The affinity that Talon Ea has for basketball is apparent by the way he plays the game, but it is no match for the love that he has for his family. 

Ea, a senior guard for the Waipahu boys basketball team, is in his second season with the Marauders after transferring from a school in Northern California. The reason for the move was singular: to care for his ailing grandmother. 

When Tomasa Ea's health began deteriorating, the plan was for Talon — along with his parents, Vanessa and Harold, to move from the city of Folsom back to their hometown of Waipahu. However, complications arose that did not allow for Talon's mother and father to return to Hawaii and in their stead, he stepped up to the proverbial plate to fill the void. 

"From a maturity standpoint, I thought that was huge," Waipahu coach Randy Sagon said of Talon's decision to change schools following his sophomore year. 

"There's not a lot of kids that would sacrifice going out, hanging with their friends as a high school student just to make sure that grandma is OK, so I think he's very grounded, he has great family values and he's got really great character," Sagon added. 

Ea joined the Marauders as a junior and had a few eye-opening performances in the preseason, including 19-point games against Kaimuki and Kohala. However, in the final game of the preseason, Ea suffered a wrist injury that delayed his start to the regular season. 

"When he broke his wrist I didn't think I would get him back during the (regular) season, but he was just so optimistic throughout that. Even when it happened and he had his first doctor's appointment, he came back and said, ‘This is when I can get back already,' so it didn't shake him too much mentally," Sagon recalled. 

Ea missed Waipahu's first five games in OIA play due to the injury to his left (shooting) wrist, but returned in time for the second half of the regular season. He went on to average 8.3 points per game in league games for the Marauders, who struggled to a 3-8 record (8-14 overall). 

This winter, however, has been a different story for Ea and the Marauders. The 5-foot-8 combo guard is averaging 18.6 points per game through five league contests and the Marauders sit in a tie for second place in the division at 4-1 (13-4 overall). 

"I think Talon and a bunch of his teammates together made a commitment to each other and what they wanted to do as a team. I think they're just trying to work every single day and so I keep reminding them of the goals they set and we know that we're going to have to work for it because nobody is going to give us anything. It's not going to come easy and if it was easy, everybody would be doing it, so they know we have to continue to lock in, we have to continue to respect our opponents and keep playing the basketball that we know we can play," Sagon said. 

Ea has scored in double figures in all but four of Waipahu's games this year, including four of five league games. He opened the regular season with a 20-point performance in a win over Roosevelt on Dec. 20. A week later he poured in a career-best 30 points to help the Marauders top Pearl City. 

"He's aggressive on both sides of the ball and he'll score in bunches, but his super strength is his speed and shiftiness. Even though he's not the biggest guy, he's very quick and terrific at driving and getting in the paint," Sagon said. 

Sagon credited Ea for his aggressive defense — which has translated to a good number of steals — while still managing to stay out of foul trouble, despite averaging about 26 minutes a game. 

Ea's motor and relentless aggressiveness has gone noticed by opposing coaches, Sagon pointed out. 

"They'll remark to us that he's so fast and ‘where is he from?' We get that all the time," Sagon said. 

Opposing players have struggled to keep up with Ea's high level of conditioning. 

"I think players start to get frustrated with him because it'll be deep in the fourth quarter and he's still sprinting up and down the floor and causing chaos," Sagon said. 

Ea is one of five seniors on the team and although he is not a captain, he is certainly in a position of leadership, Sagon noted. 

"He's definitely one of the leaders on the team and I think his energy is a huge part of the success of the team. Honestly, I did not expect him to explode the way he has on the offensive side. He's really put together some great games to the point where he's actually carried us some games. There's been some times where I'm watching him, going ‘wow.' It's like I'm a spectator and not his coach, just wow, he's putting it together," Sagon expressed. 

Ea drained five 3-pointers against the Chargers; in a preseason matchup against Oxford Academy (Cypress, Calif.), he tallied a half-dozen treys. Sagon said Ea's improved perimeter shooting has led to defenders being forced to extend out versus sitting back and packing the paint in anticipation of Ea's dribble-drive. 

