honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, July 1, 2007

Freshman Byrd big boost for Radford

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Radford's Ta Nitra Byrd averaged 15.6 points per game in helping the Rams to the OIA West championship.

REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

spacer spacer
Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

David Lane

spacer spacer

It didn't take long for Radford freshman Ta Nitra Byrd to make her mark in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association.

In her first league game, Byrd scored 21 points against 'Aiea. Her productivity never really stopped, and she ended the season by being named OIA Red Conference Western Division Player of the Year after a vote of league coaches.

Byrd, a 6-foot center, averaged 15.6 points per game by often dominating in the post. She had a season-high 23 points against Mililani, 22 points versus Pearl City and 19 points against Nanakuli.

She scored in double figures in all but one game and helped the Rams win the OIA West title with a 10-1 record.

Byrd is joined on the OIA West all-star first team by Leilehua's Brittaney Stafford, Pearl City's Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia and 'Aiea's Natasha Helsham and Capri Holiona.

Stafford, a 5-8 senior guard and second-team All-Western Division selection last year, averaged 14.3 points per game. Pahukoa-Malia, also a 5-8 senior guard, averaged 12.3 points per game.

Helsham, a 5-8 sophomore guard, averaged 12.9 points per game and Holiona, a 5-7 forward/center, averaged 12.4 points per game.

They helped Na Ali'i finish with a 9-3 record and second-place finish in the West.

Radford's David Lane was named Coach of the Year after guiding the Rams to their fourth West title in six seasons. Lane announced after the season that he was stepping down as head coach for health reasons.

• • •