Kizzah Maltezo, a 2016 Honokaa graduate, is a redshirt senior at Central Washington, a Division II school, which plays in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, where familiar faces abound.
The Wildcats (8-4, 1-2 conference) are annual underdogs against perennial conference contenders Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington.
If the name Alaska Anchorage rings a bell, that’s because UH-Hilo upset the then-No. 5 Seawolves 76-73 in overtime Dec. 19 at Hilo Civic.
“I saw the boxscore on Twitter, and I literally couldn’t believe my eyes,” Maltezo said. “I told my coach (Randi Richardson-Thornley), and she said, ‘You’re lying.’ I said, ‘ For real.’ It’s crazy how basketball is. One day you could beat a team. The next day that same team could beat you.”
Playing in the West Region, the Wildcats play a lot of familiar faces. On Nov. 27 at home, Metro State Denver beat CWU 76-54, behind former UH-Hilo standout Allie Navarette’s 17 points and 11 rebounds. Maltezo played 32 minutes and had her worst game of the season with four points on 1 of 13 shooting.
“She’s a beast. She’s a really good player, and the No. 1 player we had watch out for,” Maltezo said. “She’s really tough, and I’m glad she’s doing well where she’s at.”
On Thursday, CWU defeated Whitworth, a Division III school in Spokane, Wash., 89-63 at home. Tara Kanashiro, a Punahou graduate, led the Pirates with 12 points. Maltezo had a festive picnic: 26 points in 25 minutes on 10 of 14 shooting, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range, five assists with one turnover, and two steals.
It’s a fun feeling for Maltezo when she runs into opponents from Hawaii. She either knows them from playing at the state tournament or in games during club ball.
In fact, she doesn’t have to look very far. On her team is redshirt sophomore guard Tori Maeda, an Iolani graduate.
“I didn’t play against her (at states), but I played against her sister,” Maltezo said. “I’ve always known her from club ball. We played against each other. It’s funny that we’re on the same team now.
“It’s a small world. It’s cool to get out of Hawaii and come across someone from Hawaii. There’s a sense of pride, repping the same island or state. It’s kind of cool. It’s really fun.”
It’s a cool, fun story on how Maltezo ended up at CWU after signing with Concordia Portland after she graduated from Honokaa.
“It’s all thanks to Lexie on how I ended up here,” said Maltezo, referring to Alexis Pana, a Hilo High and Central Washington alum. “She’s my best friend and recommended me to come here. I love it here. It’s a nice program and fits my playing style. The coaches and staff really care for the student-athletes as a person in general. My teammates are amazing. I don’t have any sisters, but I consider every one a sister.
“Concordia Portland closed the doors on the whole school in spring 2020. In February 2020, that’s when COVID hit and I never got a proper goodbye. I entered the transfer portal, Lexie Pana knows the coach and knows I wanted to come here. It happened just like that.”
In 12 games, Maltezo, a 5-foot-5 guard, is averaging team-highs of 18.8 points per game on 41% shooting from the field, and 3.5 assists per game.
“I know what I’m good at, and I do that,” she said. “I’m shooting open shots, driving to the rim, and dishing out passes. My basketball IQ is a lot better and being coachable. That’s one of the biggest things I’ve improved on since high school. Coach Daphne Honma and coach Sean Kelly (Concordia) have really shaped me into the player I am. I’m having fun and enjoying myself.”
In the small hoops world, Maltezo is living with former Viking Aaliyah Pana, and sister Lexie lived there, too, until she left in August to play pro ball in Romania.
Their brother Peyton Pana, a Hilo High sophomore forward, visited during the summer. He got tips on using his left hand from Maltezo and ball-skill drills from his sisters.
“He came up during the summer, hung out and worked out with us,” Maltezo said. “The kid is good, has a lot of potential. I’m excited to see him play as well.”
Maltezo, who has a 3.5 GPA, graduates in the winter with a degree in clinical physiology and hopes to become an athletic trainer, giving parents, Elvis and Angie Maltezo, a proud moment.
“I wouldn’t count out playing overseas. If the opportunity came, I wouldn’t turn it down,” she said. “Our class of 2016 is the best, not just the Big Island but the state in general. It’s a solid class with great basketball players. I’m thankful to be in that conversation.”
Maltezo is definitely on point. Chanelle Molina, a 2016 Konawaena graduate, is playing pro ball in Sweden. Alexis Pana, a 2016 Hilo graduate, is playing pro ball in Romania.
But for now, she’s enjoying her time at Central Washington.
“I love it here. It really feels like home,” she said. “It’s like a small community like Honokaa. It’s super small. Seattle is two hours away. Yakima is 40 minutes away, like Honokaa to Hilo.
“I see six inches of snow outside my room. I’ve never seen four seasons before. It’s nice to live with the Panas. We’re all up here. It’s my family away from home.”