The senior wing and junior post were key for Punahou and Kaiser, respectively, last week. ScoringLive photo illustration

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Male Athlete of the Week: Jakob Kimura, Punahou basketball
With a number of his teammates out for various reasons last week, Jakob Kimura stepped up his game big time for the Punahou boys basketball team.

After taking their first loss in league play two Saturdays ago, the second-ranked Buffanblu have rebounded nicely by winning their last four games since. Kimura, a 6-foot-3 senior wing, is averaging 17.5 points per game during that stretch, including back-to-back 23-point efforts in wins over No. 3 Iolani last Tuesday and then-No. 7 Saint Louis two nights later.

"I think he did a really good job," Punahou coach Darren Matsuda said of Kimura, a third-year varsity member but first-year starter.

The Buffanblu were short-handed for much of the week — most notably Saturday's 75-65 win over then-fifth-ranked Kamehameha — with seniors Duke Clemens, Tamatoa Falatea and Kaulana Makaula taking part in the Polynesian Bowl football game and practices.

"Those guys were a little rusty, they weren't at practices, so Jake really stepped up to carry us in those three games in a lot of ways, on both ends of the floor," Matsuda said. "This year he is our best defensive player, he's very athletic and he's lean red how to assert himself (offensively), especially the past couple of weeks."

In the narrow 57-56 win over the Raiders Tuesday, Kimura helped Punahou overcome a one-point halftime deficit. Thursday night, he converted a pivotal three-point play in overtime as his team fended off the Crusaders, 65-60.

"He took it upon himself — he's not a very outspoken kid, but he definitely wants to win and he's definitely a competitor — so when he saw that we were kind of sluggish offensively, he took it upon himself and asserted himself. Against Iolani and Saint Louis, he got aggressive and led us in points; he made that happen," Matsuda said.

Saturday's game against the Warriors forced Kimura's hand even further with a short bench for the Buffanblu.

"In that Kamehameha game, he was our lone senior so he had to be a leader also," Matsuda noted. "He leads by example a lot of times, but that game he was my speaking captain, so he had to represent the team."

Kimura was one of four Punahou players to score in double-figures that day. He finished with 14 points, behind Andrew Kobayashi's 19 and Ryder Hsiung's 16. Peyton Macapulay also chipped in 10 points in the win.

Matsuda said Kimura has evolved his game to become more of an offensive threat this season, as evidenced by his team-best 13.4 points per game.

"He was a role player last year. I'd say he was more of a defensive guy, (but) in both aspects of the game he really improved a lot. A lot of it was he work really hard on his body over the summer — and that shows — so that's definitely helped him. He's gotten more explosive. He was one of the hardest workers in our offseason conditioning and lifting program and I think it's definitely paid off for him," Matsuda said.

Kimura, who also plays volleyball in the spring season, has put about 10 pounds of muscle since the end of his junior season, Matsuda estimates.

"I think he's a very athletic slasher. He can score pretty much at all three levels and he also can defend extremely well. He's kind of a jack-of-all-trades guy in that he rebounds well, passes well, handles the ball well, so we're lucky to have two of those guys in he and Kaulana who can do a lot of different things," Matsuda said.

Matsuda said there are often times that he and his coaching staff are surprised to see Kimura's point production at the end of games.

"He's kind of a quiet assassin in a way because everything he does is within the context of the game. He doesn't force shots, he takes what the defense gives him and he's extremely efficient, and I think that's the perfect way to play," Matsuda said.

The three wins in five days were key to getting the team back on track, Matsuda said.

"We know the season is a marathon and not a sprint, but we knew that last week would be rough with the Poly Bowl and also Junior Olympics for volleyball so we were missing guys and different guys had to step up. We didn't know how last week was gonna play out. It was a struggle, it wasn't easy, but I think Jake really asserting himself helped us with those wins," Matsuda said.

Punahou, the reigning Division I state champion, moved back into first place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu standings — one-half game ahead of Maryknoll — with Tuesday night's 67-41 win over No. 9 Mid-Pacific. Clemens led the way with 12 points, followed by Kobayashi with 11 and Kimura with 10.

Kimura and the Buffanblu (7-1 league, 22-2 overall) host No. 8 Saint Francis Thursday before a rematch with top-ranked Maryknoll Saturday at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

Female Athlete of the Week: Taeya Blakeney, Kaiser basketball
Over the last three years, Taeya Blakeney has worked her way to become quite the force for the Kaiser girls basketball team. That's evident by her production in a pair of playoff games last week.

