Last season was a memorable one for Honokaa, which had the Fernandez sisters, Chancis and Eliyah, playing Big Island Interscholastic Federation basketball back in their hometown in their final time together.
They had to sit out the 2013 season after they transferred from Hawaii Preparatory Academy. It was worth the wait because last season the Dragons went to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state tournament, and brought home the championship.
Honokaa snapped Kamehameha’s six-year BIIF title reign with a 54-32 win. To show it was no fluke, the Dragons beat the Warriors 54-35 for the state title in the rematch.
In 2013, Kamehameha defeated Honokaa 55-46 for the state crown. The Fernandez sisters didn’t play because of the BIIF’s transfer rule and were cheerleaders.
Junior point guard Kizzah Maltezo, an All-BIIF West division second-team pick in 2013 as a freshman, knows that cheerleader feeling. She hurt her knee, and missed Honokaa’s magical state run.
Honokaa coach Daphne Honma credited Maltezo’s sideline energy as a reason her team’s chemistry was so good. It also helped that Honma had a lot of talented Dragons.
Chancis Fernandez was the BIIF D-II player of the year while Hunter Liftee and Shemika Frazier also landed on the first team.
On Feb. 8 at Blaisdell Arena, Liftee had the game of her life against Kamehameha in the state championship. The 5-foot-9 center scored 24 points on 9 of 12 high-percentage shooting in the post, and grabbed 12 rebounds.
She graduated, so did Chancis Fernandez and Frazier. The lineup will have a healthy Maltezo back as well as seniors Eliyah Fernandez and fellow returning starters Kayla Requelman and Shayla Ignacio.
“We’re relatively young with varsity game experience, and we’re small,” Honma said. “It’s almost like Kizzah is a freshman again. She doesn’t have a ton of varsity game experience. But she’s a solid player, an extra guard for us, who can shoot, and handle the ball. She’s like a scoring point guard in a sense.
“She has a certain maturity level on the court. It’s a nice balance with Shayla who has grown so much and provides on-court leadership. Kizzah is starting to develop that as well and that makes for a good backcourt.”
Five Dragons received All-BIIF recognition. Ignacio was named to the second team while Eliyah Fernandez got honorable mention. Maybe Honokaa duplicates that five player accolade feat, again, or maybe not.
Eliyah Fernandez, a 5-9 1/2-inch senior post, will be a front runner to follow her sister as the BIIF player of the year. She’ll have stiff competition in Kamehameha senior Riana Arima, an athletic guard.
“Eliyah is the most solid post we have, and she brings an inside presence and good leadership,” Honma said. “The kids voted her one of the team captains. They have confidence in her. She’s supportive, very positive, communicates well with everybody and does a lot of stuff not really seen. She tries to pick up everybody and motivates them. She does a lot of little things.”
Freshman guard Kawena Kaohimaunu will be a perimeter threat along with Maltezo and Ignacio. Requelman, at 5-4, will be the defense’s designated ‘tweener, guarding taller foes in the paint or slashers on the wing.
“Kawena will be a real good mix with Kizzah and Shayla and our three guards are pretty solid,” Honma said. “We’re OK in that department. Kayla is solid on defense. She’s another one who is a really hard worker. She does the little things as well. Her offense has improved. Hopefully, it continues to improve. She’ll have to play guard or forward depending on who we’re playing against.”
The BIIF season opens Tuesday, Dec. 9. Honokaa hosts Kohala, and Kamehameha hosts Keaau.
In the annual monster showdown, the Dragons travel to play the Warriors on Jan. 16. There’s no such thing as small potatoes when the two get together. The winner will likely jump into the front seat for the BIIF regular-season title, which includes the league’s first state berth.
Actually, Honokaa and Kamehameha don’t have to wait long for their next reunion. They meet at the Konawaena Invitational Tournament at 6 p.m. Thursday at Ellison Onizuka Gym. Lahainaluna, a state powerhouse from Maui, and Oahu’s Kailua are also in the tourney.
Double scoop
As far as another memorable season, the Dragons will miss Liftee’s valuable rebounding and post work, and the all-around contributions from Chancis Fernandez and Frazier, but the team chemistry will be as good as ever.
And even better, the speedy Maltezo will still be a cheerleader, but she’ll be energizing everyone on the court.
Maybe if the hard work continues on both ends of the floor, the Dragons can dream big about a double scoop BIIF and state title repeat.
“If she’s on it, Kizzah can make a big difference, as far as offensive firepower,” Honma said. “This year’s team has potential. It’s a really, really good team. They work for each. The team chemistry is really good. They’re nice kids, good kids and they all work hard for each other.”
