Peyton Pana and the Hilo basketball team’s goal was always the BIIF championship, last captured in 2010, and during that decade-long stretch rivals Kamehameha, Konawaena, and Waiakea took turns and grabbed the title.
When Ben Pana was named Vikings coach, the first thing he wanted was buy-in from the players to play together, play hard and share the ball.
Hilo knocked off Kamehameha 55-44 for the BIIF Division I title, and Peyton Pana was named the BIIF Player of the Year by the league’s coaches.
“It’s a great accomplishment,” the sophomore forward said. “I wouldn’t be here without my teammates helping me to get better. Props to them.”
Hilo senior guard Rayson Padilla and senior forward Trey Une joined Pana on the All-BIIF first team, which also includes Kamehameha forwards Darius Olloway and Braedy Yamada, and Konawaena junior guard Taven Hiraishi.
Hilo’s Ben Pana was voted the BIIF Coach of the Year. Pana is coaching Peyton, the last of his four children at Hilo, following Aliyah (2016 graduate), Alexis (2016), and Lamaku (2020).
“It’s humbling to me that Peyton was the POY. He has done everything we asked of him during the season. I couldn’t ask anything more as a coach,” he said. “As a father, all I can ask of him is to improve as a player but foremost as a person in our community. He has been very consistent this season, and by doing so he elevated the play of his teammates.”
In the BIIF championship, Une scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Padilla added 15 points while Pana had nine points. Kikahi Deperalta-Huihui collected 14 rebounds and had two blocks. The senior forward made the All-BIIF second team along with senior guard RJ Solmerin.
“I’m so proud of Trey. He’s a physical player and overpowered kids,” Pana said. “We talked more about finesse and being in control. He helped the team on the glass and defended the other team’s best post player. Nobody thought he’d do well in the championship, except us. Everything he got, he deserved.
“With Rayson, we had a conversation in December. I said, ‘Your goal is to win the BIIF championship, but there’s a lot of sacrifice and changes you have to make in your game.’ I’m glad he listened. It was for the betterment of the team, and he put it all aside, and we became a better team. He shared the ball a lot.”
Hilo junior forward Logan Querubin and senior guard Jayden Villena received All-BIIF honorable mention. Querubin scored six points in a 57-21 loss to Iolani the state quarterfinals.
Peyton Pana and Querubin will be the only players returning for Hilo with any experience.
Ben Pana is hoping being named honorable mention will motivate Querubin, who sat behind Peyton Pana, Une, and Deperalta-Huihui.
Peyton Pana is playing BIIF volleyball for the first time. Hopefully, all the jumping helps his vertical.
“I want to work on my vertical and handles, bringing up the ball. We won’t have guards like RJ and Rayson, so I have to help the younger guys,” Peyton said. “I think my dad is going to make a team with a couple of the sophomores, and we’ll go travel to a couple of places.”
All-BIIF Division I boys basketball
Player of year: Peyton Pana. So.. Hilo
Coach of year: Ben Pana, Hilo
First team
Rayson Padilla Sr Hilo
Trey Une Sr Hilo
Darius Olloway Sr KS-Hawaii
Braedy Yamada Sr KS-Hawaii
Taven Hiraishi Jr Konawaena
Second team
Kiakahi Huihui Sr Hilo
Logan Watterson Sr Ks-Hawaii
Coby Molina Jr Konawaena
Ryder Cabreros Jr Waiakea
RJ Solmerin Sr Hilo
Honorable mention
Hilo: Logan Querubin, Jayden Villena
Keaau: Rayden DeMello, Zayre Fuiava
KS-Hawaii: Kaleb Guerrero, Jake Iwasaki, Nixis Yamauchi, Kiai Yasso
Konawaena: Kamaehu Makanui, Abraham Ogata, Cash Prettyman
Waiakea: AJ Doll, Skylar Macomber, Jett Mantz, Jayke Prudencio, Royden Ratific-Justo, Peyton Smith
