It just feels like there has always been a Poe sister to keep the run of dominance going for the Kamehameha basketball team, which happens to be the most accomplished program on the league’s Division II level.
It just feels like there has always been a Poe sister to keep the run of dominance going for the Kamehameha basketball team, which happens to be the most accomplished program on the league’s Division II level.
Parents Shannon and Tracy Poe have five children, including four hoopster daughters: Chelsea (2012 graduate), Casey (2014 grad), junior Caitlin and freshman Camille, the latest addition to the Warrior dynasty.
Since 2005, Kamehameha has won eight Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II championships. A Poe sister has been on five of those teams. Caitlin and Camille could help stretch that streak if the program’s tradition of playing tough defense continues.
During that 10-year span, the Warriors qualified for the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournament each season, and brought home titles in 2005, ’07, ’12 and ’13. No other BIIF team, boys or girls, has that collection of state crowns or consecutive trips to states in any Division II sport.
The sister act of Chelsea and Casey played on the Division II state title team in 2012. A year later, it was another sister act with Casey and Caitlin on that 2013 state championship squad.
Last season, Kamehameha finished second to Honokaa in the league and at states, despite Casey producing one of the greatest all-around performances by a BIIF player at states.
In four games – first-round win over Le Jardin 59-37, quarterfinal win over No. 3 seed Farrington 64-58, semifinal victory over No. 2 Hawaii Baptist 55-44 and title loss to No. 1 Honokaa 54-35 – Casey averaged 23 points and 10 ½ rebounds per game.
Her all-around game also sparkled with an average of 2.3 blocks and a whopping five steals per game. Although she’s a 5-foot-10 forward, Casey had a four game solid assist-to-turnover total: 4 to 7, including four giveaways in the final against the Dragons.
That pretty much stamped Casey’s legacy as the greatest girls hoopster in Kamehameha school history. Casey, who’s now playing ball at Whitman (Wash.) College, was twice the BIIF Player of the Year, and a three-time All-BIIF first team selection. No one else matches her in accolades.
The Warriors will also have a different look with a new coach in Weston Willard. But at least the BIIF runner-up will have a few familiar faces with three returning starters in Caitlin, and seniors Riana Arima, an athletic slashing forward, and Makamae Gabriel, a reliable post who can pass and hit contested shots.
“I like our defense and intensity. We’ve got a young team with strong senior leadership,” said Willard, a teacher at the school and a junior varsity boys assistant last year. “It’s great that Riana and Maka are helping develop the team.”
Defense first
Some things never change at Kamehameha, like an aggressive man defense that sparks the offense. It’s an annual cycle of pressure defense, followed by a forced turnover, which is turned into an easy layup.
“Obviously, our whole system starts with our defense,” Willard said. “I like that we’ve got balance with a post, and outside shooters. Riana plays an all-around game and Maka is a great post.”
Last season, Arima repeated on the All-BIIF first team while Gabriel landed on the second team, and Caitlin was honorable mention.
“Our leadership always starts with our seniors,” Willard said. “Riana defends, scores inside and out, knocks down a 3, can flash to the post, pass, trap on defense and is the full package.
“She’s a leader of the girls and holds everyone accountable. It’s a luxury that she’s so versatile. We’re definitely a different team than last year. We’re not going to rely on one person to carry the team. We’ll play all 10 players.”
Meanwhile, Honokaa lost three main parts in All-BIIF first-team picks Hunter Liftee, Shemika Frazier and Chancis Fernandez, the BIIF Division II player of the year.
But the Dragons return senior forward Eliyah Fernandez, an honorable mention, and senior guard Shayla Ignacio, a second-team member.
The Dragons have been to states the last four years. It’ll be tough for coach Daphne Honma’s crew to challenge for a state title repeat. But like Kamehameha, Honokaa is pretty much a lock to grab one of the league’s three state berths.
And like the Konawaena-Hilo monster showdown on Jan. 13, the Kamehameha-Honokaa annual meeting on Jan. 16 at Koaia Gym will be the league’s best Division II battle.
Sister act
It’s interesting that Caitlin wears Chelsea’s old No. 3 and Camille took over Casey’s No. 1 uniform. They’re built similar to that particular sister.
Caitlin is 5-5, an inch shorter than Chelsea, who’s at UH-Hilo finishing her kinesiology degree. Back injuries ended her collegiate career at UHH. Both sisters carry a bit of muscle.
Camille is 5-6 ½ and expected to grow to 5-9 or 5-10. She and Casey have that same lanky frame and long arms.
All four sisters have one trait in common: aggressive defense.
“I look at both of them (Caitlin and Camille) for intensity and effective on-ball defense,” Willard said.
The two sister sets also want to mirror the other model’s playing style.
“It was defense with Chelsea. I have to be aggressive like her,” Caitlin said.
Said Camille, “Casey was big on leadership, and I liked that Casey always played her best win or lose.”
It’s an unfamiliar role for Caitlin, who always looked up to her two older sisters. Now, she’s got a taller, younger sister under her wing.
“The roles have flipped,” Caitlin said. “We’re a young team (only Arima and Gabriel are seniors). It’s a big change with a new coach, and players up from the JV. But we’re bonding really well.”
Like any sister act, Caitlin and Camille always work in unison, not only smoothly passing the ball to each other, but finishing sentence structures as well.
“We want to go back to the state championship,” Camille said.
Then older sibling Caitlin slam dunked that point home.
“We want to get back to states and win the state championship,” Caitlin said.
Another Poe
The sisters spent their summer working on their game with their dad. Someday soon, Camille is going to be taller than him, too.
“Our dad has been a big influence for us. He’s our No. 1 coach,” Caitlin said.
Then young Camille scored again.
“He’s our No. 1 supporter, too,” she said.
After Camille graduates in 2018, there could be another Poe in Warrior blue and white. Shannon and Tracy’s youngest is Kahiau, who’s in the third grade. He’s playing baseball, and the family sport of basketball, too.