New Coach For Strong Kailua Team
By Jack Danilewicz
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As a member of Punahou’s state championship team in 1999, first-year Kailua girls basketball coach Zachary Stephens knows all about commitment, but even he was impressed by the turnout in September when the Surfriders began conditioning.
“We had about 20 or 30 girls show up - that really showed me something,” said Stephens, who took over for Ramona Takahashi, who is now athletic director-in-waiting at the school in anticipation of Mel Imai’s retirement at year’s end. “We have a lot of new talent coming in this year, and our seniors want to have a good year. We’re farther along than what we’d expected.”
The Surfriders are trying to maintain their upward mobility following four straight winning seasons under Takahashi, highlighted by last year when they finished second and third, respectively, in the OIA and state tournaments.
Stephens was the boys JV coach at Kailua last year and brings stellar credentials from his own school days, having played for Tony Sellito at Hawaii Pacific University, in addition to being a mainstay at Punahou. He takes over the Kailua program at a good time, with several veterans returning for their senior season as the program moves up to Division I.
Above all, the Surfriders are a team where unity is already built in, according to the coach. “Personality-wise, they all seem to be good friends off of the court, which is often a recipe for success, as I know from my own playing days,” said Stephens, who is assisted by Brad Hewahewa, Royce Kurihara and Aaron Abrams. “We’re running the junior varsity and varsity programs a little closer together than in the past, and our leadership has been perfect. So far, things have been clicking.”
In the talent department, the Surfriders should hold their own with the others on their schedule. Senior guards Ashley Jacobs and Zsalei Kamaka are projected to form one of the best back courts in the OIA, while 5-foot-9 junior post player Sola Williams will provide athleticism not seen at her position in the program for a long time.
Jacobs was a First Team All-League selection in the OIA last season, while Kamaka was named to the Second Team.
“This is Ashley’s year to really show people what she can do,” Stephens said.“We’re lucky to have her as our focal point. She can move without the ball, and she handles the ball well for an off guard. She’s a ‘Basketball Jones’ girl: She eats and sleeps basketball. She’s first at practice and one of the last to leave.”
Like Jacobs, Kamaka is a four-year varsity player, along with wing Tawny Kiko, who is perhaps the team’s top leader. Both players were named captains for this season, along with Jacobs.
“She’s our leader there (point guard),” Stephens said of Kamaka. “She’s been doing a good job. We hope to see a lot of experienced play out of her. They’ve been together since their freshman year, and I’m a firm believer that that can only help our team. All of them have taken on leadership roles.”
Williams, who was selected to the All-Conference volleyball team this fall, still has two years of eligibility remaining, meanwhile, and could emerge as a difference-maker this season on the basketball court.
“She’s still learning the game, but she brings a lot of intangibles,” Stephens said.“She’s as athletic as she could be and a tenacious rebounder. She moves like a stallion and has a motor that’s tough to compare to.”
The Surfriders continue their preseason this week when they take part in the La Pietra Tournament Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Kailua will meet Kaiser at 6 p.m. Tuesday at La Pietra in their first-round game. Their opponents for Friday and Saturday will be determined by Tuesday’s results. Kailua’s OIA Red East Conference opener is set for Dec. 30 at McKinley.
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