Tori Chinen Courtesy Myles Arakawa

Purchase image 1 of 2

Punahou's Dayson Watanabe takes the ball to the basket against Iolani. Steve Erler | Special to SL

Purchase image 2 of 2

Male Athlete of the Week: Dayson Watanabe, Punahou Basketball
Although he is the smallest person on the team, Dayson Watanabe came up big in crunch time to help the Buffanblu remain undefeated in league play.

The 5-foot-8 senior guard's play in the fourth quarter was instrumental in Punahou's two wins over Interscholastic League of Honolulu opponents Saint Louis and Iolani last week. Punahou, ranked No. 2 in the ScoringLive/OC16 Boys Basketball Power Rankings, now sits atop the league standings in first place with a 4-0 record.

"He's super quick. He's a good scorer, good shooter and he's one of our vocal leaders. He plays really good on-ball defense and he does a good job of pushing the ball in transition," Punahou coach Darren Matsuda said on Watanabe.

Watanabe, who is one of four seniors on the team that was on the 2012 squad that won the state championship, has been a great decision maker this year adds Matsuda. 

"He went to a point guard camp over the summer," said Matsuda. "He's making good decisions, especially when he enters the paint. He's a lot more in control.

While Punahou's fourth quarter rally against the Crusaders was highlighted by Kalai Santos' buzzer-beater from beyond half court, Watanabe played an important role by scoring eight of his team-high 14 points in the period. 

"It was just do or die from there," Watanabe told ScoringLive after the team's victory over Saint Louis. "I just told my teammates that we have to focus up and do our best to get back into the game."

Against Iolani, the 2014 Division I state champions, Watanabe scored seven of his eight points in the fourth quarter to help the Buffanblu maintain their third quarter lead. Five of those points came from the free throw line while his only bucket of the game came on a coast-to-coast layup where he sped by the entire Iolani defense. 

Watanabe also contributed a game-high seven assists in the win over the Raiders.

"A lot of it I think is his quickness (that) gets him into the lane to get other guys opportunities," Matsuda said on Watanabe's ability to distribute the ball.  "He can get by almost anybody because of his quickness. He does a good job of drawing defenders and dishing the ball." 

Watanabe and Punahou will look to improve to 5-0 in league play when they host Mid-Pacific Wednesday.

Female Athlete of the Week: Tori Chinen, Kalani soccer
Sometimes being a team player pays off. 

Kalani's Tori Chinen scored a season-high five goals in the Falcons' 7-1 win over Farrington last Saturday. The victory improved the Falcons' record to 3-4-2 with one game left in Oahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division play. The win also helped give the Falcons the East's top seed and first round bye in the six-team Division II playoffs, as well as one of the league's four berths into the Division II state tournament.

Chinen's five goals brings her into a three-way tie with Mililani's Tia Furuta and Kahuku's Kamaile Aluli for the league's leading scorer, something remarkable considering the Falcons don't really run any set plays for her.

"That's not something that we try to set someone up to be," said Kalani interim coach Myles Arakawa. "We play more of a system where we create opportunities and have defenses figure out which (player) to shut down and we're more about focusing on who's the more available option. It just so happens that Tori gets those opportunities and chances and good for her for putting it away."

The Falcons have adopted a team-first mentality with Arakawa taking over the program for a spell, something that Chinen has really bought into.

"I basically didn't know what I had coming in in terms of players. I made the blanket decision that we weren't going to cut anyone that was there from last year," Arakawa said. "The hardest thing for them is to learn how I want to play, which is more of a team-oriented, possession kind of game.

"Tori is one of the better players at adapting how we want to play. We play as a team and we very rarely rely on just one player. Tori really bought into that." 

Chinen, who is one of three seniors on the team, was selected as one of the team captains at the start of the year by her fellow teammates. 

"One of the reasons why people nominated Tori is that she explains things to the players if they don't know what's going on and she keeps everyone involved. She doesn't look down on anybody and young players look up to her," said Arakawa. 

