HONOLULU — A family tradition has become a community rite for the Kahuku girls basketball team.
The Red Raiders fell in line behind the Wily clan to emerge as the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I champions once again as Kahuku defeated East rival Moanalua, 52-36, at McKinley High on Wednesday night.
Thanks to some devastatingly effective physicality that manifested on the glass and a dose of opportunism in transition, the OIA title plaque is headed up to the North Shore for the second straight year and fourth time in the last six years of competition.
Kahuku owns the most OIA girls basketball titles with 11.
[Note: See below for more photos of Kahuku-Moanalua girls basketball.]
Head coach Artevia Wily-Ava said it’s been a rewarding process to see the transformation since her sister Latoya took over the program in the 2010s.
Their younger sister, Posia Wily, keyed the Red Raiders’ attack on Thursday with 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists while the head coach’s daughters, Tailele and Tuisila supplied a combined 22 points and 12 rebounds.
“It’s exciting for us because it’s just like everybody’s starting to buy in, watching our family and all the girls in the community, buy in and be successful on the court,” Artevia Wily-Ava said. “Whether they’re on the court or on the side, they’re always rooting for each other. I feel that’s the best thing about our team; everyone’s very supportive.”
Earlier Wednesday, Kapolei powered past Castle in the Division II final, 55-29, for the Hurricanes’ first OIA girls basketball title.
The biggest adversity Kahuku faced was foul trouble for Makana Kamakeeaina and sharpshooter Tailele Wily-Ava. But they found a way to be effective, anyway, as Kamakeeaina scored a game-high 17 points and Wily-Ava connected on three 3-pointers.
Kahuku (13-0) grabbed a whopping 27 offensive rebounds, but Posia Wily thought her team’s effort in the open court was what made the difference.
“I think our transition game is one of the best strengths that we have,” she said. “We’re trying to rely on that a lot.”
Moanalua’s star forward Shailoh Liilii found the going exceptionally tough against the Red Raiders’ imposing front line. She was held to six points and eight rebounds.
“My daughters and my little sister, they play with her in a couple tournaments,” Artevia Wily-Ava said. “Too bad we didn’t get to play with her here in high school. She’s a great player and she is someone we really had to key our defense on and just play smart. Our girls did a good job trying to contain her. She didn’t get a lot of looks at the basket but she’s still a great player to me. I respect her, I respect Coach Kirk (Moanalua’s Ronolo). I wish them the best in the states, still.”
Moanalua (11-2) was denied its first OIA title since 2003. Shanti Castillo hit three 3-pointers and scored a team-high 12 points while Serenity Tacgere grabbed nine offensive rebounds among her game-high 14 boards.
Rhea Nobleza, one of Na Menehune’s top guards, was knocked out of the game in the second quarter when she collided with Tilau Tonga on a hard screen.
Ronolo expressed frustration afterward. He said he did not fault Kahuku players and credited them as a “great team,” but said he felt the officials allowed a degree of physicality far different than all other OIA contests his team played.
A warning he received by the game officials in the first half was due to him speaking up about it, Ronolo said. He said afterward Nobleza’s mild concussion was a result of the physicality getting out of hand.
“It’s frustrating. You try to play the game of basketball the way it’s supposed to be played and we get put at a disadvantage because they’re able to play physical like that,” Ronolo said. “It’s not right. Something gotta be done.”
In the D-II final, Kapolei amassed a 33-11 lead at halftime and coasted from there behind 19 points and 10 rebounds from Leila Paraoan and 19 points, 11 steals and five assists by Lilyanah-Tiare Tavale.
The Hurricanes (7-4) forced 30 turnovers.
Dorian Pokipala led the Knights (6-9) with 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting. Castle won its only OIA title to date in 2019.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.