Hawaii Basketball

The 2007 Hawaii Girls Basketball All-State Team consists of the top 20 performers from this season as rated by HawaiiHoops.com. Seven players were named to the first team which is fairly unusual, but necessary in that the final two selections (Tagalicod & Lota) were among the state’s best despite not having the opportunity to showcase their talent in the state tournament.

Selections were based on both individual and team performances throughout the 2007 basketball season. Players were slightly penalized, though not completely, for their team’s inability to win big games while others were awarded for their team’s success.

The First Team (plus 2):
Jazzmin Awa-Williams, Konawaena, Sr. - Player of the Year - Awa-Williams was the unquestionable leader of the 2007 State Champion Konawaena Wildcats, averaging an impressive 20.3 ppg in three tournament wins. The Wildcats were also the BIIF Champions and finished the season with a perfect 17-0 record. The decision to pick Awa-Williams as the 2007 Hawaii State Player-of-the-Year over Keisha Kanekoa (Honokaa) was a tough one, but as they say… “to the victor goes the spoils.”

Keisha Kanekoa, Honokaa, Sr. - In this year’s state tournament, Kanekoa showed the rest of the state what the Big Island has known for years… that she’s really, really good. As the lone gun on an underpowered Honokaa team, Kanekoa was simply unbelievable in the state tournament averaging 23.8 ppg which included 31 points in an upset of #1 seed Roosevelt and 32 points in a close loss to Punahou in the semifinals. In her final game against ILH Champion Iolani, Kanekoa finished with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists and hit a game-winning floater to earn the third place trophy.

Jamie Smith, Iolani, Jr. - A strong finisher with an endless motor, Smith was the powerful force behind Iolani’s run to the 2007 ILH Championship. On the season, Smith averaged a double-double of 15+ points and 11+ rebounds per game and continued her performance in the state tournament where she averaged 18.0 points and 10.6 rebounds in 3 games including 28 (points) and 13 (rebounds) in a semifinal loss to Konawaena.

Iwalani Rodrigues, Roosevelt, Jr. - Considered by many to be the most athletic player in the state, Rodrigues “wowed” crowds with her accurate jumper and smooth handle as she led the Roosevelt Rough Riders to the 2007 OIA Red Division title. In the open court, “Iwa” was virtually unstoppable, able to get to the rim and finish high above her opponents. She was equally as tough inside, ripping down tough rebounds on the defensive end and reaching up for putbacks on offense.

Ta Nitra Byrd, Radford, Fr. - Top Newcomer - Byrd’s unique combination of size, agility and athleticism was a welcome addition to the Radford Rams who had their most successful season in recent years, finishing as the West Division champions and the OIA runner-up. She was a monster on the inside, controlling the boards and averaging nearly 16 ppg to lead the OIA West, but it also wasn’t uncommon to see Byrd pushing the ball up the floor with the dribble or dropping assists to open players out of a double team.

Vicky Tagalicod, Hilo, So. - Possibly the best player most people haven’t seen, Tagalicod was touted as one of the state’s best when she entered the Hawaii basketball scene as a freshman last year for the Hilo Vulcans. A 2007 All-BIIF selection, Tagalicod continued to dominate, averaging in double digits for the Vulcans who barely missed making it to the state tournament. In a regular season win over Honokaa, she finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals playing against one of the state’s best guards, Keisha Kanekoa.

Ana Viena-Lota, Kamehameha, Sr. - Though her team was kept out of the state tournament, Viena-Lota was none-the-less one of the state’s top players as she averaged 14.0 ppg in ILH play. With the loss of returning senior starter Johanna Sai prior to the season, Viena-Lota had to step up her game and helped the Warriors defeat eventual ILH Champion Iolani twice and end the regular season with just 3 losses. Her long, athletic build made her a tough cover as she was able to exploit defenders with her accurate mid-range game.

The Second Team:
Courtney Gaddis, Kalani, Sr. - Gaddis was a large part of why the Kalani Falcons were able to make it as far as they did in the OIA and state tournament. Her length and versatility were difficult to defend as she was able to dribble by slower girls and shooter over the smaller ones. Gaddis was at her best in the open court and attacking the basket where she was able to draw fouls and convert at the line.

Nicole Fu, Maryknoll, Sr. - Next to Kanekoa, Fu was probably the state’s second best scorer, but with a fairly inexperienced supporting cast, the Spartans went winless in a tough ILH. Fu led the ILH in scoring at 15.8 ppg despite being the target of specialized defenses designed exclusively to stop her.

Chelsie Sato, McKinley, Sr. - Sato could arguably be considered the state’s top shooters as she led the entire OIA in both scoring average (16.2 ppg) and total 3-pointers made (24). Sato was a versatile guard who both scored and handled the ball for the OIA White Division Champion McKinley Tigers.

Chelsea Deptula, Punahou, Sr. - Top Defender - Punahou’s play this season was attributed mainly to the “team”, but if you had to choose one player that had the most impact for the Buffanblu this season, it was Deptula. At 5-10 with long arms and an unquestionable toughness, Deptula was incredibly disruptive on the defensive end this season forcing turnover after turnover for the relentless Punahou press.

Jamie Ronolo, Moanalua, Sr. - Despite her team’s 3-9 regular season, Ronolo received the final spot on the second team for her performance in the post season where she averaged 19.3 points in state tournament play with highs of 22 and 23 points. Ronolo used her quickness and athleticism to carve through defenses for easy buckets and also had the unique ability to get to the freethrow line (averaged 10+ free throw attempts per game in the state tournament).

Honorable Mention:
Milika Taufa, Lahainaluna, Fr.; Shanadee Canon, Kalaheo, Sr.; C’ani Kealoha, Farrington, Sr.; Diana Zane, Roosevelt, Jr.; Alana Matayoshi, Iolani, Sr.; Mana Hopkins, Konawaena, Jr.; Ashley Metcalf, Christian Academy, Sr.; Megan Kamehiro, Kalani, Sr.

Player-of-the-Year: Jazzmin Awa Williams, Konawaena, Sr.
Defensive Player-of-the-Year: Chelsea Deptula, Punahou, Sr.
Newcomers-of-the-Year: Ta Nitra Byrd, Radford, Fr. & Milika Taufa, Lahainaluna, Fr.
Coaches-of-the-Year: Bobby Awa, Konawaena & Mike Taylor, Punahou

Awa receives the no-brainer Coach-of-the-Year award for leading the Konawaena Wildcats to an undefeated 17-0 season including the 2007 BIIF and State Championships. No further explanation necessary.

Taylor receives the less likely, but fairly obvious, Co-Coach-of-the-Year award for leading the unsuspecting Punahou Buffanblu to the state title game and a second place finish in the ILH. Though Punahou is a perennial power when it comes to girls basketball, the loss of the Kuehu twins prior to the season left the Buffanblu with a team of unassuming role players and little hope of repeating as champions. They didn’t quite make it, but their team play and unrelenting effort was a sight to see and was clearly a reflection of their coaches.

[Photos: Jon B Photography & Hawaii Tribune Herald]