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Jeremiah White

Kaimuki basketball  •   #2  G/F  Senior

Jeremiah White and the Kaimuki boys basketball team are starting to find their groove.

The Bulldogs snapped a three-game losing streak in the preseason with three wins in four days last week with victories over Waipahu, Hawaii Baptist and Leilehua.

White scored a total of 61 points in those victories, with his 59th, 60th and 61st points coming on a game-winning triple in a 58-55 overtime win over the Mules in the semifinals of the Kaimuki Invitational last Friday night.

"He's an amazing young man, very humble, respectful, always working hard," Kaimuki coach Greydon Espinda said of White.

"He never wants to lose. He practices hard. Every drill that we ask him to do, he does it really hard. He's ready to work every single time, on the court and off the court because his grades are really good."

Espinda added that it's been a slow start for the Bulldogs on the court this year with White and 6-foot-5 post Iosefa Letuli and a number of players transitioning over from playing football.

But the team is starting to put it all together as the preseason goes on.

"They had little nicks and cuts and little bruises, so we had to come back slowly, but you can see as we play each preseason game. The team is jelling together to be a really good team, a really good bunch of young men."

This was evident on White's game-winning shot. With mere seconds left in overtime, Espinda drew up a play during a timeout with Letuli inbounding the ball on the sideline. After lining up in a stack near the elbow, White came around the corner and got the inbounds pass before shooting a turnaround 3-pointer in the short corner.

"We just drew that up and for them to be able to do it, it shows that their basketball IQ is getting a lot better," said Espinda. "It wasn't something we practiced, we just did it right then and there and they just knew where to go."

Of course, the play wouldn't have worked without an exceptional shot by White.

"He was well guarded," said Espinda. "Miah made an outstanding play. Hats off to him. He was well guarded. He just turned, took the shot and he made it at the end."

"All glory to God," added White. "All of my skill and ability comes from Him. Just trying to use them to glory and get His name and good news to other people who need it."

It was a defining moment for White and the Bulldogs, not only because of the shot, but because Espinda and the team believes that Leilehua is a top five team in the state.

"The win meant so much not because of the buzzer beater, but because of how great of a team Leilehua is and just proving to the state that we can compete and not only stay close, but beat any team in the state it was a huge statement and huge step in the right direction as a team."

The Bulldogs are playing with a chip on their shoulders this season after missing the OIA Division I playoffs by one game, which saw them get demoted to Division II this season.

White also bruised suffered a bruise kneecap before Kaimuki's penultimate game of the regular season, which limited his availability to close the year.

"The rehab process was more tough mentally than physically for me because I wanted to get back 100 percent as soon as I could so I could train for football and there'd be times where I'd feel better, try and workout, then the pain would come back. I was super impatient and I believed it happened because God was testing my faith and was also giving me patience through it all. It was super tough and I worked as hard as I could to be back on the court and field for my teammates."

Not only does White possesses a great work ethic, but he is a great leader as well, Espinda said.

"Miah is such a great leader overall. He sees what's working and what's not working. He'll tell me 'coach, can we stay in a matchup' and let's do it. He's like a coach on the court also, and he helps kids whenever he's lost or don't know what to do. He tells them where to do and what to do. It makes coaching easier."

Then there's White's fearlessness and grit that comes over from the gridiron.

"He's not afraid to bring up the ball, not afraid to take the shot, not afraid to look for his teammates when they're open. He's not afraid of contact, obviously because he plays football, but he's always looking for the opening player. He trusts every single one of his teammates."

White's football background came into play in Kaimuki's 62-30 win over Waipahu last Tuesday. The Bulldogs led by just five points at the half, 25-20, but turned up the pressure in the second half and held Waipahu to just five points each in the third and fourth quarter.

White scored 22 points in the win while Daysen Lupica and Harmon Sio added 13 and eight points respectively. The trio of players are three-year members of the varsity team.

"The Waipahu game, what happened was I always my kids that we have great athletes, so let's maximize our athleticism," said Espinda.

"Halftime the game was close, but we decided to press and all that different type of traps and Miah and Daysen went off in terms of stealing, passing lanes, making shots."

Like he does on the football field, White played a deep safety role in the Bulldogs' press to pick off any deep passes against the Marauders.

"Because he's a safety in football, we put him in the third slot where he's the safety in basketball," said Espinda. "Wherever you see the guy turn for the ball, you go to that side and intercept the pass."

