Sports

Molokai Leads for MIL Paddling Championships

Monday, January 24th, 2011

The Molokai girls’ paddling team will head to the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) finale next weekend for the first time in the team’s history.

Molokai came in first at 4:37.40 in their race last Saturday at Kahului Harbor, with Leenell Hernandez, Jasmine Borden, Crystal Puaoi-Kawai, Kailana Ritte-Camara, Natalia Levi and brand-new paddler Kachet Kaiama. Main rival Seabury Hall came in at 4:41.40.

“So far that was biggest lead that either of us had on each other,” said coach Tania Kaholoaa. “Four seconds is the most so far, from whole season.”

Heading into the season finale with two wins and two second-places, they have also secured their spot for the state championship, along with Seabury Hall.

our ground.”

The boys’ paddling team did not race last weekend, but will join the girls at Hanakao`o in Lahaina this weekend, racing Jan. 29.

Molokai Boys Topple St. Anthony

Monday, January 24th, 2011

Maybe it was a size advantage, or maybe it was a home-court advantage; either way, the boys’ basketball team didn’t give St. Anthony’s Trojans a chance this weekend.
The two teams went head-to-head on Friday night and Saturday afternoon at the Barn.

The Farmers came out strong Friday evening, showing they wanted to win more than the Trojans. 

Farmers Kamakana Duvauchelle and Ryan Rapanot towered over their opponents, defending Molokai with multiple steals and blocks.

The Trojan’s passing ability surpassed the Farmers’, who compensated with superb stealing and blocking.

All the action and acrobatic passing skills resulted in a point after point and eventually kicked in the “mercy rule” on the clock. The final score was 51-17.

Duvauchelle ended the game with 14 points under his belt, while Ryan Rapanot led the team with 24 points in the basket.

Rapanot was happy with how his team played.
“I feel we did good,” Rapanot said. “Everybody was playing their role. Everybody knew their assignment and played hard.

“I feel we executed what we wanted to do,” said head coach Lester Delos Reyes. “We played real tough. And not to take anything away from St. Anthony’s, because they really made us work hard on defense. They hold onto the ball well.” It was more of the same from the Farmers on Saturday’s game.

 “I told them to hustle in our pre-game talk and to not let their guard down. And they didn’t,” Delos Reyes said.

Molokai played well defensively, and toward the end of the game, the second string Farmers were sent in to take over the game.

Freshman David Rapanot was able to put down nine points, including two from the arc. His brother Ryan had eight points and Kamakana Duvauchelle had 15. The final score was another trashing 54-22.

“We had a slow start. But we moved on and played together,” said Duvauchelle. “We played our game and the second string did pretty well.”
The Farmers are now 2-0 in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) and compete against Lanai next weekend, Jan. 21-22, at the Barn.

MIL Champs Once Again

Monday, January 24th, 2011

The Lady Farmers basketball team toppled Seabury Hall this past Friday night for the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) championships on Maui, scoring 50-19.

Molokai scored 19 points and allowed 10 points in the first half. They shot 30 percent from the field in the first half, according to Maui News. They came back with 31 points in the second half, and allowed only 9 points in the second half.

“We got off to a slow start, but picked it up eventually,” said co-head coach Mike Hooper.

Molokai played their whole team, Hooper said, and some of the high scorers were Kalei Adolpho with 21 points and Marissa Sterner with 13 points.

After the half, the Lady Farmers extended to a 20-2 with the help of four straight points from Adolpho and two points from Kaira Kaulia-Makaiwi. They eventually went on a 30-point gap, according to the Maui News.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Lady Farmers will represent MIL Division II at the state tournament on Feb. 1.
“We’ll be preparing for one big goal after this,” Hooper said.

Before the state tournament, Molokai will head to Maui one more time to face off against two Division I teams. They’ll play against King Kekaulike on Friday and Lahainaluna on Saturday. The stakes aren’t high, but the games will be a test for Molokai.

The Farmers are now 6-0 in the regular MIL season. They will have to wait until this Sunday to find out who their opponent will be at the state tournament – vying for their third state championship.

“We have been working all season for this,” Hooper said.