Sophomores Jared Elwin and Ally Wada were the catalyst for the Rough Riders and Eagles in championship performances last week. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Jared Elwin, Roosevelt basketball
Jared Elwin is not afraid to take the big shot. In fact, the Roosevelt sophomore thrives on it.

Never was that more evident than in the Rough Riders' 45-43 triple-overtime win over Kalani in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II championship game Thursday night.

Elwin, a 5-foot-9 point guard, scored a season-high 20 points, including five of his team's seven 3-pointers in the game.

"It was huge and it didn't even seem like it until after the game when the coaches told me what he did," Roosevelt coach Steve Hathaway said. "Jared has been the backbone of the team all year. It may not always seem like he's doing a whole lot during the game, because he handles the ball, he plays great defense but when we need big shots, he's the guy that keeps hitting them."

Elwin had a couple of big shots against the Falcons, none more crucial than his final 3-pointer which tied the game at 40 with just two seconds left in the second overtime period.

The Rough Riders went on to hang on, edging the Falcons for their third league title and first winning the D2 crown in 2010.

It wasn't always smooth sailing for Hathaway's team, which went 4-6 in the preseason and 3-8 in the regular season in the Eastern Division before winning its last three games.

Hathaway said the progression of Elwin, as well as a renewed emphasis on defense, has played directly into the recent turnaround.

"I don't think anybody expected us to be at this point after the preseason and the first half of the regular season that we had, but you could see that Jared and the rest of the guys refused to quit," Hathaway said. "They knew they could beat these teams; they just had to play defense."

Elwin was a reserve guard as a freshman last year — the only ninth-grader Hathaway has ever had on varsity — but always displayed a penchant for making plays.

"I think he learned a lot last year," Hathaway said. "I think he saw last year that what we were lacking was a leader. As coaches, we knew that if anybody was going to lead this year's team and keep them cool, it was going to be him. He doesn't show a lot of emotions, he's kind of quiet and doesn't say a whole lot, but he's more of a lead-by-example kind of guy. We knew he would lead the team and we knew his defense would be key."

Elwin has certainly not disappointed in that regard.

"It's not even close as far as charges taken on the team," Hathaway said. "Jared took four or five charges in one game earlier this season."

Hathaway said both Elwin's toughness and quickness can be traced to his background of training at Palolo Boxing.

"I've coached some fast kids over the years, but not anybody with hands as fast as him," Hathaway said. "His hands are quick and he's got good anticipation, but it's his toughness that separates him, I think. It doesn't matter if there's a 300-pounder barreling down in the middle, he'll step in and take the charge."

It's that toughness on defense that has drawn the respect of Elwin's teammates, Hathaway said.

"I think when our guys on our team see that, it rubs off on them and you see other guys step up and trying to take charges," Hathaway said. "Jared's not that big, but he's not afraid to mix it up, get in there and box people out. He's fearless out there and I think that's helped with the rest of the team. We've gotten tougher and our defense has gotten better on this run and it all stems from him. The more jared has grown as a leader, the more it's helped us."

Elwin and the Rough Riders (6-8) are seeded second in this week's OC16/HHSAA Division II State Championships. They open the eight-team tournament Thursday against Honokaa at 7 p.m. at Farrington's Richard Kitamura Gymnasium.

Female Athlete of the Week: Ally Wada, Hawaii Baptist basketball
The Hawaii Baptist girls basketball team leaned on Ally Wada all season long and the talented sophomore delivered from start to end.

Wada put her athleticism on display last week, leading the Eagles to three wins in as many days en route of their first state title on the hard court. The 5-foot-8 Wada averaged a double-double (12.7 points and 11 rebounds per game) in wins over Damien, Kohala and Kamehameha-Hawaii in the OC16/HHSAA Division II State Championships on the Big Island.

"It was really nice to see her develop as a leader on the court as the season progressed," said seventh-year HBA coach Keith Sugiura."She's a smart player and she has an understanding of what our opponents are attempting to do and does a good job of recognizing and anticipating. Her basketball sense and skill set makes her an integral part of what we do on both ends of the floor."

In HBA's tournament opener Thursday, Wada had seven points, seven rebounds and two assists in a 65-36 quarterfinal rout of the Monarchs. In a hard-fought 52-42 semifinal victory over Kohala one night later, she went for 18 points, 15 rebounds and an assist.

Sugiura said Wada's versatility played an integral part in his team's win over the Cowgirls.

