The Polynesian All-American Football Classic will feature six players from Hawaii.

The six are Dallin Muti, Christopher Thee, Jamal Napeahi, T.J. Tito and Tigi Hill of Kahuku, and Saint Louis wide receiver Duke Bukoski.

The game is presented by the AIGA Foundation and will be played on Jan. 15 at Cathedral High School in Los Angeles. The coaching staff includes several former NFL players, including Dan Saleaumua, Kurt Gouveia and Chris Maumalanga.

Dolphins surge

For Academy of the Pacific, fielding a competitive boys basketball team has been an expectation over the years.

This year, however, AOP is in Division I for the first time and thriving. A 46-43 win over then-No. 1 Kamehameha last week at the ‘Iolani Classic was a milestone feat.

"Our boys kept their composure at the end. You want to play better competition and have close games," first-year head coach Walter Marciel said. "It helps us especially for the ILH, where the games are going to be close."

Slick surfaces

Humid, wet weather nearly won out last week.

Punahou saw two games postponed due to a slippery surface and had to work furiously to avert cancellation of its Invitational Basketball Tournament last week.

Constant wiping by the boys team, plus a big hand from the paddling squad, allowed the tourney to be resumed.

At Kapaa, an unplayable surface forced its game with Waimea to relocate to Waimea’s gym.

Hot shooting

Nanakuli is in the thick of the Oahu Interscholastic Association girls basketball race (Division II), thanks to consistently hot shooting by Kirstie Rosa.

Her 36-point output in a 69-67 win over Kalani is a single-game high so far this winter in girls hoops, but Rosa is not the only hot shooter.

Konawaena’s Dawnyelle Awa scored a career-high 33 points (14-for-17 field-goal shooting) in a 90-10 win over Kealakehe.

Maiki Viela has bounced back from a back injury. The Gonzaga-bound guard scored 29 points in a 70-37 win over King Kekaulike.