Blakeney, a 5-foot-11 junior forward, scored a game-high 16 points in Wednesday's 56-40 win over Nanakuli and followed that up with 17 points Thursday in a 57-48 overtime victory over Radford.

"She did wonderful. She came up real big for us," Kaiser coach Brianna Lagat-Ramos said.

The Cougars finished third in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I East regular season. After pulling way from the West sixth-seeded Golden Hawks at home, they took to the road to pull off the upset over the West No. 2 seed Rams in the quarterfinal round of the 12-team league tournament.

Although Kaiser held a 13-point lead at halftime Thursday, Radford rallied with a 22-point fourth quarter to send it into overtime. Lagat-Ramos said Blakeney was key in the extra period.

"Absolutely. She definitely got some buckets for us and really tried to reassure her teammates that it's okay, that they've done this before and she really stepped up," Lagat-Ramos said.

Blakeney was one of three Cougars to score in double-figures against the Rams, matching Trinidee Kahunahana's 17 points. Stephanie Cannon also contributed 13 points in the victory.

While Lagat-Ramos was pleased with the offensive production she got from Blakeney, it was the junior's work on the defensive end of the floor — against Radford's freshman forward Angel Asaah — that drew the most praise from her coach.

"We kind of went between (Blakeney) and Stephanie Cannon picking (Asaah) up," Lagat-Ramos explained. "(Asaah) is athletic, she can jump out of the gym and if we don't get a body on her and prevent her from getting up in the air, then she would be getting every single rebound, and we told the girls that. Taeya did a good job on her matching up. (Asaah) is a little bit quicker than most of the posts that (Blakeney) matches up with, but we wanted (Asaah) to have to move around."

Blakeney also provided solid leadership in both games, Lagat-Ramos said.

"She was able to delegate and put her teammates where they needed to be, alleviate some of the pressure for the guards and she's been a lot more aggressive to the rim (lately)," Lagat-Ramos said.

Blakeney has scored in double figures in 11 of Kaiser's 13 games this season, including a season-high 20-point effort against Kalani on Dec. 27. She is averaging a team-best 14.6 points per game in league play.

"I think we understand conceptually, moving the ball a little bit and we kind of put in a rule to get our posts involved more. I mean, we have the personnel, so why not use it, right? So our guards have been finding her and we've been giving her more opportunities as well," Lagat-Ramos said.

Lagat-Ramos said Blakeney can handle the ball and get up and down the court pretty well for a post player.

"She can drive from the outside and she can dribble full court. She likes to take it coast to coast sometimes when our guards are being overplayed and I give her a full green light," Lagat-Ramos said. "She moves well for a girl her size. She can find her way to the rim and she's not selfish with the ball either; she knows how to distribute out to the guards."

It's been quite the turnaround for Blakeney, who struggled to even get through her first varsity season as a freshman two years ago.

"She only finished eight practices total in that whole season. It was injuries, it was being sick and then last year she was able to cut down some weight, so she worked on her game and was able to play a lot longer and then this past summer I think she's been playing for two club teams and putting in work with us as well and now she fully gets it," Lagat-Ramos said.

Lagat-Ramos recalls a talk she had with Blakeney after her freshman season as a key turning point.

"I think her being absent a lot in her first season didn't really quite sit well, but we had a conversation with her about what needed to happen in order for her to get more playing time. I think most of it was the physical aspect, she had to get her body in tune and when she started to get more in-shape, it's been working out a lot better and the girl has been working hard ever since," Lagat-Ramos said.

The gains for Blakeney, who also throws the shot put during track and field season in the spring, have come both on and off the court.

"She's stepped up to a leadership role and she works well with her teammates. She's a real big team player, she's all for her team — sometimes she's a little too unselfish — but she hasn't peaked yet, which is kind of scary, so she's been progressing exponentially over the three years and it's not just on the floor, it's as a person as well," Lagat-Ramos said.

Lagat-Ramos, whose first season at Kaiser coincided with Blakeney's freshman campaign, has been pleased to see the progress out of the latter.

"She loves the game. No doubt this girl loves the game," Lagat-Ramos said. "She's just an awesome person. She's always thinking about other people rather than herself. She's a very funny girl and her being as young as she is, she really stepped into the leadership role faster than I've seen in a lot of my previous players, so she deserves it; she's been busting her butt for it."

The win over the Radford punched Kaiser's ticket to the state tournament, much to the delight of Lagat-Ramos.