"It's really helped his whole game because if he's hitting from far, they gotta come out on him and he can drive past them. It's almost like a pitcher in baseball where they'll use that fastball to set up the curve or the slider; it's incredible how he's sets them up for the next offensive set," Sagon said. 

Sagon lauded Ea's willingness to adapt and adjust to the Marauders' style of play, which differs greatly from the system he played in at Folsom. 

"He played with guys that are a lot bigger than we have so it was easy to throw it at the rim and guys would be dunking, so he had to change his style a little bit and adapt, but I think he's the type of player whose actions speak louder than his words. His teammates see him running up and down the floor and even after a mistake he's sprinting back to get that ball back, so we know what what we're going to get from him and it's quite incredible what he's able to do at this stature," Sagon said. 

Ea followed up his 30-point game against Pearl City with a 21-point showing in a down-to-the-wire win at Aiea Friday night. He played a pivotal role in the Marauders being able to overcome a disastrous second quarter that saw them outscored 20-3 by Na Alii. 

"That second quarter it was almost like we didn't show up. We were down 10 points at the half so we got into the boys about going back to the small things we weren't doing. Talon had a conversation with some of the other captains about digging in and getting after it. He was a key factor in making that comeback because he's so active in our press that he gets a lot of steals, gets a lot of tipped balls and he makes it hard for guys trying to dribble around him. We needed everything that we could to pull out that win," Sagon said. 

Ea's free throw with nine seconds to play put his team up by four. Sagon instructed his team to back off defensively and Aiea hit a field goal in the final seconds in the 59-57 win over Waipahu. 

The victory put the Marauders in sole possession of first place, but it proved to be short-lived as Sagon's squad fell Tuesday in a road game at Waianae, 64-53. 

"We gotta remember that one game does not define who we are. We just have to keep working every single day and learn from stuff. We learn from the wins, but especially from the losses we can learn and if we just keep working, hopefully we'll get to where we want to go," Sagon said. 

For Ea, wins and losses will come and go, but family will always come first. 

"He's a great kid and I've enjoyed having him on this team. I want to ride this as long as I can because I'll be pretty sad when he's not on my squad anymore," Sagon expressed. 

When he's not hooping or taking care of grandma, Ea can be found working his part-time job at Tanoa Hawaii clothing store. He even joined Waipahu's track and field team last spring for good measure.

Ea and the Marauders will look to bounce back when they host McKinley Wednesday night. 

BOYS BASKETBALL

Declan Beckette, Iolani — Scored 31 points in a win over Mid-Pacific 

Jayson Chang, Aiea — Scored 25 points in a win over Pearl City and scored 22 points in a loss to Waipahu

Darius Chizer, Mid-Pacific — Scored 24 points in a loss to Regis and scored 23 points in a loss to Valley Catholic 

Chris Du, Maryknoll — Scored 21 points with nine rebounds in a win over Kamehameha 

Vainuupo Fanuaea, Nanakuli — Scored 19 points in a win over Mililani 

Rennan Fong, Iolani II — Scored 21 points in a win over Maryknoll II 

Jayden Gemeno, Leilehua — Scored 20 points in a. Loss to Kapolei 

Trey Guillermo, Konawaena — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Kawohi Huihui, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 22 points in a win over Konawaena 

Garrick Imamura, Kalani — Scored 26 points in a win over McKinley 

CJ Jenkins, Kapaa — Scored 20 points in a win over Island School 

Layden Kauka, Kohala — Scored 23 points with four rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block in a win over Kau 

John Carlos Mandia, Pearl City — Scored 19 points in a loss to Aiea 

Shayden Manuel, Kapaa — Scored 20 points in a win over Island School 

Ashton McCauley, Mid-Pacific — Scored 21 points in a loss to Regis 

Kaiana Miller, Keaau — Scored 26 points in a win over Konawaena 

Shyne Salvador, Kamehameha — Scored 23 points in a loss to Farmington 

Tanoa Scanlan, Punahou — Scored 23 points in a win over University Lab 

Keaton Silva, Kapolei — Scored 20 points in a win over Radford and scored 27 points in a win over Leilehua 

