Punahou League A Welcome Challenge On Summer Courts

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Kailua High School girls basketball coach Zack Stephens. Photo by Nathalie Walker, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Among Kailua head girls basketball coach Zachary Stephens’ top priorities this summer was to find the toughest schedule possible for his Surfriders. With that in mind, the Punahou Summer League certainly fits the bill.

“My thinking is that we need to play the better competition - teams that have been there and done that,“said Stephens. “The Punahou league is filled with ILH teams, so this summer has been a great experience for our girls.”

In addition to three Punahou teams, the league also has Iolani, Kamehameha, Hawaii Baptist Academy, Sacred Hearts and fellow OIA Red East teams Kalani and Moanalua, among others. Stephens declined to release Kailua’s won-lost record as he is measuring success more in other areas during the summer months.

“Our motto always is that summer is the time to work on individual skills, and it’s more of a team situation during the year. We’ve been competitive. Wins and losses are not as important as being able to handle certain situations, play solid defense or handle the ball. There’s a bigger picture (to consider in the summer).”

Stephens is entering his first full summer with the program, having completed his first season in February when he led Kailua to an appearance in the Division I State Basketball Tournament. The Surfriders finished 5-7 in the Red East, but regrouped in the OIA post-season tournament to earn the league’s fifth state tournament slot.

Another of his summer priorities is to find a starting back court for next year, as team leaders Kau Kohatsu, Zsalei Kamaka and Ashley Jacobs all completed their eligibility. “It’s always tough to lose a bunch of girls, especially guards like Zsalei and Ashley, who can handle the ball.

They control the flow of a game, and they get the ball up the court.

“We’re trying to turn our young girls into better ball-handlers.We’re working individually with some of them, really trying to focus on getting better in that area.”

Sophomores-to-be Taylor Souza and Toni Damo-Agcaoili are good possibilities to be in the starting back court come November, according to their coach.“Taylor is one of those ‘Basketball Joneses’ - she lives, breathes and dies with the game. She’s been a positive influence, and that’s been great.

“Toni was a point guard last year (with the JV), and she’s been working a lot to hone her skills,” he added of Damo-Agcaoili.

Stephens also has high hopes for 5-11 junior-to-be Malia Pearson, who will man a spot in the post.

“Those three (Souza, Damo-Agcaoili and Pearson) have given a great effort in the off-season, which is very important to us. Malia has shown us a lot. She’s been making great strides.”

While faced with rebuilding the back court, returnees Sola Williams and Teuila Afele have provided key leadership this summer, and both figure prominently in the team’s plans for next winter.

“Sola has been a positive,” Stephens said.“She’s effective. Teuila played good minutes last year, and this is her time to step up in (as a starter).”

With games still remaining with HBA, Kalani, Moanalua and Sacred Hearts, as well as the playoffs, Stephens is hoping his team can continue to put out maximum effort. “For the most part, we’ve played teams with more talent than us, but we’ve played hard and stayed close and given ourselves a chance. We hope that can translate into next season. The confidence of our girls going into next season is important.”