Kamehameha's Jaycob Smith and Iolani's Kylee Kim-Bustillos earned weekly top performers honors. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Jaycob Smith, Kamehameha basketball
No team is hotter than the Kamehameha boys basketball team right now. The Warriors have won three straight games and four of their last five in the ultra-competitive Interscholastic League of Honolulu and leading the way has been junior guard Jaycob Smith.

Smith, who is 5-feet, 11-inches tall, scored a season-high 25 points in a 51-48 overtime win over No. 3 Iolani Wednesday and followed that up with 17 points in a 48-45 win over top-ranked Punahou Friday.

Against the Raiders, the Warriors trailed 19-9 at halftime, but outscored them 34-24 in the second half. Smith is a near half-court shot to beat the buzzer at the end of regulation that sent it into overtime.

"He pretty much carried us along with Noa (Kinimaka)," Kamehameha coach Greg Tacon said. "He scored 25 points and made that huge 3-pointer, but it was what he did in the third quarter that got us back in the game. He hit three of our first four shots in the quarter that got us back into it and made us feel like we could compete the rest of the way."

Smith shot 50 percent (8 of 16) from the field, including 3 of 7 on 3-pointers, and was 6 of 8 from the free-throw line.

"At first we weren't sure where we'd play him because he didn't play with us in the summer," Tacon said. "I kind of thought of him as a (shooting) guard, but he handles the ball well — he's not the fastest guy, but he sees things well — and I thought he could play point guard for us. He didn't even start at the beginning of the season, but five games in we decided that he's our best guy for that spot and he's gotten better and better as the year has progressed and he's really flourishing now."

Against Punahou, Smith was 5 of 11 from the field, including 3 of 6 on 3-pointers and 4 of 6 from the free-throw line.

Tacon said the guard trio of Smith, Kinimaka and Fatu Sua-Godinet has worked well together and is a big reason for the Warriors' success.

"That's the key to our success, actually," Tacon said. "If you look at our roster and compare it to other teams — especially in the ILH — we have good kids, but we're not the most talented top-to-bottom like other schools. Our best players have to play at a high level for us to stay in games, whereas other teams can have a top guy have an off night and other guys can step up. All three of those kids — as well as (forwards) Kayson Smith-Bejgrowicz and Alaka'i Freitas — have really learned to play well together and they support each other."

Through seven leagues games, Smith averages a team-high 11.6 points per game. Kinimaka is right behind him with 8.9 points per game.

Last week's wins have given the Warriors a new-found sense of confidence with three games left in the ILH regular season.

"We knew where we were at," Tacon said. "We went through the first round 2-3 and weren't discouraged, but we realized we were running out of time. Those wins raised our kids' confidence level to realize that they can compete with the other ILH teams. We needed a lot of things to go well and they did."

The Warriors, who moved up three spots to No. 4 in this week's ScoringLive/OC16 Boys Basketball Power Rankings, return to the hardwood Tuesday with a road game at Saint Louis. The wrap up the season with games against Mid-Pacific and Maryknoll.

Female Athlete of the Week: Kylee Kim-Bustillos, Iolani soccer
Do not make the mistake of looking past — or over — Kylee Kim-Bustillos. The freshman forward on the Iolani girls soccer team stands just 5-feet tall, but definitely has some skills on the field.

Kim-Bustillos flashed some of that talent Saturday afternoon when she scored in the 74th minute of the Raiders' 1-0 win over Kamehameha in the Intersholastic League of Honolulu regular-season finale. The victory lifted Iolani to 10-0-2 and helped it clinch the league championship by just one point over the Warriors in the final ILH Division I standings.

After a richocet off the crossbar following a shot on goal by teammate Nikki Mitsuyasu, the ball bounced around in the box before Kim-Bustillos knocked it into the goal with her right foot from just a few yards out.

"She's eager and very fearless," Iolani coach Kristin Masunaga said of Kim-Bustillos. "She really stepped up in that game."

Kim-Bustillos made the varsity team this year despite not competing for the Raiders in the seventh and eighth grades.

"She didn't play because of her club and the time that took up," Masunaga said. "I was always asking her about it and she said 'I'll come out my freshman year,' and I'm glad she did."

Despite her lack of games at the varsity level, Masunaga said Kim-Bustillos' outside experience has prepped her well for the rugged ILH.

"Her club plays at a very high level — I believe they won regionals a couple of years ago — but, at the same time, it's different because she's playing with and against girls three years older than her, so for her to be able to come in as a freshman and make an impact has been great for us," Masunaga said.