"When Kohala made a run at us we needed some interior looks because we were just shooting 3's, so we were able to set-up Ally for some inside post plays and we were able to come back and kind of stop Kohala's momentum at that point," Sugiura said. "We're fortunate to have someone like her that can play any spot on the court for us. She's a heady player, she can play the one through five and she can execute the plays."

That versatility extends to both ends of the floor. Wada has enough quickness to stay with most guards and enough size to defend the interior.

"With her length she can get a hand up in the face of a shooter and defend some outside shots, as well as be physical enough to defend post players," Sugiura said of Wada, who was named to the all-tournament team. "She disrupts her opponent's shot rhythm and she can prove to be a matchup issue for our opponent."

Wada's ability goes beyond her physical skills, however.

"She can handle the ball even at her size and with her length so in case we need someone to relieve some ball pressure, she can handle it with confidence and she can also go into the post and we can look to her there," Sugiura said. "But it's not only that, it's the mental part that she brings. She recognizes the game, she knows what is going on."

Saturday's championship game against Kamehameha-Hawaii played out eerily similar to the way last year's title game did against Honokaa.

HBA held an 8-2 lead after the first quarter in both games. It led at halftime last year, 17-11. It led at halftime Saturday, 16-11.

The Eagles went on to be outscored 22-14 in the second half by the Dragons and Wada was held to just two points.

"I think last year, with Ally being a freshman, there was a certain amount of pressure that got to not only Ally but all of us, so it was good to see her come back and respond this year," Sugiura said, whose team outscored the Warriors after halftime, 28-20.

Wada finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and an assist in the win.

"We never really talked too much about the past — our focus is always on what's in front of us or being in the moment — but I'm sure there was something underlying for Ally and all of our girls to make the most of this opportunity," Sugiura said. "Maybe having that experience of last year allowed us to push through and keep our composure this year. Throughout the season they did a good job of maintaining their focus on one game at a time."

Success has hardly been foreign to the Eagles, who have gone unbeaten in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu over the last four seasons, but Saturday was a crowning achievement a long time in the making.

"I was really happy for the girls, not only this year's team but the teams that went before us and the work that they put in and the culture that they tried to establish," Sugiura said. "We're a team that just works hard and tries to always take it one game at a time, so I'm happy that the girls were able to experience this and be somewhat rewarded for their work since the offseason."

BOYS BASKETBALL
Chayce Akaka, Baldwin — Scored 16 points in a loss to Lahainaluna

Maitland Akau, Konawaena — Scored 18 points in a loss to Waiakea

Shaun Apiki, Damien — Scored 21 points in a win over Assets and scored 25 points in a win over Le Jardin

Rayson Canencia, Saint Louis II — Scored 16 points in a win over Maryknoll II and scored 16 points in a loss to Kamehameha II

Cole DeSilva, St. Joseph — Scored 16 points in a win over Honokaa

Tavake Faleta, Lahainaluna — Scored 20 points in a win over Baldwin

Daniel Florenco, Mid-Pacific — Scored 17 points in a loss to Kamehameha

Kolin Galdiano, Damien — Scored 16 points in a win over Assets and scored 23 points in a win over Le Jardin

Hugh Hogland, Iolani — Scored 17 points with nine rebounds, four blocks and three assists in a win over Saint Louis, scored 16 points in a win over Kamehameha and scored 16 points with nine rebounds in a win over Punahou

Kaeler Kahana, Kamehameha — Scored 16 points in a loss to Punahou

Kelii Kaiama, Baldwin — Scored 18 points in a win over King Kekaulike

Hayato Kamata, Maryknoll — Scored 16 points in a loss to Punahou

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

Jerry Lawson, Le Jardin — Scored 18 points in a win over Christian Academy and scored 24 points in a loss to Damien

Alex Layi, Kalaheo — Scored 21 points in a win over Kaiser

Jesse Leaman, Hanalani — Scored 18 points in a loss to Hawaii Baptist

Keoua Mahiko, Kaiser — Scored 28 points in a win over McKinley

Robby Mann, Iolani — Scored 22 points in a win over Punahou

Calvin Mattos, Waiakea — Scored 24 points in a win over Konawaena

Micah Mitchell, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 21 points in a win over Hanalani and scored 17 points in a loss to University Lab

Jaymason Nunuha, Saint Louis — Scored 19 points in a loss to Punahou

Ryan Shin, Maryknoll II — Scored 17 points in a loss to Punahou II

Kekai Smith, Kalaheo — Scored 18 points in a win over Leilehua and scored 16 points with seven rebounds and five assists in a win over Kaiser