"My skills as a safety/DB translate to the basketball court because I like to bait the opposing team to throw the ball down the court and when they throw it, I break on it like it's a football and get the steal," added White.

Kaimuki earned its second straight win two days later in a 66-48 win over HBA. Letuli scored 23 points, White scored 19 and Lupica scored 10 more.

Espinda said it was a game where there was a concerted effort to get Letuli and the points in the paint going.

"Miah was getting the ball to Sefa and Sefa was making all his shots. When Miah or Daysen can make their shots, it opens the game on the inside and that's where Sefa can take advantage.

The game against Leilehua was the closest contest of the week for Kaimuki. Espinda said the team trailed 14-2 to start the game, but they battled back to make the score 14-14 after the first quarter.

"We told the kids you need to get back on defense and just settle down. We'll be OK, and once they settled into the game, the next thing you know it was 14-14."

The score remained tied at the half before Leilehua took a five-point lead after the third quarter. The Bulldogs locked down defensively in the fourth quarter by limiting the Mules to five points while forcing overtime.

"We're on the right track," said Espinda. "We wanted to play Leilehua in the semifinals because I know Leilehua is a top five team in the state. Even if we lost or stayed close, I knew we were on the right track. We had a great game against them, and it's an indication that what we're doing as a team is on the right track, and we'll get better."

BOYS BASKETBALL

Jericho Adolpho, Molokai — Scored 20 points in a loss to Kalani

Noa Donnelly, Kailua — Scored 20 points in a win over Maryknoll 

Bromo Dorn, Seabury Hall — Scored 25 points with nine rebounds, four assists, three 3-pointers and two blocks in a loss to Kohala and scored 22 points with six rebounds, three assists, three steals and three made 3-pointers in a win over Konawaena

Kobe Garcia — Scored 23 points with five assists in a win over Konawaena

Jayden Hook, Kohala — Scored 19 points in a win over Bonita

Miles Hornage, Campbell — Scored 18 points in a one-point win over Moanalua

Kawohi Huihui, KS-Hawaii — Scored 20 points in a win over Soledad and scored 22 points in a win over Kalaheo

Layden Kauka, Kohala — Scored 25 points with three made 3-pointers in a win over KS-Maui and scored 26 points with five rebounds, five steals, five assists in a win over Corona and scored 20 points in a win over Bonita

Iosefa Letuli, Kaimuki — Scored 23 points in a win over Hawaii Baptist

Kelani Lewis, Waimea — Scored 18 points in a win over McKinley

Daysen Lupica, Kaimuki — Scored 25 points with four made 3-pointers in a win over Leilehua

Hunter Marumoto, Maryknoll — Scored 14 points with eight rebounds, six assists and three steals in a win over Moanalua

Abraham Ogata, Konawaena — Scored 30 points in a one-point win over Lahainaluna

Peyton Pana, Hilo — Scored 23 points in a win over Konawaena

Lauvai Pine, Mililani — Scored 18 points in a win over Mid-Pacific and scored 24 points in a loss to Punahou

Joshua Schutter, Kalaheo — Scored 19 points with three made 3-pointers in a win over Punahou I-AA

Pupu Sepulona, Saint Louis — Scored 26 points in a win over Bonita and scored 27 points in a win over Baldwin

Matthew Shigetani, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 20 points in a loss to Molokai

Christian Togiai — Scored 19 points in a loss to Roosevelt (Calif.) and scored 28 points in a win over Kalaheo

Ayndra Uperesa-Thomas, Punahou — Scored 23 points in a win over Mililani

Michael Vigil, Kihei Charter — Scored 26 points in a loss to Lanai

Caden Williams, Radford — Scored 27 points and shot 7-for-7 at the free throw line in a loss to Westside Christian and scored 18 points in a win over De La Salle NC

Twain Wilson, Leilehua — Scored 23 points with three made 3-pointers in a win over Damien and scored 25 points in a loss to Kaimuki and scored 20 points with four made 3-pointers in a win over HBA

BOYS SOCCER

Logan Aurio, Kapolei — Registered a hat trick in a win over Waipahu

Ignacio Elzardia, Island School — Scored two goals in a 4-0 win over Waimea

Noa Fleming, Kihei Charter — Scored two goals in a 3-0 win over Molokai and scored two goals in a 3-3 tie with Molokai