"It wasn't expected, to be honest. We set goals as a team in the beginning of the season and none of the goals were to get to the championship or reach the state tournament. They wanted to reach team unity and that's awesome because we haven't had that the last two years, so I told the girls that if they get this down, the byproduct will be to get into states and OIAs and they locked in," Lagat-Ramos said. "They're pretty shocked (to reach states) as well, but they're riding the wave together."

Blakeney and the Cougars (10-4 league, 16-10 overall) fell to fifth-ranked Kahuku, 55-37, in Tuesday night's OIA semifinals. They next play Thurday, against No. 10 Mililani in the third-place game.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Devon Appleby, Mililani — Scored 18 points in a win over Radford

Kaimana Baker, St. Anthony — Scored 20 points in a loss to Hana

Noah Bryant, Hawaiian Mission — Scored 23 points in a win over Lanakila Baptist

Ja'Shon Carter, Kapolei — Scored 21 points in a win over Pearl City and scored 25 points in a win over Waipahu

O'Shen Cazimero, Kohala — Scored 25 points in a win over Kau

Brandon Chung, Kalani — Scored 17 points with 11 re ounds in a win over Kalaheo

Patrick Doster, Haleakala Waldorf — Scored 23 points in a loss to Seabury Hall

Ethan Erickson, Kahuku — Scored 10 points with 12 rebounds in a win over Kalani

Isaiah Hopson, Kailua — Scored 20 points in a win over Roosevelt

Masyn Johnson, Seabury Hall — Scored 24 points in a win over Haleakala Waldorf

Kukilakila Kahalekai, Nanakuli — Scored 26 points, including 13-of-17 shooting on free throws, in a win over Aiea

Andrew Kobayashi, Punahou — Scored 19 points in a win over Kamehameha

Isaiah Lee, Kalani — Scored 21 points in a win over Kalaheo

Kawika Lee, Iolani — Scored 18 points in a loss to Punahou

Matt Lukins, Radford — Scored 22 points in a loss to Leilehua

Jeffrey Mangahis, Lanakila Baptist — Scored 25 points in a loss to Hawaiian Mission and scored 27 points in a win over Assets

Kameron Ng, Saint Francis — Scored 25 points, including five 3-pointers, in a win over Kamehameha and scored 25 points in a loss to Iolani

Kordel Ng, Saint Francis — Scored 18 points in a loss to Iolani

Sky Okumura, Christian Academy — Scored 18 points in a win over Assets

Luke Pardini, Kalaheo — Scored 21 points in a loss to Moanalua

Noah Payne, Seabury Hall — Scored 18 points in a win over Haleakala Waldorf

Ricky Ralston, Kauai — Scored 24 points in a win over Kapaa

Isaiah Richards, Maui — Scored 18 points in a win over Kamehameha-Maui

Tre Rickard, Lahainaluna — Scored 21 points in a win over Maui

Howard Robert, Kealakehe — Scored 27 points in a loss to Keaau

Geremy Robinson, Moanalua — Scored 23 points in a win over Kalaheo

Kui Ross, Baldwin — Scored 20 points in a win over King Kekaulike

Kamalu Segundo, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored 21 points in a loss to King KEkaulike

Ty Shishido, Roosevelt — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kailua

Luke Stevens, Kaiser — Scored 18 points in a loss to Kaimuki

Isaiah Sugiura, Moanalua — Scored 18 points in a win over McKinley

Christmas Togiai, Kamehameha — Scored 25 points in a loss to Punahou

Everett Torres-Kahapea, Kailua — Scored 18 points in a win over Castle

Max Wiemken, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 23 points in a win over Le Jardin

Mitchell Williams, Campbell — Scored 20 points in a win over Waipahu and scored 19 points in a win over Waialua

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Angel Baptista, Farrington — Scored 14 points in a win over Waialua

Kyra Cambra, Baldwin — Scored 19 points in a loss to King Kekaulike

Brittlay Carillo, Seabury Hall — Scored 16 points in a win over Hana

Alexis Dang, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 14 points in a win over University Lab and scored 15 points in a win over Hanalani

Kaelyn Espinda, Kaimuki — Scored 23 points with 14 rebounds in a loss to Kapolei

Trinidee Kahunahana, Kaiser — Scored 17 points in a win over Radford

Caiyle Kaupu, Konawaena — Scored 20 points in a win over Honokaa

Brilie Kovaloff, Mid-Pacific — Scored 25 points in a loss to Iolani

Sadie Ann Luiz, Roosevelt — Scored 16 points in a loss to Leilehua

Joy Luna, Christian Academy — Scored 17 points, including four 3-pointers, in a loss to St. Andrew's

