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Photography and story by Rick Ogata | Special to Hawaii 24/7

A homecoming fit for a Champion

“2010 Division II State Champions” That’s a title that the Pahoa boys basketball team will have to live with, not that they will mind at all.

Pahoa won the title by defeating the defending champions Kailua 41-38 in an exciting, down-to-the-wire game Saturday, March 6 in Honolulu.

The welcoming party started Sunday morning even before the team stepped off the plane at Hilo International Airport with a water shower as their plane taxied toward the gate. A large crowd of fans and family gathered at the gate in anticipation of the team’s arrival.

After a few minutes of waiting, the enthusiastic crowd let out a loud “CHEER” when the first player was spotted at the top of the stairs. After being greeted by the many fans and family, Mayor Billy Kenoi proclaimed Sunday as “Pahoa High School, Division II State Champions Day”.

Many fans were talking about the well-known movie “Hoosiers,” the story of a small town Indiana High School that won its state basketball title. Just like the movie, the small town Pahoa boy’s team won the title against schools with a much larger enrollment.

In an interview on OC16 after the game, Isaiah Ekau was asked “what did winning the title meant to Pahoa” his answer was “now it put Pahoa on the map”.

Members of the Championship team are, Sonny Miguel, Christopher Mendoza, William Wong Jr., Hamlet Walsh, John Byrd Jr., Kaohu Schweitzer, Isaiah Ekau, Harry Leopoldino, Lono Balai, Jared Peleiholani, Nicklas Fisher, and Osten Flores. Coaches, Mark Saito, Rey Corpuz, and Naha Kaawaloa Jr.

Freshman Fisher was named to the All-Tournament Team, while senior Ekau was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.