Chanelle Molina Highlights All-BIIF Girls Basketball Selections

Very few players on the Big Island, let alone across the entire state, know how to carry a team on their shoulders and lead the charge to a championship.

Most notably, Konawaena High School junior Chanelle Molina did that in last month’s New City Nissan/Hawai’i High School Athletic Association Division I Girls Basketball Championship against Lahainaluna. Her all-around ability to score, defend, and make her team better has led her to a third straight Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I Player of the Year award.

Molina was part of Konawaena’s seventh straight perfect league season, which led to the Wildcats’ sixth state championship under head coach Bobby Awa. The veteran coach was named BIIF Division I Girls Basketball Coach of the Year by her fellow coaches.

It was another stellar season for Molina, the oldest of three sisters playing for Konawaena. She averaged 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 3.1 steals per contest this season. During the state tournament, she scored 20.7 points per game, including 27 in the title game. She also averaged 6.7 rebounds and three assists in the tourney.

The rest of the Molina family was noticed by the league’s coaches, too. Younger sisters Celena, a sophomore, and Cherilyn, a freshman, joined Chanelle on the All-BIIF First Team, along with teammate Aloha Salem, a senior transfer from Lahainaluna High School.

Hilo junior Alexis Pana rounded out the All-BIIF First Team selections.

Naming a top player in Division II wasn’t as easy. Coaches in Division II were split between Honoka’a junior Kizzah Maltezo and Kamehameha-Hawai’i senior Riana Arima.

Maltezo was part of Honoka’a’s second consecutive New City Nissan/HHSAA Division II Girls Basketball Championship run, beating University High in the championship game.

During the tournament, the guard averaged 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. On the season, according to Head Coach Daphne Honma, she averaged eight points, four rebounds, and three assists a night.

Honma earned the BIIF Division II Girls Basketball Coach of the Year award for winning another league and state championship.

Arima, one of two seniors on a relatively young Kamehameha-Hawai’i squad, put her talents on display during the state tournament. She averaged 19 points, 4.3 rebounds, two assists, and 5.3 steals per game in the four-day tourney. She scored 31 points and dished out six assists in the Warriors’ first-round victory over Damien.

Per league protocol, only first-team selections were made. All other players who received votes were named to the Honorable Mention list.

All-BIIF Girls Basketball Awards

Division I

All-BIIF First Team

Chanelle Molina, Konawaena

Alexis Pana, Hilo

Celena Molina, Konawaena

Cherilyn Molina, Konawaena

Aloha Salem, Konawaena

Honorable Mention

Sharlei Graham-Bernisto, Hilo

Shaylyn Guthier, Hilo

Faith Loeak, Hilo

Chailey Cabalis, Hilo

Ranchell Berinobis, Kea’au

Erleen Oguma, Kea’au

Jasmine Segobia, Kea’au

Ashlyn Cabatbat, Kealakehe

Nicole Cristobal, Kealakehe

Lindsey Bates, Konawaena

Kaydee Rapozo, Waiakea

Kryssie Okinaka, Waiakea

Elyse Hasegawa, Waiakea

Danielle Oda, Waiakea

Vanessa Castro, Kea’au

Player of the Year – Chanelle Molina, Konawaena

Coach of the Year – Bobby Awa, Konawaena

Division II

First Team

Kizzah Maltezo, Honoka’a

Riana Arima, Kamehameha-Hawai’i

Shayla Ignacio, Honoka’a

Makamae Gabriel, Kamehameha-Hawai’i

Eliyah Fernandez, Honoka’a

Honorable Mention

Anna Juan, Hawai’i Preparatory Academy

Kayla Requelman, Honoka’a

Kawena Kaohimaunu, Honoka’a

Saydee Aganus, Kamehameha-Hawai’i

Makenzie Kalawaia, Kamehameha-Hawai’i

Taylor Sullivan, Kamehameha-Hawai’i

Denisha Navarro, Ka’u

Kerrilynn Domindon, Ka’u

Tezrah Antonio, Kohala

Bridget Pasion, Kohala

CJ Agbayani, Kohala

Naai Solomon-Lewis, Kohala

Brittany Shimono, Kohala

Briana Harrison, Kohala

Lohe Kaawaloa, Pahoa

Faith Kamakeeaina, Pahoa

Co-Player of the Year – Kizzah Maltezo, Honoka’a

Co-Player of the Year – Riana Arima, Kamehameha-Hawai’i

Coach of the Year – Daphne Honma, Honoka’a