Chinen and the Falcons wrap up the regular season with a game against Kaiser Wednesday.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Micah Agcaoili, University High — Scored 19 points with three made 3-pointers in a loss to Saint Francis

Keinan Agonias, Pahoa — Scored 22 points with eight assists in a win over Kau

Bradlee Anae, Kahuku — Scored a season-high 23 points in a win over Anuenue

Shyrome Batin, Honokaa — Scored 17 points in a win over St. Joseph and scored 22 in a loss to Keeau

John Black, Island Pacific — Scored 17 points in a win over Hawaiian Mission

Kamu Borden, Iolani — Had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds with two blocked shots in a win over Kamehameha

Denhym Brooke, Kahuku — Scored 20 points in a win over Kalani

Jonathan Charbonneau, Honokaa — Scored 21 points in a loss to Keeau

Cole DeSilva, St. Joseph — Scored 12 points in a loss to Honokaa and 11 points in a win over Konawaena

Lamart Dudley, Campbell — Scored 13 points in a win over Waipahu, scored 15 points in a win over Waianae and scored 13 points in a win over Kapolei

Kealen Figueroa, Kohala — Scored 19 points in a win over Hilo

Daniel Florenco, Mid-Pacific — Scored 15 points in a win over Maryknoll and scored 13 points in a loss to Saint Louis

Kevin Foster, Roosevelt — Scored a season-high 33 points in a win over Kaimuki

Kaleb Gilmore, Kalaheo — Scored 21 points with four assists in a win over McKinley and scored 20 with three made 3-pointers in a win over Kalani

Zach Gelacio, Iolani — Scored 14 points in a win over Kamehameha and scored 12 in a loss to Punahou

Kupaa Harrison, Kalaheo — Scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in a win over McKinley and dropped 15 more in a win over Kalani

Ryan Hobus, University High — Scored 18 points in a loss to Saint Francis

BJ Hosoka, Hawaii Baptist —  Scored 25 points in a win over Christian Academy and 35 in a win over Le Jardin

Valen Inaura, Roosevelt — Scored a season-high 20 points in a win over Kaimuki

Mhelvic Juan, Anuenue — Scored a season-high 22 points in a win over Anuenue

Ihaka Johnson, Saint Louis — Scored 15 points in a loss to Punahou

Chance Kalaugher, Kaiser — Scored 26 points in a win over McKinley

Justin Kam, Punahou — Scored 12 points in a win over Saint Louis and scored 17 more in a win over Iolani

Kaieo Kaohu, Nanakuli — Scored 19 points in a win over Aiea

Chas Kubo, Hanalani — Scored 18 points in a win over Le Jardin

Sifo Lauvao, Kaimuki — Scored 20 points on six made 3-pointers in a loss to Roosevelt

Gerald Lawson, Le Jardin — Scored 21 points in a loss to Hawaii Baptist

Bayley Manliguis, KS-Hawaii — Scored 19 points in a win over Kealakehe

Kyrie McCraven, Moanalua — Had a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds with two blocked shots in a win over Kaiser

Christian Mejia, Kailua — Scored a season-high 21 points in a win over Castle

Rocky Mori, Damien — Scored 19 points in a win over Saint Francis

KJ Ng, Castle — Scored a season-high 20 points in a loss to Kailua

Jimmy Nunuha III, Saint Louis — Scored 11 points in a loss to Punahou and scored 15 in a win over Mid-Pacific

Dillon Pakele, Kapolei — Scored 23 points in a loss to Waianae

Nicolas Palleschi, Hawaii Prep — Scored 17 points in a win over KS-Hawaii and scored 15 in a win over Kau

Cameron Palmeteer, Waianae — Scored a season-high 18 points in a loss to Pearl City

Kimo Romena, Anuenue — Scored 15 points in a loss to Castle and scored 11 in a loss to Kahuku

Tolby Saito, Pahoa — Scored 25 points in a win over Keeau and had a triple-double of 17 points, 10 assists and 11 steals in a win over Kau

Kalai Santos, Punahou — Scored a season-high 12 points with four made 3-pointers in a win over Saint Louis

Marvin Sidon, Lahainaluna — Scored 20 points in a win over Baldwin and scored 18 in a win over King Kekeaulike

Iverson Sione, Nanakuli — Scored a season-high 26 points in a loss to Nanakuli

Maurice Smith, Keeau — Scored 18 points in a win over Honokaa

Fatu Sua-Godinet, Kamehameha — Scored 11 points in a loss to Iolani and scored 19 in a loss to Maryknoll

Justice Sueing, Maryknoll — Scored 17 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific and scored a season-high 22 points in a win over Kamehameha

Kody Takushi, Baldwin — Scored 19 points in a loss to Lahainaluna

Gilbert Tapat, Pearl City — Scored a season-high 20 points in a win over Mililani

Torrell Thomas, Pahoa — Scored 25 points with eight rebounds in a win over Kau

Alexander Tungpalan, Kalani — Scored 16 points with three made 3-pointers in a loss to Kahuku

