H O N O L U L U S TA R - A D V E R T I S E R > > S U N D AY 3 / 1 7/ 1 9
SPORTS
Kalina
1 Obrey
Kamehameha
Guard/forward,
5-10, Senior
Obrey averaged 20
points per game. ...
scored a state-tourna-
ment-record 38 points
during the semifinals.
Kamalu
2 Kamakawiwo‘O ole
Kalani, Guard/
forward, 6-0, Senior
Scored 17 ppg and filled
up every category. ...
Tremendous defender,
shot blocker, voted de-
fensive player of the year.
3
Taylor
Wu
‘Iolani
Guard, 5-7, Senior
Scored 15 ppg and
fueled the Raiders’
high-speed attack. ...
Also voted to
all-defensive team.
4 Lily Lefotu
Wahinekapu
‘Iolani
Guard, 5-7, Sophomore
Supremely skilled on
both ends, and also ul-
tra consistent. ... Aver-
aged 15 ppg ... Also an
all-defensive pick.
Jalen
5 Tanuvasa
Maryknoll
Guard, 5-7, Sophomore
The toughest on-ball
challenge in the state.
... Exploded around
and through defenses
to average 17 ppg.
Susitina
6 Namoa
Lahainaluna
Guard/forward,
5-9, Senior
A post scorer with
3-point range who
sometimes ran the
point. ... Also an
all-defense pick.
GIRLS ALL-STATE BASKETBALL
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Kamalu Kamakawiwo‘ole will play at Utah State.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Lily Lefotu Wahinekapu hit a trey in 18 of 19 games.
KAMEHAMEHA’S OBREY
AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE
By Paul Honda
phonda@staradvertiser.com
A
year earlier, Kalina
Obrey was a very
good post scorer, re-
bounder, defender,
passer.
In 2019, Obrey was more
than very good. The 5-foot-
10 forward/center was dev-
astating. Defenses could no
longer game-plan to dou-
ble-team her on the block.
Instead, the Kamehameha
senior opened up her game.
A full offseason of training
expanded her 3-point shot
to NBA range. She became
an adept driver to the bas-
ket, especially with her left
hand. Her court vision, still
outstanding, led to a lot of
kick-outs and buckets for
the Warriors.
Kamehameha made it all
the way to the state champi-
onship game, where, fittingly
enough, all of the attention
came down to a 29-foot
3-point shot by Obrey at the
final horn. All net. Three and
a half minutes later, the
game-tying shot was voided
after referees studied the
slow-motion video.
Obrey, who averaged 20
points and 10 rebounds per
game, was voted the
Star-Advertiser Girls Basket-
ball All-State player of the
year. Obrey was a
near-unanimous selection
even though her team lost
Leiah
7 Naeata
Kahuku, Guard/
forward, 5-8, Sophomore
Averaged 16 ppg as a
point guard, 3-point
shooter and post scorer.
... Key rebounder and an
all-defensive team pick.
HONORABLE MENTION
>> N
 oelle Sua-Godinet,
Kamehameha
>> Kaylen Kamelamela, Leilehua
>> K
 aliana Salazar Harrell,
Konawaena
>> Brilie Kovaloff, Mid-Pacific
>> Jazelle Dorser, Waiakea
>> Briarra Nakihei, Castle
>> Kalena Gibson, Mililani
in that final to ‘Iolani, 52-49.
“It’s a huge honor I
wanted. I was working to-
ward that goal in high
school. The summer after ju-
nior year, I wanted to work
hard and make sure I im-
proved myself. Get player of
the year, get to states. Our
team did so phenomenal,”
Obrey said. “My teammates,
they definitely didn’t get the
credit they deserve. They
stepped up and did a great
job through the entire state
tournament. They don’t get
half the credit they deserve.”
In the 2017-18 season, she
was triple-teamed often on
the block. One day at the Sa-
cred Hearts Academy Invita-
tional, she was fouled hard
and suffered a wrist injury
that kept her out for several
weeks.
