Alexis Pana, Shalyn Guthier and Sharlei Graham-Bernisto grew up playing basketball together as little keiki, working early to build their skill-sets on the court and an unbreakable team chemistry.
Alexis Pana, Shalyn Guthier and Sharlei Graham-Bernisto grew up playing basketball together as little keiki, working early to build their skill-sets on the court and an unbreakable team chemistry.
No one knew it, but the trio would change the course of Hilo’s history once they put on Viking uniforms as freshmen.
For such a long time, Konawaena and Waiakea represented the BIIF at the HHSAA Division I state tournament. Honokaa went, too, before its tenure in Division II (2011-15).
Hilo stayed home, always better at reaching states in other sports such soccer, softball, and volleyball — despite the school’s once-storied reputation with the boys hoops program.
When the freshmen trio combined forces with junior Aliyah Pana and sophomore Chailey Cabalis in 2013, the Vikings were suddenly a much stronger team.
Kona beat Hilo 54-30 in the BIIF championship that season. But the Vikings qualified for the states for the first time since 1996, when they last won the league title.
The 2014 season was Hilo’s best chance to knock off the Wildcats, who had only one ball-handler in Chanelle Molina. Her only experienced partner was fellow sophomore Ihi Victor.
In an agonizing finish, Cabalis had a layup roll off the rim as time expired, and the Wildcats edged the Vikings 46-45 for the BIIF crown.
Last season, Kona got a reinforcement of ball-handlers with freshman Cherilyn Molina and Lahainaluna senior transfers Aloha Salem and sisters Lindsay and Taylor Bates.
The Wildcats beat Hilo 58-41 for their seventh consecutive BIIF championship and brought home a state title as well.
“The goal is the same as always, win a BIIF championship,” Guthier said. “We’re basically the same team. We all have that chemistry, and we’ve been working hard every day.”
New head Vik
There are a few big changes. Henry Miranda is the new coach, replacing Ben Pana, who has coached his daughters and the other Viks for years with his Keaukaha club team.
Miranda has been the school’s head of security the last 19 years, so he’s no stranger. He was an assistant for the Waiakea boys the past seven years.
“We have eight seniors and most will go to college,” he said. “We want to teach them more than the game of basketball. We want to teach them life lessons and to do things the right way.”
Under Ben Pana, now the Hilo boys coach, the Vikings had a free-flowing offense, based off their transition game: rebound, run and attack the rim.
“It was if there was a lane, it was shoot or go,” Guthier said.
Miranda wants to run a few more set plays in half-court, and, on defense, he thinks zone might be a nice changeup to Hilo’s long-standing tradition of man defense.
Most of all, Miranda wants his Viks to play with discipline, a code word for doing the right thing, basically, following instruction whether on a court, at college or a 9-to-5 job.
He pointed to a preseason game that Hilo was about to put to bed. But instead of running the offense and draining the clock, the Vikings started jacking up shots.
“Sometimes against a good team you have to outsmart them because you can’t outplay them,” he said. “You can’t have turnovers and you try to get to the free throw line and extend your lead. That’s how you win close games.”
He wasn’t necessarily talking about a team over in West Hawaii that has won a BIIF-record 80 consecutive games and counting.
But that’s exactly how the Wildcats keep winning. They pass the ball until a good shot turns into a better one. They value possessions, especially in the postseason. And they know how to close games.
Hilo’s talented trio will be accompanied by experience. Katie Loeak, a senior forward, received All-BIIF honorable mention last season as did Guthier and Graham-Bernisto. Pana has been a three-time first-team pick. (There was no second team.)
Junior forward Cherish Quiocho, junior guard Sharry Pagan and sophomore guard Mandi Kawaha contributed key minutes last season.
“Lexi is a key player for us. Everybody on the team follows her,” Miranda said. “Sharlei is our defensive stopper. Put her in front of anybody and she can shut them down.
“Cherish will take a move we teach in practice and try it in a game. Sharry is a dependable rebounder and Shalyn works hard under the boards. Katie is one of our quickest, and Mandi is an excellent ball-handler. She’ll be the leader when the seniors are gone.”
Graham-Bernisto has quick feet as an on-ball defender, but she has a quicker sense of humor. She joked that running laps for mishaps in practice is for the team’s own good.
“Coach gets on us to run when we miss free throws or make turnovers in practice,” said Graham-Bernisto, who volunteers at the Keaau Humane Society. “I’d say we’re pretty much in shape.”
Like any team player and hard worker, two assets that transfer from sport to life, the senior Viking has a deep appreciation for her two pals.
“Lexi brings all-around play, an inside and out game. She can get in the paint and get fouls,” Graham-Bernisto said. “Shay blocks out and gets every rebound. We’re looking for her in the post to get an and-one (basket and free throw).”
Circle that calendar
Hilo hosts Konawaena on Friday, Jan. 29 at the Vikings Gym on Senior night.
The BIIF Division I semifinals and championship will be held at Hilo Civic, forcing the Wildcats to take a two-hour drive.
Maybe by then the Viks will have developed a post offense with the 5-foot-10 Pana to get Kona into foul trouble, and a favorite zone if their man defense stops working.
Pana’s dad will be at Hilo Civic on both days. The Viking boys are off. It might be the last shot for the annual underdogs to take down their nemesis.
As far as Pana is concerned, one thing will remain the same when she and Guthier and Graham-Bernisto hit the court.
“My role is to stay humble and be effective on the court, and make sure the team sticks together,” said Pana, who recently signed with Central Washington. “The only thing different is the number of plays. Our level of play will be the same.”