Taylor Manangan, Baldwin — Scored 17 points in a loss to King Kekaulike

Mahealani Morse, Kalaheo — scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers, in a loss to Pearl City

Kyley Nakagawa, Hawaii Baptist — Scored 16 points in a win over Hanalani

Susitina Namoa, Lahainaluna — Scored 32 points in a win over Maui

Kalina Obrey, Kamehameha — Scored 16 points in a win over Punahou and scored 18 points in a win over Maryknoll

T.C. Pahukoa, King Kekaulike — Scored 17 points in a win over Baldwin

Kianna Ponce, Mililani — Scored 16 points in a win over Moanalua

Karissa Racoma, Damien — Scored 19 points in a loss to Saint Francis

Kaliana Salazar Harrell, Konawaena — Scored 24 points in a win over Honokaa

Zayla Sismar-Evangelista, Saint Francis — Scored 17 points in a win over Damien

Mikiala Sniffen, Kamehameha-Maui — Scored 14 points in a loss to Maui and scored 17 points in a loss to King Kekaulike

Jalen Tanuvasa, Maryknoll — Scored 16 points in a win over Sacred Hearts and scored 23 points in a loss to Kamehameha

Keila Tsutsui, Hanalani — Scored 14 points in a loss to Hawaii Baptist

Hadassah Tuiolemotu, Kapolei — Scored 26 points with 13 rebounds in a win over Kaimuki

Cailyn Ukida, King Kekaulike — Scored 17 points in a win over Baldwin

Lily Wahinekapu, Iolani — Scored 14 points in a win over Mid-Pacific

Ameera Waterford, Seabury Hall — Scored 20 points in a win over Hana

Dionna Woodson, Moanalua — Scored 26 points in a loss to Mililani

Taylor Wu, Iolani — Scored 20 points in a win over Mid-Pacific

BOYS SOCCER
Kalai Ballesteros, Makua Lani — Scored two goals in a win over Kau

Jonathan DeMotta, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored two goals in a win over Makua Lani

Sihkea Jim, Hawaii Prep — Scored six goals in a win over Keaau

Eima Kozakai, Kealakehe — Scored two goals in a win over Waiakea

Riley Patterson, Hilo — Scored three goals in a win over Konawaena and scored three goals in a win over Waiakea

Shiloh Perez, Kohala — Scored two goals in a win over Honokaa

Jake Schneider, Hawaii Prep — Scored two goals in a win over Kealakehe

Kai Van Bergen, Makua Lani — Scored two goals in a win over Kau

Bishop Wickes, Baldwin — Scored two goals in a win over Lahainaluna and scored the lone goal in a win over Maui

Micah Williams, Punahou — Scored two goals in a win over Kamehameha

GIRLS SOCCER
Breann Andrade, PAC-5 — Scored three goals in a win over Le Jardin

Sasha Asselbaye, Iolani — Scored three goals in a win over Mid-Pacific

Harley Au Hoon, Waianae — Scored two goals in a win over McKinley

Malia Brost, Hawaii Prep — Scored two goals in a win over Keaau

Skyler Cho, Makua Lani — Scored two goals in a win over Kau

Roycie Faye, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored three goals in a win over Makua Lani

Taylor Hayes, Moanalua — Scored two goals in a win over Kailua

Emi Higgins, Hawaii Prep — Scored two goals in a win over Kealakehe

Khrystin Kohatsu, Kailua — Scored two goals in a win over Waipahu

Heather Kolona, Kapolei — Scored two goals in a win over Kalani

Xailyn Lyman-Moke, Waiakea — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kealakehe

Savannah Breeze Miranda, Aiea — Scored two goals in a win over Kaiser

Cayla Nakatsukasa, Campbell — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kaiser

Nicole Olanda, Aiea — Scored the lone goal in a win over Mililani and scored the lone goal in a win over Pearl City

Bella Police, Hawaii Prep — Scored two goals in a win over Keaau

Tare Rillon, PAC-5 — Scored three goals in a win over Le Jardin

Kailey Ruiz, Waimea — Scored the lone goal in a win over Island School

Kehela Ventura, Kauai — Scored two goals in a win over Kapaa and scored four goals in a win over Island School

Nanea Wong-Yuen, Kamehameha-Hawaii — Scored the lone goal in a win over Honokaa and scored three goals in a win over Makua Lani

Bryana Yoshida, Kapolei — Scored the lone goal in a win over Kailua