University High girls basketball players pose for a photo before their taco fiesta. Brien Ing | SL

Purchase image 1 of 2

Iolani boys basketball players pose for a photo during their taco celebration. Brien Ing | SL

Purchase image 2 of 2

In its second year of existence, the Taco Bell Free Throw Challenge has awarded a taco party each year to a boys squad and a girls squad that posts the highest percentage at the free throw line in league play.

Word that we've gotten from coaches and players is that the contest has been a welcome addition, providing a nice way to incentivise the importance of the otherwise not-so-glamorous prospect of shooting from the charity stripe.

A brief history

This years' boys winner was the Iolani Raiders, a squad that not only claimed our contest, but took home an ILH crown and a Division I state title along the way. As a team, Iolani shot an impressive 75.1 percent, making 217 of 289 shots attempted.

The inaugural winner of the contest was Punahou, who won with a 74.7 mark. The Buffanblu advanced to the state semifinals that year, losing to eventual state champion Kalaheo.

On the girls' side, University High won the rights to a taco fiesta this year, shooting a 65.4 percent en route to a 6-3 finish in ILH Division II play and a state tournament berth, where the Junior Rainbows lost in the first round to Kalani, but rebounded to win both games in the consolation bracket.

Kamehameha-Kapalama took home the prize last year on the girls side with a 63.8 percent rate of success at the charity stripe. The Warriors claimed the state title that year as well, hitting 16-of-21 free throws in the title game in a comeback win over Konawaena.

Salsa and success?

The common thread of each being member school of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu aside, what stood out as meaningful was the affirmation of what I'm sure every coach preaches to his or her players regarding free throws.

That is, a correlation exists, at least in more cases than not, between performance at the free throw line and performance in the win-loss column.

That is not to say that there are exceptions to that rule, however. The Farrington boys' squad that finished runner-up in the Division I state tournament and won the OIA Red title, shot just 58.1 percent from the line during the regular season. Roosevelt, who claimed the OIA Red championship on the girls' side, managed just a 54.9 clip from the line.

The results suggest by and large though, that successful teams make more free throws than they miss, and the results of the contest do point in that direction. Amongst the top 5 teams in the boys contest, only one team (Saint Louis) did not qualify for HHSAA postseason play, and all 5 teams atop the girls contest qualified for the state tournament.

By the numbers

Just a few numbers from this year that might prove of interest...

BOYS

Most free throws made: Iolani (217)
Most free throws attempted: Kaiser (337)

GIRLS

Most free throws made: Moanalua (152)
Most free throws attempted: Radford (270)

How about some about all-time stats surrounding the free throw contest?

Since the inception of the contest in 2012, here are the top five teams percentage-wise:

BOYS

1. Iolani - 73.4
2. Punahou - 67.9
3. Seabury Hall - 67.6
4. Kalaheo - 67.1
5. University High - 65.4

GIRLS

1. Kamehameha - 62.2
2. University High - 62.1
3t. Punahou - 59.3
3t. Maryknoll - 59.3
5. Moanalua - 59.1

And just for fun, the leaders in both free throws made and attempted:

BOYS

Made FTs

1. Iolani - 381
2. Kaiser - 349
3. Kalaheo - 340
4. Maryknoll - 318
5. Moanalua - 314

Attempted FTs

1. Kaiser - 627
2. Moanalua - 550
3. Kalaheo - 507
4. Kahuku - 500
5. Iolani - 492

GIRLS

Made FTs

1. Moanalua - 289
2. Kaiser - 287
3. Mililani - 270
4. Kamehameha - 247
5. Maryknoll - 246

Attempted FTs

1. Moanalua - 489
2. Kaiser - 487
3. Mililani - 462
4. Kahuku - 454
5. Nanakuli - 442