She may stand only five feet, three inches tall but for Keilani Ikehara, her role is among the biggest on Mira Costa’s girls basketball team.
The senior point guard uses her ball handling abilities and leadership to direct the Mustang offense which has outscored numerous top teams on the way to a 12-3 record entering Bay League action last Tuesday. Mira Costa continues league play Friday at Peninsula and Tuesday at Inglewood. Both games tip off at 6 p.m.
“Keilani is a very quiet leader who leads by example,” Mira Costa head coach John Lapham said. “She’s the nicest kid on and off the court, but a fierce competitor. Keilani is a hard worker and one of the scrappiest players I’ve been around. She’ll be the first player to dive for a ball on the court.”
Ikehara recorded 14 points, including two 3-pointers, and four steals in Mira Costa’s final non-league game, a 50-38 home victory against Ribet Academy which is ranked No. 1 in Division 5AA.
Mira Costa has played a demanding non-league schedule recording victories over ranked teams Millikan, Bishop Montgomery and Torrance as well as San Diego area powers La Jolla Country Day and Mount Miguel.
Ikehara recently was named to the All-Tournament team of the So. Cal. Holiday Prep Classic in San Diego after leading Mira Costa to the semifinals of the Premier Division. The Mustangs fell 43-40 to Bishop Gorman, Nevada’s third-ranked team.
Redondo and Mira Costa are ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the CIF Southern Section Division 2AA preseason poll.
Lapham named Ikehara as one of his captains this season, sharing the duties with fellow seniors guard Haley Tojo (a three-year varsity starter), forward Devon Feaster and center Sabrina Callender-Clewett.
Ikehara is coming off a junior season when she earned All-CIF honors after averaging 8.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 2.5 assists per game and nailed 54 3-pointers.
She helped lead Mira Costa to the CIF-SS Division 2AA final and the Southern California Regional Division 2 quarterfinals. The appearance in the CIF championship game was the first for the Mustangs since 2008.
“I try to get everyone on my team involved and will pass first before shooting,” Ikehara said. “I’ve worked really hard to improve my dribbling. I’ve always had a good 3-point shot. I got it from my dad who was a 3-point shooter and began coaching me when I was four years old.”
Ikehara’s quick decisions help spread the ball around a balanced and talented Mustang offense that includes leading scorer guard Allie Navarette who, along with guard Halle Maeda and forward Alexa Underwood, gained valuable playing time as freshmen during Mira Costa’s playoff run last season.
Other options for Ikehara included senior center Patience Taylor, senior guard Erin Winett and sophomore Laura Sheckter.
Lapham continues to see improvement in Ikehara’s game.
“She has great foot movement on defense,” Lapham said. “Her ball handling is impeccable and she sees passing angles better than any high school player I’ve seen in a long time. Keilani has become a better shooter and her ability to score off penetration has vastly improved.”
Ikehara is excited about her team’s chances of winning a Bay League championship and making another deep run in the postseason. With defending champion West Torrance moving to the Pioneer League, the frontrunners for the Bay League title are rivals Mira Costa and Redondo. The Mustangs will host the Sea Hawks in the first of two league meetings on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
“We lost some good seniors but we worked really hard over the summer,” Ikehara said. “We have great chemistry on our team and I like our chances of winning a league and CIF title. We know how hard we have to work after reaching the finals last year.”
The rivals met for a third time during the 2013-14 season when Mira Costa eliminated visiting Redondo 40-33 in the CIF-SS Division 2AA semifinals.
“Beating Redondo at home in the semifinals and the excitement of the crowd was the most memorable moment of my high school career – so far,” Ikehara said.
Several colleges have shown interest in Ikehara who has a goal of playing college basketball. Lapham believes the future is bright for his team leader.
“Keilani will be a great college player,” Lapham said. “Her quickness and vision are talents that will keep improving as she plays with teammates on a higher level.”
Boasting a 3.8 GPA, Ikehara said she will major in math or business although her favorite subject at Mira Costa is AP Environmental Science.
“I look forward to playing in college but right now I’m just focused on winning a Bay League championship,” Ikehara said. “We have a lot of hard work ahead of us.”
Ikehara said major influences in her life have been God, her parents Ed and Karen, and friends.
“My family and friends have been so supportive,” Ikehara said. “When it comes to basketball, I give credit to my dad, who has coached me since I was little, (former coaches) Craig Takahashi and Miranda Biteler, and (current coach) John Lapham.”
