Basketball
Friday Night Prime Time caps off sixth season of play


ScoringLive staff
April 29, 2023, 10:02am

 



Six seasons of Friday Night Prime Time are now in the books.

Over 160 student athletes from 10 schools on Oahu participated in the program focused on interscholastic athletic participation for students with disabilities, nearly doubling the participation total from a year ago.

"We're happy to get all the schools back on board this year. Last year was a modified season but this year the schools were able to come together and get their teams ready to play," aid Nathan Murata, Dean of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa's College of Education.

The program, whcih was designed to use the sport of basketball to foster and promote interaction within and between schools, featured six East schools, Kaimuki, Kaiser, Kalani, McKinley, Moanalua and  Roosevelt, and four  West schools, Aiea, Mililani, Pearl City and Waipahu.

"The communities have been great this year and we are seeing the immeasurable benefit that the host school sees when they host a game," Murata said. "The student bodies and communities at each school have shown up in incredible numbers and have packed the host gyms."

Teams played two games over the course of two weeks, which included travel as a team via bus, scorekeepers, and game officials. School bands, as well as players from other sports team were there to add support and energy to the event.

"We've had the bands out, alumni bands, cheerleaders, school mascots, parents, teachers, football teams and coaches, principals, you name it, it really has been the event to be at," added Murata. "I can still hear the crowd at Mililani two weeks later!" 

The doubleheader at Kalani High School saw Kaiser win the first game in a close battle over Kaimuki, 32-28, and the home team Falcons lose a back-and-forth battle to Roosevelt, 44-38.

"We have always known that there was a need for these types of programs. And that need was what drove us to start Friday Night Prime Time in the first place," said Murata. "We have been fortunate that Matson and other sponsors have supported us and allowed us to provide things like transportation, uniforms, and referees for the games."

As for the future of this type of program and its expansion, the hope is that it can grow way beyond even the ten teams this year.

"Big picture, we hope that the schools can continue to support this program and expand upon it and we also hope that more administrators will jump aboard and see the positive impact this program has on school communities as a whole," remarked Murata. "Long-term, we hope that Friday Night Prime Time will be folded into regular interscholastic league offerings by the HHSAA."




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.


IMAGE GALLERY


MORE STORIES

Track and field proposals among those being considered at HIADA conference

Athletics administrators from across the state are gathered at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, where the...

HHSAA inducts 44th class into Hall of Honor

Twelve student-athletes from 10 different schools and representing three of the state's leagues were...

Iolani's Nakanelua garners All-Hawaii Player of the Year honors

Senior setter Bailey Nakanelua was the engine that helped drive the Raiders back to the top of state...

Pearl City's Ngirmidol headlines All-OIA Division II picks

Chargers' setter Marley Ngirmidol named Player of the Year in OIA Division II; Pearl City head coach...

Moanalua sweeps All-OIA East Boys Volleyball top honors

Na Menehune outside hitter Lionel Gannon named Player of the Year and head coach Alan Cabanting named...

Mililani's Kimura named All-OIA West Player of the Year

Senior OH Seth Kimura was joined by teammate Kaito Duranceau on the first team; Trojans' head coach Gabriel...