Hillsdale High basketball star Makena Nitao is getting the recognition she’s earned this week.
Along with being named “Athlete of the Week” by the San Mateo Daily Journal, Nitao’s buzzer-beating shot at half-time against Mills High on Jan. 19 was featured on ESPN SportCenter’s top 10 plays on Monday. Nitao sank the ball from beyond half-court to give her team a commanding 32-20 lead heading into the third quarter. Hilldale went on to defeat Mills 68-46 and currenlty holds a 15-1 record, 5-0 in league. In that game, Nitao scored a season-high 27 points..
According to the Daily Journal, Nitao has averaged 15.4 points per game this season and “is part of a rich tapestry of talent for the [Hillsdale] girls’ basketball team.” Her coach Dave Ichiki also praised her defensive abilities, telling the newspaper that she “usually draws the toughest defensive assignment” and “her pressure on the perimiter really sets the tone for everything we do.”