Boris Vukovic, Saint Francis — Scored 20 points in a win over University High

Maleek Walker, Radford — Scored 22 points with three made 3-pointers in a win over Nanakuli

Abdel-Kader Ziane, Kapolei — Scored 22 points in a loss to Waianae and scored a season-high 29 points in a loss to Campbell

BOYS SOCCER
Devin Ajimine, Pearl City — Scored two goals in a win over Aiea

Robert Bootes, Kapolei — Scored three goals in a win over Waianae

DJ Chinen, Castle — Scored two goals in a win over McKinley

Jhonah Felipe, Kalaheo — Scored five goals in a win over Kaimuki

Justice Gomes, Pearl City — Scored two goals in a win over Aiea

Naia Graham, Kailua — Scored two goals in a win over Castle

Shandon Hopeau, Kapolei — Scored two goals each in wins over Pearl City and Waianae

Cody Kuge, Kaiser — Scored three goals in a win over Farrington and two more in a win over Roosevelt

Keola Norton, Kamehameha — Scored two goals in a win over Pac-Five

Gabriel Pinheiro-Alves, Kahuku — Scored two goals each in a win over Moanalua

Marc Teshima, Kalani — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington

Daniel Yamashita, Mid-Pacific — Scored the lone goal in a win over Iolani

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Tywanna Abbott, Leilehua — Scored 20 points against Kapolei.

Camy Aguinaldo, Iolani — Scored 18 points against Sacred Hearts and 5 points against Maryknoll.

Brandi Baker, Kaiser — Scored 19 points against Kalaheo and 10 points against Castle.

Sarah Banister, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 19 points against Lutheran.

Vanessa Castro, Keaau — Scored 18 points against Kau.

Kristine Elan, Lanai — Scored 19 points against Seabury Hall.

Cameron Fernandez, Lahainaluna — Scored 18 points against Maui and 16 points against Baldwin.

Kyle Johnson, Aiea — Scored 29 points against Waianae.

Molimau Heimuli, Farrington — Scored 23 points against Kahuku and 17 points against Castle.

Victoria Kintz, Kaimuki — Scored 18 points against Moanalua.

Chanelle Molina, Konawaena — Scored 18 points against Hilo and 10 points against Kealakehe.

Cherilyn Molina, Konawaena — Scored 19 points against Hilo and 10 points against Kealakehe.

Doris Naulu, Lutheran — Scored 21 points against Christian Academy and 14 points against Hawaiian Mission.

Erleen Oguma, Keaau — Scored 25 points against Kau.

Morgan Pelkey, Le Jardin — Scored 20 points against Damien and 6 points against Hawaii Baptist.

Kaydee Rapozo, Waiakea — Scored 25 points against Kealakehe and 11 points against Hawaii Prep.

Starr Rivera, Roosevelt — Scored 20 points against McKinley.

Rose Shimaoka, Kaiser — Scored 19 points against Kalaheo and 16 points against Castle.

Melina Souza, Damien — Scored 26 points against Le Jardin and 12 points against Hawaii Baptist.

Allani Talapu, Farrington — Scored 19 points against Castle and 16 points against Kahuku.

Patria Vaimaona, Kailua — Scored 27 points against Kahuku and 10 points against Kaimuki.

GIRLS SOCCER

Asia Canon, Campbell — Scored two goals in a win over Waianae

Danielle Chang, Castle — Scored two goals in a win over McKinley

Chardonnay Curran, Campbell — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua

Haley Graham, Moanalua — Scored six goals in a win over Kalani

Kalie Halvorsen, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Pac-Five

Tommi Hintnaus, Kaiser — Scored three goals in a win over Farrington

Mattea Jergovic, Kalaheo — Scored two goals in a win over Kaimuki

Alisha Kahele-Manners, Kamehameha — Scored two goals in a win over Sacred Hearts

Aliani Lorenzo, Campbell — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua

Noelle Mercado, Kaiser — Scored three goals in a win over Roosevelt

Jayli Miyamoto, Castle — Scored two goals in a win over McKinley

Shay Nakahira, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Pac-Five

Sammy Nishiyama, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Saint Francis

Cierra-Lyn Ramirez, Waialua — Scored two goals in a win over Leilehua

Daelenn Tokunaga, Pearl City — Scored two goals in a win over Pearl City

Kayla Watanabe, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a win over Sacred Hearts

Coby Yoshimura, Mid-Pacific — Scored two goals in a win over Sacred Hearts