Everett Torres-Kahapea, Kailua — Scored 16 points in a win over Moanalua

Akahi Troske, Punahou — Scored 19 points in a win over Saint Louis

Max Weimken, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 17 points in a win over Hanalani

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Saydee Aganus, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored 16 points in a win over Saint Francis

Skye Ah Yat, Saint Francis — Scored 12 points with 12 rebounds in a loss to Kamehameha-Hawaii

Tezrah Antonio, Kohala — Scored 16 points in a loss to Mid-Pacific

Laka Daligcon-Pomaikai, Kapaa — Scored 11 points with 14 rebounds in a win over McKinley

Alexis Delovio, Maryknoll — Scored 17 points in a win over Lahainaluna

Kaelyn Espinda, Kaimuki — Scored 16 points in a win over Damien

Hepuakea Falealii, Molokai — Scored 17 points in a loss to Damien

Cameron Fernandez, Lahainaluna — Scored 23 points in a win over Mililani and scored 16 points in a loss to Maryknoll

Moli Heimuli, Farrington — Scored 18 points with seven rebounds in a loss to Punahou, scored 21 points with 10 rebounds in a win over Kamehameha-Maui and scored 16 points with 11 rebounds in a loss to Radford

Kaimi Kalei, Saint Francis — Scored 22 points in a loss to Kaimuki

Ciera Kameehonua, Mid-Pacific — Scored 18 points in a win over Hanalani

Ashley Kiko, Roosevelt — Scored 18 points in a loss to Radford

Keleah-Aiko Koloi, Lahainaluna — Scored 23 points with eight rebounds in a win over Mililani, scored 23 points with 13 rebounds in a loss to Maryknoll and scored 16 points with seven rebounds in a win over Kaiser

Jazmina Lafitaga, Mililani — Scored 17 points with eight rebounds and five assists in a win over Roosevelt

Vae Malufau, Punahou — Scored 19 points with six rebounds in a win over Hilo

Tyra Moe, Punahou — Scored 19 points in a win over Hilo

Celena Molina, Konawaena — Scored 16 points in a win over Punahou

Chanelle Molina, Konawaena — Scored 24 points in a win over Maryknoll

Alexis Pana, Hilo — Scored 17 points in a win over Radford

Keala Quinlan, Roosevelt — Scored 26 points with 10 rebounds in a loss to Mililani and scored 18 points in a loss to Radford

Rebeka Revelle, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored 19 points in a loss to Kaiser

Ilana Sagapolutele, Damien — Scored 14 points with 13 rebounds in a win over McKinley

Rose Shimaoka, Kaiser — Scored 16 points with eight rebounds in a win over Kamehameha-Maui, scored 20 points in a loss to Konawaena and scored 22 points with seven rebounds in a loss to Lahainaluna

Harley Simon, Mid-Pacific — Scored 22 points in a win over Kaimuki

Naai Soloman-Lewis, Kohala — Scored 14 points with 14 rebounds in a win over Kapaa, scored 16 points with 14 rebounds in a win over Molokai, scored 16 points with 14 rebounds in a loss to Hawaii Baptist and scored 15 points with 16 rebounds in a loss to Mid-Pacific

Melina Souza, Damien — Scored 16 points in a loss to Hawaii Baptist, scored 20 points with 12 rebounds in a win over Molokai and scored 19 points in a loss to Kaimuki

Paea Tafea, Kapaa — Scored 15 points with 11 rebounds in a win over Hanalani

Kayla Torres, Mililani — Scored 21 points in a win over Roosevelt

Catherine Votovich, Damien — Scored 10 points with 10 rebounds in a loss to Kaimuki

BOYS SOCCER
Alberto Araiz, Waialua — Scored two goals in a win over Farrington

Justin Ho, Farrington — Scored three goals in a win over Nanakuli

Shandon Hopeau, Kapolei — Scored three goals in a win over Moanalua

Takahiro Kosins, Kalani — Scored two goals in a win over Kalaheo and scored the lone goal in a win over Kaiser

Toshihiro Kosins, Kalani — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kapolei

Makana Srivongsana, Kaiser — Scored the lone goal in a win over Castle and scored two goals in a win over Radford

Peter Santa Ana, Radford — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kahuku

Michael Watson, Radford — Scored the game-winning goal in overtime in a win over Mililani