William Henderson, KS-Hawaii — Registered a hat trick in a win over Parker

Zach Madison, Hawaii Prep — Scored two goals in a 4-0 win over Parker 

Riley Nakayama — Scored two goals in a 3-3 tie with Kihei Charter

Shayden Ranis-Alameda Dela Cruz, Waimea — Scored two goals in a 3-2 loss to Waimea

Sawyer Rogoff, Island School — Scored two goals in a 4-0 win over Waimea

Tayte Sato, McKinley — Registered a hat trick in a win over McKinley

Lucas Kay-Wong, KS-Hawaii — Registered a hat trick in a win over Parker

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Aliyah Bantolina, Campbell — Scored 17 points with eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and two 3-pointers in a loss to Kamehameha

Nihoa Dunn, Kamehameha — Scored 30 points in a win over Kahuku and had a double-double of 17 points and 17 rebounds in a win over Campbell

Kailey Furuta, Mid-Pacific — Scored 17 points in a win over St. Andrews

Puaena Harrington, Waiakea — Scored 15 points in a win over Pahoa

Kiani Hoolulu, Kailua — Scored 24 points in a loss to Kahuku

Maela Honma, KS-Hawaii — Scored 19 points in a win over Kau

Keanu Huihui, KS-Hawaii — Scored 22 points in a win over Kau

Veniza Jackson, Lanai — Scored 31 points in a win over Haleakala Waldorf and scored 18 points in a win over Haleakala Waldorf

Akemi Kawamata — Scored 16 points in a win over Kalani

Lizzy Kennedy, Kalaheo — Scored 18 points in a loss to Sacred Hearts

Brooke Kurasaki, Mililani — Scored 16 points with four made 3-pointers in a loss to Punahou and scored 16 points in a win over Kalani

Olivia Malafu, Kapaa — Scored 23 points in a win over Kauai

Jolie Mantz, Waiakea — Scored 38 points in a win over Hawaii Prep

Taysia Molina-Schulte, Campbell — Scored 15 points in a win over Kailua and scored 16 points in a loss to Kamehameha

Jayda Okuhara, Hanalani — Scored 20 points in a win over University Lab

Kylie Oshita, University Lab — Scored 15 points in a loss to Hanalani

Mikela Salazar-Harrell, Konawaena — Scored 16 points in a win over Honokaa

Taira Samiano, Kapaa — Scored 15 points in a win over Kauai

Brooke Samura, Hawaii Prep — Scored 31 points with eight rebounds and four made 3-pointers

Destiny Tautofi, Sacred Hearts — Scored 15 points in a loss to Iolani I-AA

Azelia Welle, Sacred Hearts — Scored 63 points in a win over Kalaheo

Tuisila Wily-Ava, Kahuku — Scored 15 points in a loss to Kamehameha

GIRLS SOCCER

Kaia Borje-Peeples, Aiea — Registered a hat trick in a win over Waianae

Marley Espiau, Kamehameha — Registered a hat trick in a win over Mid-Pacific

Arianna Tauiai Fuamatu-Maafala, Mililani — Scored four goals in a win over Nanakuli

Naia Garana, Kealakehe — Scored two goals in a 5-2 loss to HPA

Sachie Ilae, Punahou — Scored a goal and assisted in another one in a 3-0 win over Iolani

Taja Kaaihue-Tollefsen, Castle — Scored two goals in a 4-0 win over Kahuku and scored two goals in a 4-1 win over Kailua

Brianne Kumashiro, Castle — Scored two goals and assisted in another in a 4-1 win over Kailua

Deizha Lyn Jacinto, Waipahu — Scored two goals in a 4-0 win over Radford

Kryslynn Nabarro, Hilo — Registered a hat trick in a win over HPA

Alexyz Nakamoto, Leilehua — Registered a hat trick in a 4-3 win over Aiea

Kaydee Nakamitsu, Kalani — Registered a hat trick in a win over Kaimuki

Kaiulani Nishigaya, Kalani — Scored five goals in a win over Kaimuki

Quinn Quinabo, Seabury Hall — Scored four goals in a win over Seabury Hall and registered a hat trick in a win over Seabury Hall

Brooke Perreira, Kaiser — Registered a hat trick in a win over Kaimuki

Kendra Suga — Registered a hat trick in a 4-0 win over Island School

Leia Tupper, Campbell — Registered a hat trick in a win over Leilehua

Kayla Whaley, Campbell — Registered a hat trick in a win over Waialua

Krislyn Uyeda, Moanalua — Scored two goals in a 2-0 win over Kalaheo