honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, March 12, 2010

Ahakuelo led Chargers to top


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Jordan Ahakuelo was a top threat for a Pearl City team that exceeded expectations.

ADVERTISER LIBRARY PHOTO | Jan. 21, 2010

spacer spacer
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Mike Morton

spacer spacer

Pearl City slowly worked its way up the standings over the past several years.

The Chargers finally reached the top this year.

Jordan Ahakuelo was part of a veteran group that led the Chargers to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West title and their first state tournament appearance since 2002.

Ahakuelo, a senior and the team's main offensive threat, was voted the OIA Red West Player of the Year by league coaches.

Ahakuelo and a senior core helped the Chargers become one of the biggest surprises of the season, ascending the Red West standings and challenging for the OIA title. Pearl City finished the season 15-4 and won the consolation final at the state tournament.

Ahakuelo scored 12 points in a 48-33 win over Mililani to win the Red West title.

Also named to the first team were Mililani's Kellie Sakai and Amber Ogata, Kapolei's Leilani Tuani-Fifita and Wai'anae's Beverly Madrid.

Ogata, a senior, was the Trojans' offensive threat. She hit the game-tying 3-pointer and then the winning free throws in the final 24 seconds in a win over Kapolei, finishing with 20 points. Sakai, a sophomore point guard, helped direct the Trojans to a state tournament appearance. She also hit a buzzer-beating, 3-pointer in a win over McKinley to clinch a state tournament berth.

Tuani-Fifta, a senior, led the Hurricanes to their first state tournament appearance. Kapolei capitalized on that historic feat, beating Baldwin in a first-round game with Tuani-Fifita scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds.

Madrid, a senior, was a consistent scorer for the Seariders.

Pearl City coach Mike Morton was voted the league's Coach of the Year by his peers.

Earning second-team honors were Pearl City's Keshia Manning and Glacen Florita, Kapolei's Kawehi Hagi and Kaity Wills, and Mililani's Darcey Goulsby.

• • •