Kim-Bustillos' six goals on the season ranks her fifth in scoring on her team. Masunaga, for one, is hardly surprised her early successes.

"Coming into the season, Kylee really caught our attention in tryouts," Masunaga recalled. She definitely stood out and we knew that she was going to make an immediate impact."

Off the field, Masunaga describes the freshman as "very sweet, always smiling and very coachable. She gets along well with everybody and never complains about anything."

For most of the season, Kim-Bustillos has been one of the first players off the bench for the reigning Division I state-champion Raiders, but that may soon change. Leading scorer Pikake Kaneshiro suffered a knee injury Saturday and her chances of a return in time for next week's state tournament seem unlikely, Masunaga said. 

"She goes to the doctor (Tuesday) to get her MRI results, but it's not looking very promising," Masunaga said. "If we are without Pikake, then Kylee would most likely move into the starting lineup."

Iolani will be one of four seeded teams in the 12-team tournament and have a first-round bye. The bracket will be revealed Sunday.

"We don't know the seeding yet, but we do know that anything can happen," said Masunaga, a former Iolani player. "My junior year we got upset by Kapaa in the quarterfinals, so a bye is great, but we've got to ready for that Thursday game. We've had to play that first-round game in the past and we had the bye last year and we've definitely notcied the difference of having that extra day or rest versus playing a team that has had four games in four days."

Even with the possibility of Kaneshiro out, Masunaga likes her team's chances of defending their title.

"I think as long as we come out and play hard everyday, our chances are good," Masunaga said.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Daniel Andrews, Punahou — Scored 18 points in a win over Saint Louis Wednesday

Shaun Aque, Aiea — Scored 25 points in a win over Nanakuli Thursday

Noel Bueno, Mililani — Scored 21 points in a win over Pearl City Saturday

Jonah Bredeson, Konawaena — Scored 20 points in a win over Kamehameha-Hawaii Friday

Josh Burnett, Maryknoll — Scored 27 points in a win over Mid-Pacific Wednesday and 27 points in a win over Saint Louis Saturday

Zach Buscher, Iolani — Scored 18 points in a win over Mid-Pacific Friday

Elijah Butler, Mililani — Scored 20 points in a win over Pearl City Saturday

Jalen Carvalho, Hilo — Scored 32 points in a win over Pahoa Tuesday and 28 points in a win over Ka'u Friday

Tevarua Eldridge, Baldwin — Scored 19 points in a win over Lahainaluna Saturday

Kaimana Equires, Waialua — Scored 19 points in a loss to Radford Thursday

Kevin Foster, Roosevelt — Scored 18 points in a win over Kaimuki Thursday

Kaleb Gilmore, Maryknoll — Scored 19 points in a win over Saint Louis Saturday

Kupaa Harrison, Kalaheo — Scored 19 points in a win over Kalani Thursday and 21 points in a win over McKinley Saturday

Kyle Husslein, Mid-Pacific — Scored 19 points in a loss to Maryknoll Wednesday and 16 points in a loss to Iolani Friday

Justin Kam, Punahou — Scored 29 points in a win over Saint Louis Wednesday

Cameron King, Seabury Hall — Scored 37 points in a win over Molokai Saturday

Hirkley Latu, Kahuku — Scored 20 points in a win over Kalani Saturday

Dayton Lee, McKinley — Scored 19 points in a win over Kaiser Thursday and 15 points in a loss to Kalaheo Saturday

Josh Lincoln, Nanakuli — Scored 19 points in a loss to Aiea Thursday

Joshua Luna, Christian Academy — Scored 24 points in a win over Hawaiian Mission Tuesday

Jose Ryan Madera, Lahainaluna — Scored 18 points in a loss to Baldwin Saturday

Ranan Mamiya, Saint Francis — Scored 23 points in a win over Le Jardin Saturday

Jacob McEnroe, Farrington — Scored 28 points in a win over Kaimuki Saturday

Christian Ono, Kaimuki — Scored 18 points in a loss to Roosevelt Thursday and 16 points in a loss to Farrington Saturday

David Ovbagbedia, Hawaii Prep — Scored 22 points in a win over Honokaa Friday

Xavier Repollo, Waialua — Scored 18 points in a loss to Radford Thursday

Jordan Riley, Radford — Scored 21 points in a win over Waialua Thursday

Tolby Saito, Pahoa — Scored 20 points in a loss to Hilo Tuesday

Aaron Stuart, Moanalua — Scored 21 points in a loss to Farrington Thursday

Austin Thomas, Waianae — Scored 19 points in a win over Pearl City Thursday

Matthew Urcia, Christian Academy — Scored 20 points in a win over Hawaiian Mission Tuesday

