A year earlier, Kalina Obrey was a very good post scorer, rebounder, defender, passer.
In 2019, Obrey was more than very good. The 5-foot-10 forward/center was devastating. Defenses could no longer game-plan to double-team her on the block. Instead, the Kamehameha senior opened up her game. A full offseason of training expanded her 3-point shot to NBA range. She became an adept driver to the basket, especially with her left hand. Her court vision, still outstanding, led to a lot of kick-outs and buckets for the Warriors.
Kamehameha made it all the way to the state championship game, where, fittingly enough, all of the attention came down to a 29-foot 3-point shot by Obrey at the final horn. All net. Three and a half minutes later, the game-tying shot was voided after referees studied the slow-motion video.
Obrey, who averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, was voted the Star-Advertiser Girls Basketball All-State player of the year. Obrey was a near-unanimous selection even though her team lost in that final to ‘Iolani, 52-49.
“It’s a huge honor I wanted. I was working toward that goal in high school. The summer after junior year, I wanted to work hard and make sure I improved myself. Get player of the year, get to states. Our team did so phenomenal,” Obrey said. “My teammates, they definitely didn’t get the credit they deserve. They stepped up and did a great job through the entire state tournament. They don’t get half the credit they deserve.”
In the 2017-18 season, she was triple-teamed often on the block. One day at the Sacred Hearts Academy Invitational, she was fouled hard and suffered a wrist injury that kept her out for several weeks.
This season, healthy from start to finish, Obrey scored at least 14 points in 24 out of 25 games. She had 38 points and 17 rebounds in a state semifinal win over Kalani, and had a 24/10 in the thriller against ‘Iolani during the state final. She shot 79 percent at the free-throw line, leading the state in free-throw attempts.
She will play at San Jose State next season. The Spartans are getting a player who transformed herself like few others in the span of one offseason. After building her skills as a post player with her father, Josh Obrey, as a child, she did what some college coaches did not expect. She worked daily on her perimeter skill set with 808 Basketball Club coaches Bob Keanini and Hinano Higa.
“I had to improve because of college and club. Coach Bob and Coach Hinano knew colleges needed me to play guard, so I had to build my driving game, my shooting range, for me to accomplish my goal,” Obrey said.
What she brought back to the Kapalama Heights campus after all the reps was a game-changer.
“Coach Pua (Straight) saw that I proved that game and she allowed me to step out more. She helped me with that side, to lead more,” Obrey said.
Straight had Obrey post up from time to time, but now the entire court was available for attack with the versatile skills of their leader.
“The biggest thing with her is she’s really talented athletically, but what sets her apart is her drive and her heart,” Straight said. “We put a lot of pressure on her this year to lead the team, and she loves that pressure. She welcomed that type of leadership role.”
Coach of the year honors went to ‘Iolani’s Dean Young. He guided the running Raiders to their first state crown since 1996, when the late Bernie Ching led the Raiders to consecutive championships. This year’s ‘Iolani squad was a wire-to-wire No. 1 team in the Top 10. ‘Iolani (23-6 overall) won the ILH title, ending Maryknoll’s run of four straight league championships.
Latoya Wily, who guided Kahuku to the OIA title, was second in the voting. Bobbie Awa of Konawaena and Chico Furtado of Maryknoll tied for third. Konawaena and Maryknoll had no seniors this season.
Girls Basketball All-State player of the year by Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Scribd
