KAILUA-KONA — Five-time state champion Konawaena is familiar with the role of Goliath, but last week the Wildcats played the part of David, battling against three nationally ranked squads loaded with college prospects at the Iolani Classic on Oahu.
The six-time defending Big Island Interscholastic Federation champs were game for the challenge, defeating both Miramonte (Calif.) and Riverdale Baptist (Calif.) before narrowly falling to St. Mary’s (Calif.) in the championship game.
“Playing in the Iolani Classic, you really can’t get better than that,” said veteran Konawaena coach Bobbie Awa. “We were thankful for the great competition of playing against three ranked teams. It was just awesome basketball and to see the girls step it up and play like that was amazing.”
The stellar play by the wahine Wildcats on Oahu garnered the squad national attention, earning the No. 21 spot in CBS MaxPreps Xcellent 25 girls basketball rankings released Thursday.
“Though Konawaena won’t leave the islands this year, the Wildcats are playing an international schedule — and with a win over previously-ranked Riverdale Baptist and a nine-point loss to No. 10 St. Mary’s of Stockton, have enough mainland cred to jump into the Xcellent 25,” reads the MaxPreps capsule on Konawaena.
The Wildcats were back on-island competing at the World Youth Basketball Tournament on Friday at Kekuaokalani Gymnasium, and while the Wildcats national spotlight followed them back home, it has not changed Konawaena’s even-keeled approach to the game.
“I don’t pay attention to it. I don’t know if the girls do or not,” Awa said. “It was a big thing when we won over there, but my goal is for our girls to get better every day.”
Despite playing shorthanded at the WYBT — missing key cogs Mercedes “Ihi” Victor, Celena Molina and Lindsay Bates — the Wildcats showed why they were deserving of the national spotlight.
In the tournament opener against New Zealand, the Wildcats came out with a frantic pace, racking up a double-digit lead in a little over a minute and coasting to a 80-32 win.
Junior guard Chanelle Molina led the way, driving to the hoop at will with explosive moves and recording 22 points.
While it’s evident to any spectator who follows the Wildcats that Chanelle Molina is the catalyst, it is equally obvious she has more help this season than she did last season.
The reigning state player of the year made no qualms about dishing the ball to her teammates, including younger sister Cherilyn Molina, who hit five 3-pointers against New Zealand.
“Chanelle had to carry the load last year,” Awa said. “Ihi (Victor) was there with her, but as far as her being double-teamed and putting the ball on the floor, that made it very difficult for us. This year we are very guard-heavy. Any one of them can dribble. Any one of them can shoot. That takes a lot of pressure off Chanelle and the other girls know they have to step it up. It’s nice to see team basketball.”
Konawaena faced a stiffer test in its second game of the day against John Burroughs — a Burbank, Calif., school with an enrollment of 2,800-plus.
The Wildcats led by just six points at half but pulled away in the second half to win 69-43. Chanelle Molina filled out the boxscore with 24 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two steals. Mikayla Tablit hit three 3-pointers.
The Wildcats have already played 17 games and just one of those was a regular season BIIF contest — a 77-18 win against of Keaau. Awa isn’t worried about the workload though.
Konawaena continues its play at the WYBT Holiday Invitation this week, and Makahiki Hou Invitational after the Christmas break. The Wildcats’ next BIIF contest comes on the road against Kohala on Jan. 3.