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Adora Anae, Kahuku — Scored 19 points in a win over Kahuku Tuesday

Erica Brenner, Island Pacific — Scored 16 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist Thursday

Raeann Butala, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 17 points in a win over Christian Academy Monday

Penina Faumui, Farrington — Scored 25 points in a win over Castle Friday

Sarah Kanekoa, Mid-Pacific — Scored 20 points in a win over Sacred Hearts Thursday

Devyn Kauhi, Roosevelt — Scored 16 points in a win over Kailua Saturday

Sierra Koki, Castle — Scored 18 points in a loss to Farrington Friday

Mikaela Limper, Mililani — Scored 17 points in a win over Radford Wednesday

Sarah Liva, Mililani — Scored 28 points in win over Moanalua Saturday

Markayisha Masani, University High — Scored 17 points in a win over St. Andrew's Wednesday

LaChae McColor, Moanalua — Scored 24 points in a loss to Mililani Saturday

Tyra Moe, Punahou — Scored 16 points in a win over Kamehameha Thursday

Chanelle Molina, Konawaena — Scored 16 points in a win over Hawaii Prep Saturday

Jasmine Moody, Radford — Scored 18 points in a loss to Mililani Wednesday and 18 points in a win over Nanakuli Friday

Doris Naulu, Lutheran — Scored 26 points in a loss to Hawaiian Mission Thursday

Vikatolia Naulu, Lutheran — Scored 25 points in a win over Christian Academy Wednesday

Tia Odoardi, Island Pacific — Scored 17 points in a loss to Hawaiian Mission Saturday

Alissa Pacarro, Saint Francis — Scored 19 points in a win over Kamehameha II Friday

Celina Pagan, Sacred Hearts — Scored 20 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific Thursday

Alohi Robins-Hardy, Kamehameha — Scored 21 points in a win over Iolani Tuesday

Lacey Satele, Saint Francis — Scored 20 points in a win over Kamehameha II Friday

Jeneva Toilolo, Farrington — Scored 16 points in a win over Castle Friday

Nalani-Aipoalani Tuaoi To'oto'o, Kamehameha II — Scored 25 points in a loss to Saint Francis Friday

Taufau Williams, Kailua — Scored 22 points in a win over Waianae Tuesday and 21 points in a win over Leilehua Wednesday

BOYS SOCCER
Antonio Espinoza, Punahou — Scored two goals in a loss to Iolani Tuesday and three goals in a win over Damien Friday

Naia Graham, Kailua — Scored three goals in a win over Farrington Monday

Peter Kanoho, Kailua — Scored three goals in a win over Farrington Monday

Takahiro Kosins, Kalani — Scored two goals in a win over McKinley Monday

Duncan McKenna, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Damien Friday

Christian Paracuelles-Calaro, Waialua — Scored two goals in a win over Nanakuli Monday

Gabriel Pinheiro-Alves — Scored two goals in a win over Kaimuki Monday

Jake Samsel, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Kaimuki Monday

Truman Spring, Kahuku — Scored two goals in a win over Kaimuki Monday

GIRLS SOCCER
Kayla Cortez, Pac-Five — Scored two goals in a win over Saint Francis Friday

Megan Goo, Iolani — Scored three goals in a win over Mid-Pacific Wednesday

Tasha Inong, Pearl City — Scored a goal in a win over Campbell Wednesday and a goal in win over Kaiser Friday

Mayumi Ishikawa, Kalaheo — Scored a goal in a win over Radford Wednesday and a goal in a win over Leilehua Friday

Pikake Kaneshiro, Iolani — Scored two goals in a win over Mid-Pacific Wednesday

Noelle Mercado, Kaiser — Scored a goal in a win over Kapolei Thursday and a goal in a loss to Pearl City Friday

Nikki Mitsuyasu, Iolani — Scored three goals in a win over Mid-Pacific Wednesday

Shayla Padilla, Leilehua — Scored two goals in a win over Nanakuli Wednesday

Genevieve Smith, Radford — Scored two goals in a win over Nanakuli Thursday

Kimberly Stacey, Pac-Five — Scored two goals in a win over Saint Francis Friday

Cassandra Stetser, Mililani — Scored two goals in a win over Kailua Tuesday and two goals in a win over Moanalua Thursday

Raisa Strom-Okimoto, Aiea — Scored two goals in a win over Campbell Thursday

Kayla Watanabe, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a tie against Sacred Hearts Saturday

Noelle Yee, Sacred Hearts — Scored two goals in a win over Saint Francis Tuesday