Team Hawaii: Updates from Japan
Since arriving in Japan on June 21st, Team Hawaii has played in one scrimmage and one game, earning two wins and making an impressive statement of consistency and strong inside play.
On June 23rd, the girls faced Hiroshima Minami School, the #1 high school team in Hiroshima, defeating them 54-33 in a 20 minute, two quarter scrimmage. The following day, Team Hawaii played against a combined “all-star” team comprised of college players from Hiroshima University and Hiroshima Bunkyojoshi University.
With a barrage of three-pointers, the team from Hiroshima opened up an early 18-1 lead, hitting six “threes” in the first quarter, but couldn’t hold on as Team Hawaii dominated the paint throughout the rest of the game to earn a 86-79 win. Team Hawaii was led by Iolani senior Jamie Smith, the 2007 ILH Player of the Year, who scored an impressive 37 points followed by recent graduates Ana Viena-Lota (Kamehameha) with 12 and Jazzmin Awa-Williams (Konawaena) with 11. The Hiroshima “all-stars” finished the game with 11 three-pointers and were led by Ikumi Matsumura (Hiroshima University) who scored 20 points with two three-pointers.
(Games are played under international rules which includes a four 10-minute quarters and a 24-second shot clock.)
Team Hawaii will travel next to Osaka and Kyoto where they’ll play four games against high school competition from the area.
** Information and photo provided from Team Hawaii assistant coach Brandon Flores
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