Hepa wins title in Oregon to go with the two he bagged in Barrow
Kamaka Hepa
The legacy of Kamaka Hepa continues.
The high school basketball star collected his third state championship in three years after helping the Jefferson Democrats win the Oregon Class 6A title with a 70-67 win over Clackamas.
The 6-foot-9 nationally ranked junior forward and former two-time Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year transferred to Jefferson a year ago, just days after leading the Barrow Whalers to its second consecutive Alaska Class 3A title.
Hepa struggled from the field in tonight’s title tilt, but managed to grab 15 rebounds, block three shots and seal the deal with a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left.
“The hard work that we put before the season and during the season finally paid off,” Hepa told Portland CSN-TV. “It’s one of the best feelings in the world.”
In the state semifinals, he collected 15 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots in a 63-54 win over the Beaverton Beavers.
Jefferson finished the season 27-1, with its lone loss coming to a team from Washington, D.C.
For his prep career, Hepa’s teams have posted a 75-7 record and won three state titles.