. Under this rule, if a player graduates prior to the expiration of his athletic eligibility, he has the option to transfer to the school of his choice in his final season without having to sit out.

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Beau knows music… Beau knows volleyball… and Beau definitely knows basketball. Beau Albrechtson has been a star in the Hawaii basketball world for several years now, but has since come into his own as one of the top big men in the state this season for the Kaimuki Bulldogs.

Along with fellow seniors, Keone Reyes and Daniel Colon, the 6-4 Albrechtson is a part of the 3-headed monster that hopes to lead the Bulldogs to their first state championship since 1993. Last season, after winning the OIA championship, the Bulldogs made it to the finals of the 2006 State Basketball Tournament, but came up short, falling 54-41 to the Iolani Raiders.

Read the Star Bulletin article, “Beau knows basketball” »

Football may be the sport that gets Jeremiah Ostrowski (Punahou ‘07) a scholarship at the next level, but basketball has been a part of his life since the day he was born. As a member of the legendary Ostrowski family, he has been around the sport nearly all his life, traveling along with his father Kui to play in men’s leagues since he was in elementary school.

Read the article in the Honolulu Advertiser, “Basketball is a way of life for Ostrowski” »

Derrick Low (Iolani ‘04) was featured on ESPN - College Gameday a few weeks ago. In the segment, Low discusses his new Hawaiian tattoo, its relevance and more…

The Washington State Cougars have made it into the AP Top 10 after completing a sweep of the Bay Area schools last weekend in Pullman. At 21-4, their newly acquired #10 ranking marks the Cougs first ever appearance in the national top 10. In the other nationally recognized poll sponspored by ESPN and USA Today, Washington State is only one notch behind at #11.

WSU will face their cross-state rivals, the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Wednesday, February 14th at 5:00pm HST. The game will be televised locally on Oceanic Digital Channel 246 (Fox Sports Pacific).

Derrick Low ‘04 (shown, Honolulu Advertiser - 2004) hopes to comeback strong from a slight ankle injury and season-low 2 point performance in the Cougs’ recent 59-46 win over California on Saturday. In his last game against the Huskies, Derrick scored 20 points including 5-7 from 3-point range in a 75-47 blowout.