This season, healthy from
start to finish, Obrey scored
at least 14 points in 24 out of
25 games. She had 38 points
and 17 rebounds in a state
semifinal win over Kalani,
and had a 24/10 in the
thriller against ‘Iolani during
Caiyle
8 Kaupu
Konawaena
Forward, 5-9, Junior
Versatile but had to
anchor the low post,
averaging 16 ppg. ...
Also an all-defensive
team selection.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Taylor Wu scored 19 in the state-title win.
JAY METZGER / SPECIAL TO THE HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER
Jalen Tanuvasa had her best games against the best.
>> Malie Marfil, Kamehameha
>> Aloha Akaka, Maryknoll
>> Melody Lum, Punahou
>> Namahana Kaeo-Young,
King Kekaulike
>> Taeya Blakeney, Kaiser
>> Raven Rosa-Lasco, Moanalua
>> Kierstin Gummerus, Waimea
the state final. She shot 79
percent at the free-throw
line, leading the state in free-
throw attempts.
She will play at San Jose
State next season. The Spar-
tans are getting a player
who transformed herself
like few others in the span
of one offseason. After
building her skills as a post
player with her father, Josh
Obrey, as a child, she did
what some college coaches
did not expect. She worked
daily on her perimeter skill
set with 808 Basketball Club
coaches Bob Keanini and Hi-
nano Higa.
“I had to improve be-
cause of college and club.
Coach Bob and Coach Hi-
nano knew colleges needed
me to play guard, so I had to
build my driving game, my
shooting range, for me to
accomplish my goal,” Obrey
said.
What she brought back to
the Kapalama Heights cam-
pus after all the reps was a
game-changer.
“Coach Pua (Straight)
Kaelyn
9 Espinda
Kaimuki
Guard, 5-7, Senior
With team sometimes
playing with five players,
Espinda was a point cen-
ter facing tough defense.
... Still averaged 19 ppg.
Kelsie
11 Imai
Waiakea
Guard, 5-6, Junior
Key scorer and play-
maker who also re-
bounds with the best
in the BIIF. ... Aver-
aged 12 ppg.
Dahlis
12 Sablay
Mililani
Guard, 5-2, Junior
Master with the ball,
able to change direc-
tions and create for
teammates. ...
Immense court IQ.
13 Alexis
Huntimer
‘Iolani
Guard, 5-8, Sophomore
A distributor and
slasher who also sank
31 3s. ... scored 24
points in title game. ...
An all-defensive pick.
saw that I proved that game
and she allowed me to step
out more. She helped me
with that side, to lead
more,” Obrey said.
Straight had Obrey post
up from time to time, but
now the entire court was
available for attack with the
versatile skills of their
leader.
“The biggest thing with
her is she’s really talented
athletically, but what sets 14 Kaye
Serapio
her apart is her drive and Waimea
her heart,” Straight said. “We Guard, 5-2, Sophomore
put a lot of pressure on her
An iron woman —
this year to lead the team,
Waimea played just
and she loves that pressure.
seven players — and
She welcomed that type of
defensive opportunist
leadership role.”
with great hands.
Coach of the year honors
went to ‘Iolani’s Dean
Young. He guided the run-
ning Raiders to their first
state crown since 1996,
when the late Bernie Ching
led the Raiders to consecu-
tive championships. This
year’s ‘Iolani squad was a
wire-to-wire No. 1 team in
the Top 10. ‘Iolani (23-6
overall) won the ILH title,
ending Maryknoll’s run of
four straight league champi-
onships. Dallas
Latoya Wily, who guided 15 Martinez
Kahuku to the OIA title, was Sacred Hearts,
second in the voting. Bob- Guard, 5-5, Senior
bie Awa of Konawaena and
Averaged 12 ppg while
Chico Furtado of Maryknoll
shooting 78 percent
tied for third. Konawaena
from line, defending
and Maryknoll had no se-
every position and
niors this season.
playing point center.
Kalena Dean
10 Halunajan C Young
Kalani ‘Iolani
Guard, 5-4, Sophomore Coach of the Year
Darting PG was nearly Led Raiders to first
impossible to stop off state title since 1996.
the dribble, averaging
16 ppg. ... An all-de-
fensive team pick.