About HBA

The HBA junior varsity boys basketball team defeated University High 45-41 on January 29th to claim the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's Division II Championship.  

Trailing 30-28, sophomore Sage Chun-Bulseco made a 17-foot jumper to end the third quarter.  Early in the fourth quarter, fellow sophomore Chasen Fukuda hit a three-pointer from the right wing to give HBA a 33-30 lead.  UHS quickly responded by hitting two consecutive three-pointers of their own, the second of which was Ian Akamine's fourth of the game,  to retake the lead at 36-33.  However, sophomore Jun Fritz answered for HBA by making a clutch trey from the left wing to tie the game again.  With under three minutes left in the game and the score tied at 38 apiece, Fritz then drove to the basket, was fouled and made both free throws.  After an empty trip down the floor by UHS, Fritz made another three-pointer, this one from the left corner, to put the Eagles up 43-38.  The Junior Bows made a layup to close to 43-40, but Fritz came through yet again, making both ends of a one-and-one to close the scoring for HBA and restore the lead to five points at 45-40.


Fritz had a game-high 24 points, which included four three-pointers and perfect 10-for-10 shooting from the free throw line.  Also scoring in double figures for the Eagles was Fukuda, who had three three-pointers among his 11 points.  Leading the Junior Bows in scoring was Akamine, who made four three-pointers and finished with 16 points.

The playoff game, played at Damien Memorial High School on January 29th, completed remarkably contrasting finishes for each team.  

HBA (8-3) began its season with a 1-3 record, but rebounded with seven consecutive wins.  UHS (7-4), on the other hand, built a 7-1 record before closing its season with losses to HBA on January 19th and Word of Life Academy on January 24th to fall into a first place tie and set up the championship playoff.

The junior varsity basketball title is the first in recent memory and may be the first ever for either the HBA boys or girls jayvees.

The team was coached by Don Matsuyama and Darren Obayashi.