Hunter Suzuki, Maryknoll II — Scored 21 points in a loss to Iolani II 

Mission Uperesa-Thomas, Maryknoll — Scored 23 points in a win over Kamehameha 

Lawaia Walsh, Kulanihakoi — Scored 31 points in a win over Hana 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Jordin Baker, Kalani — Scored 30 points in a win over Moanalua 

Shailan Benevides, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 18 points in a win over Kohala 

Harley Cabreros, Waiakea — Scored 19 points in a win over Hilo 

Ollie Cluney, Punahou — Scored 18 points in a win over Downey 

Coryn Doss, Radford — Scored 21 points in a win over Kapolei 

Pua Herrington, Maryknoll — Scored 19 points in a loss to Iolani 

Kaira Hoolulu, Kailua — Scored 20 points in a win over Kahuku 

Makana Kamakeeaina, Campbell — Scored 18 points in a win over Leilehua 

Zoie Kauhola, Baldwin — Scored 25 points in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Laakea Kauwe, Waimea — Scored 19 points in a win over Kapaa 

Sophia Kish, Kalaheo — Scored 20 points in a loss to Aiea 

Jacquel Liana, Nanakuli — Scored 17 points in a loss to Mililani 

Ayjah Maae, Castle — Scored 19 points in a win over McKinley 

Mirianna Piimauna-Beck, Hana — Scored 17 points in a win over Kulanihakoi 

Malia Simram, Hilo — Scored 18 points in a win over Keaau 

AJ Soriano, Kohala — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii 

Shantay Stroman, Radford — Scored 17 points in a win over Kapolei 

Serenity Tacgere, Moanalua — Scored 31 points in a loss to Kalani 

Emalata Tasini, Kulanihakoi — Scored 20 points in a loss to Hana 

Riya Tobosa, Pearl City — Scored 27 points in a win over Damien and scored 32 points in a win over Waianae 

BOYS SOCCER

Logan Agonias-Mancao, Keaau — Scored two goals in a win over Makua Lani 

Micah Chung, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored two goals in a tie with Hilo 

Louis Faustino, Kahuku — Scored three goals in a win over Farrington 

Armando Gamez, Kalaheo — Scored two goals and assisted on another in a win over McKinley

Hayden Glenn, Kalaheo — Scored two goals and assisted on another in a win over McKinley 

Rayden Handy, Keaau — Scored two goals in a win over Makua Lani 

Riley Hayashi, Pearl City — Scored two goals in a loss to Mililani and scored three goals in a win over Radford 

Paul Horacajo, Kahuku — Scored three goals in a win over Farrington 

Josiah Ishizaka, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Aiea 

Alexander Kloetzel, Kaiser — Scored the lone goal in a win over Roosevelt 

Matthew Lamborn, Mililani — Scored four goals in a win over Pearl City 

Cale Macmillan, Castle — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kaiser 

Nolan Pogoso, Pearl City — Scored two goals in a win over Waialua 

Cody Siebert, Waipahu — Scored three goals in a win over Waianae 

Akeakamai Silva, Kalani — Scored two goals in a win over Moanalua 

Tyler Welsch, Campbell — Scored three goals in a win over Aiea 

GIRLS SOCCER

Ciana Alina Aburto, Pearl City — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua 

Jaslene Cayetano, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Kapolei 

Juliah Hayes, Roosevelt — Scored three goals in a win over Waianae 

Sierra Kalani, Roosevelt — Scored two goals in a win over Waianae 

Lea Kanekoa, Kaiser — Scored the lone goal in a win over Castle 

Destiny Look, Le Jardin — Scored two goals in a loss to Mid-Pacific 

Kylie Park, Aiea — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington 

Tazsia Sakamoto, Waipahu — Scored the lone goal in a win over Leilehua 

Sienna Sasaki, Castle — Scored two goals in a win over Kahuku 

Rylie Soriano, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Kapolei 

Miyah Sister, Campbell — Scored three goals in a win over Waipahu 

Cheyenne Uejo, Aiea — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington 

Ava Vaituulala, Baldwin — Scored two goals in a win over Lahainaluna