The hard work began at 6:15 a.m. in the weight room for O’shen Cazimero, who along with teacher Blaise Kise and lifting partner Chase Hirano, pumped daily iron, adding another layer to a basketball game built around speed and discipline.
The Kohala sophomore point guard averaged over 20 points per game and led the team to its first HHSAA Division II championship.
He repeated as the BIIF Division II player of the year, in a vote by the league’s coaches.
Cazimero is joined on the first team by a pair of teammates in cousins Molonai and Moses Emeliano.
Others on the first team are Hawaii Prep seniors Javan Perez and Michael Hughes and junior KJ Walker, and Pahoa senior Damon Romero.
Kohala’s Kihei Kapeliela was named BIIF coach of the year.
Known for his deft ball-handling and lightning quick soars to the rim, Cazimero is also a willing passer, especially when sharing praise with his team.
“It’s a great feeling to be player of the year once again,” he said. “But I would like to thank my teammates. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have gotten player of the year. They helped me during games. They gave me the ball and I finished off plays.”
In the 51-48 win over Roosevelt for the state championship, Cazimero scored a game-high 23 points on 7 of 12 shooting, including 3 of 4 from long distance.
Molonai Emeliano added 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds Moses Emeliano had six boards and four assists.
HPA’s trio of Walker, Perez, and Hughes came up a little short in a 41-37 loss to the Rough Riders in the semifinals.
Walker scored 13 points, Perez had nine, and Hughes got two points in game that would have produced an all-BIIF showdown for the state title.
Most teams at state employ a simple game plan: Grab a late lead and hold the ball.
The undersized Cowboys were built playing an unconventional style from coach Kapeliela to former coach Don Fernandez and to the late Joe Mattos.
“Every single team we played against we were smaller than them,” Cazimero said. “Our game plan was always to play defense, block out and run them out of the gym until they were tired. Team were tired, and we weren’t at the end of the game.
“I learned that conditioning and defense were the biggest keys. Our team turns defense into offense. That’s what makes our team different.”
After his freshman year, Cazimero started his training right away. He went to Kona on weekends, played in offseason tournaments on the mainland, leagues on the Big Island and hit the weights.
He also was guided by his father, Reeve Cazimero, a former Kohala standout.
“He helped me a lot. He trained me from when I was a little boy, Cazimero said. “He coached me throughout my whole life. He disciplined me. My mom was a huge help also. She kept me in check with my grades. Without both of them, I wouldn’t be here today. Big thanks to both.”
Kapeliela noted all of Cazimero’s intangibles, such as his leadership, confidence, and work ethic, but he also noticed a difference with the added muscle.
“He just makes the game look so easy, his court awareness and creating for his teammates, playing lock-down defense and also being an underrated rebounder,” Kapeliela said. “Bottom line, the kid is just special. We all knew he was talented enough to compete with more matured athletes around the state, but he needed to be physically stronger. That was the biggest difference between this year and last.”
The first-year coach pointed to the unsung job that Moses Emeliano did, guarding the opposition’s top threat.
“Moses played a huge part in our defensive scheme. He’s one of if not the best on-ball defender on the island,” he said. “He’s always asked to guard the opposing team’s best player, no matter the size. He does the things that don’t show up in the stat book.”
One special moment for Cazimero was not just winning the state title but bringing the trophy home to share the team’s joy with their hometown.
“The best team moment was gathering around that tiki trophy in the Stan Sheriff and holding it up in front of everyone watching our game, including our hometown Kohala,” he said. “Couple other moments were coming home with the town of Kohala waiting for us back at the school, and the parade we had. It was an amazing feeling holding that tiki trophy in the parade.”
All-BIIF boys basketball
Division II
First team
O’shen Cazimero, 10, Kohala
Molonai Emeliano, 11, Kohala
Moses Emeliano, 11, Kohala
KJ Walker, 11, Hawaii Prep
Javan Perez, 12, Hawaii Prep
Michael Hughes, 12, Hawaii Prep
Damon Romero, 12, Pahoa
Player of the year: O’shen Cazimero, Kohala
Coach of the Year: Kihei Kapeliela
Honorable mention
Kohala: Koby Agbayani, Elijah Antonio
HPA: Tre Walker, Ry Bleckel, Umi Kealoha, Bear Wawner
Pahoa: Barreon Holland, Jaydan Broad-Melander, Mikah Coyaso
Honokaa: Emery Eberhard, Kuhao Kane, Jahsaiah Yoshizumi, Darian Nishida, Hans Caronan, Chylou Guerpo, Warren Tabucbuc
Parker: Riley Higgins, Tyler Thomas
Ka’u: Kyson Toriano, Elijah Evangelista, Daysen Burns
