HILO – Now it’s Celena Molina’s turn to serve as the senior leader on the Konawaena hoops dynasty train.
HILO – Now it’s Celena Molina’s turn to serve as the senior leader on the Konawaena hoops dynasty train.
The Wildcats made their debut without their two All-BIIF pillars (Chanelle Molina and Ihi Victor) at the Waiakea Invitational basketball tournament.
There’s a good reason Konawaena is the two-time defending HHSAA Division I state champion, eight-time reigning BIIF champ, and holder of a league record 92-0 run over that eight-year span.
Throw the name tags of team chemistry, ball-sharing or defense in a hat and whatever comes out is the West Hawaii powerhouse’s strength.
Behind that triple-option force, Konawaena smashed Mililani 48-23 in the preseason tourney’s first round Thursday night at the Warriors Gym.
The Wildcats held the Trojans, the OIA’s No. 6 team last year, to 18 percent shooting (7 of 38), including 0 for 17 from the field in the first half.
Of course, for those with a good memory, Mililani is not the same team that upset Konawaena 54-51 in the state tourney’s first round at Kealakehe High’s gym in 2013.
The Wildcats are not the same team either, especially with Molina (Washington State) and Victor (Saint Martin’s) playing college ball.
“It was a big adjustment playing without them,” said Celena Molina, who scored five points. “We had to step up. They were the ones who led the team.
“But we communicated well and played as a team. We’ve played with each other for a long time. We’re all with the Stingrays club team. We all have experience with each other. We’re a quick team.”
The Wildcats are quick on both ends of the floor, lightning fast hands to smother ball-handlers, fast feet on help-side defense to close lanes, and jet-packs on offense for easy transition layups.
Like in years past, Konawaena makes its living pressuring the ball, creating turnovers and getting to the rim in graceful fashion.
The Wildcats forced 29 turnovers and scored 15 points off those giveaways. The Trojans caused 21 turnovers but scored just two points.
Konawaena just doesn’t like to give up easy baskets and hustles back on transition defense. Mililani didn’t always race back and gave up five uncontested layups off giveaways.
Mikayla Tablit scored 10 points, draining three 3-pointers, and Cherilyn Molina had 10 points for the ’Cats, who shot 44 percent (20 of 44) from the floor.
Tayvia Cabatbat added eight points, Tanniya Uchida six and Caiyle Kaupu four. Kaupu is part of a trivia answer: Who was the BIIF player of the year in 2013, Chanelle Molina’s freshman season?
It was Courtney Kaupu, the older sister of the 5-foot-10 Caiyle, who did a defensive number on Mililani’s 6-3 junior center Cheyenne Ardona, who scored five points.
Kalina Gibson and Dahlis Sablay scored six points each to lead the Trojans, who had trouble keeping track of the backdoor-cutting Wildcats.
Last season, the 5-11 Victor provided a post presence and Chanelle Molina, at 5-7, was an effective shooter at the elbow.
Cherilyn and Tablit are rabbit-quick dribble-penetraters, who can get their perimeter shooters uncontested looks or fire passes to cutters for easy layups.
As far as a go-to scorer, Konawaena will largely depend on whoever is open. That’s because the ball-sharing and team chemistry flow just like before.
But on Thursday night, the name tag that was picked out of a hat was defense. Holding a state tournament team (Hilo ousted Mililani 50-36 in consolation) to 0 for 17 shooting in the first half is definitely something to hang your hat on.
Mililani 2 6 8 7 — 23
Konawaena 12 19 12 5 — 48
Hilo 40, Honokaa 23: Mandi Kawaha scored 13 points for the Vikings, who closed the game with a 10-0 scoring run.
Aulani Cordero scored eight points for the Dragons, who had a tough time stopping Hilo’s transition game.
Honokaa 2 10 6 5 — 23
Hilo 10 10 8 12 — 40
Kamehameha 50, Kaiser 30: Saydee Aganus scored 16 points, Jordyn Mantz 14 and Camille Poe seven for the Warriors.
Trinidee Kahunahano scored 11 points for the Cougars of the OIA.
Kamehameha 14 15 6 15 — 50
Kaiser 7 8 8 7 — 30