Advantage: South
Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007

So Cal teams top their Northern rivals at the annual North-South Tournament.

competition photos by MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo
North’s Travis Hom cuts through the defense in the final game of the tournament, a clash of senior stars, Aug. 5 at Cabrillo High School.

On his way to the hoop, South’s Justin Lai is swamped by the defense of Tyler Nii and Richard Lai of North. South won the game, 80-71.

The North-South High School Invitational Basketball Tournament was held Aug. 3-5 at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, before capacity crowds.
Now in its 14th year, this showcase for the top Asian high school basketball players in California was founded by Russ Hiroto, Jack Mai and Kevin Sakamoto, with the first tournament held in San Jose in 1994.

The top players from Southern California organizations such as FOR,
Tigers, OCO, VFW, Sabers, Jets, etc. played against a Northern California team made up of the top players from organizations such as the Ninjas, Zebras, Barons, Warlords, Flyers, etc. The format also dictates that the location of the tournament is switched every other year between Southern Cal and Northern Cal.

This year, the South teams edged out the North teams 14-10.

For the last four years, after the untimely passing of former Shurr
High School star Kevyn Nojima, the Tournament Committee along with his mother, Judy, have presented the Kevyn Nojima Courage Award to a deserving player from each of the senior teams. This year’s awardees were Rosslyn Beard, Kiemi Lew, Kanoa DeFries, Travis Hom.

GIRLS 9TH GRADE
Friday: North 43, South 40
Saturday: South 46, North 35
Sunday: North 49, South 32
North wins series, 2 games to 1
Most Outstanding Player: Miranda
Seto, North; Breanna Madrazo, South
Most Complete player: Alexis Wu, North

BOYS 9TH GRADE
Friday: South 55, North 50
Advantage: South
Saturday: South 49, North 43
Sunday: South 49, North 32
South wins series, 3 games to 0
Most Outstanding Player: Jacob
Stephens, North; Daren Hechanova, South
Most Complete player: Kieran O’Shaughnessy, South

GIRLS 10TH GRADE
Friday: South 57, North 46
Saturday: South 45, North 37
Sunday: North 60, South 58
South wins series, 2 games to 1
Most Outstanding Player: Lanyssa
Fiaui, North; Kimi Takaoka, South
Most Complete player: Nicole Hung, South

BOYS 10TH GRADE
Friday: North 84, South 75
Saturday: North 64, South 62
Sunday: North 82, South 80
North wins series, 3 games to 0
Most Outstanding Player: Tim Wang,
North; Johnathan Woo, South
Most Complete player: Ryan Tana, North

GIRLS 11TH GRADE
Friday: South 54, North 41
Saturday: North 55, South 47
Sunday: South 65, North 42
South wins series, 2 games to 1
Most Outstanding Player: Courtney
Nolen, North; Simone Lutu, South
Most Complete player: Emiko Smith, South

BOYS 11TH GRADE
Friday: North 53, South 42
Saturday: North 52, South 51
Sunday: North 55, South 42
North wins series, 3 games to 0
Most Outstanding Player: CJ Brown,
North; Sean Hinkley, South
Most Complete player: Sua Tuala, North

GIRLS 12TH GRADE
Friday: South 61, North 55
Saturday: South 69, North 62
Sunday: South 63, North 49
South wins series, 3 games to 0
Most Outstanding Player: Malia
Nahinu, North; Lauren Edwards, South
Most Complete player: Hana Asano, South

BOYS 12TH GRADE
Friday: South 77, North 67
Saturday: South 78, North 71
Sunday: South 82, North 71
South wins series, 3 games to 0
Most Outstanding Player: Tyler
Crandall, North; Aaron Jae, South
Most Complete player: Michael Cassio, South
South wins Girls’ series, 8-4
Boys series tied, 6-6
South wins overall series, 14-10