UHS faces top-seeded Honokaa

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

HILO--It'll be crunch time for top-seeded Honokaa and unseeded University High in the marquee quarterfinal matchup of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls' Basketball Tournament at the Afook Chinen Civic Center.

The Junior Rainbows, who have been on a rampage since the end of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular season, might be the only thing between the Dragons and a berth in the state final on Saturday.

These teams, who played a double overtime game in preseason, match up well with considerable size in the low post and talented scorers.

The Dragons' key people include brilliant 5-5 guard Dayna Gambill, 5-11 Penny Ka'ae, and 5-8 Noeau Dougher. UHS's lineup includes 6-foot Cherilani Melson, 5-8 Christine Pascua, 5-7 Kasey Tabar and 5-9 Nikki Drevno.

But crunch time takes on extra meaning when it applies to night games at the ancient civic center. Every evening when the air is warm, thousands of hungry winged termites drop in from the ceiling of the facility to mingle with and annoy players and fans.

While Baldwin was taking a shellacking from Waiakea last night in the last of four HHSAA tournament preliminaries, occupants of the center were virtually

haling and exhaling the pests.

In other quarterfinal matchups involving seeded teams, upstart Kalaheo will meet Maui Interscholastic League champion Lahainaluna at 3 p.m., ILH champion Punahou will face an unusually tough Kapaa team at 4:30 p.m. and Oahu Interscholastic Association champion McKinley will meet Waiakea at 6 p.m.

UHS 64, Campbell 46: Melson (14) Tabar (13) and Drevno (12) combined to score 39 points and dominate the boards. "We had a good matchup zone and I was happy we didn't foul," said University High coach Tom Costain. "But what I'm happiest about is that we got this win out of the way."

Campbell	11	11	10	14--46
University	19	15	13	17--64

Campbell: Pico 2, Sao 14, Domingo 2, Helmos 2, Curran 6, McChesney 8,Fisher 8, Baldwin 4. University: China 2, Burgess 3, Wilson 2, Ciacci 1, Drevno 12, Vakasausau 7, Kimoto 2, Melson 14, Tabar 13, Pascua 8.

Kalaheo 46, Konawaena 43: In the tightest contest of the day, the Lady Mustangs refused to yield and rallied from a 16-13 halftime deficit.

Kim Taylor provided the second-half spark to propel Kalaheo. She scored nine of her 12 points in the second half and tied the score twice with answer-back baskets in the third quarter.

"As she goes, so goes our team, usually," said Kalaheo head coach Chico Furtado.

Jen Conner, who had 13 points, hit three 3-pointers for Kalaheo in the game.

Konawaena	6	10	11	16--43
Kalaheo	9	4	16	17--46

Konawaena: Shiraishi 3, Southerland 22, Ota 2, Grace 1, Lee 5, Chu 9, Pacheco 2. Kalaheo: Trexler 2, Mallinger 2, Afualo 8, Conner 13,Rodman 6,Taylor 12, Kemp 3.

Waiakea 70, Baldwin 39: Despite 12 points from the Bears' 6-6 center, Diona Hussey, the Warriors had too much firepower and a quick defense.

Waiakea was led by Mary Pedro, who had 14 points -- includ

ing three 3-pointers.

Waiakea	18	15	18	19--70
Baldwin	13	10	11	5--39

Waiakea: Amisone 11, Ichinotsubo 3, Pedro 14, Chang 6, Momohara 12,Nishizuka 6, Loa 1, Azevedo 11, Kaaiakamanu 5, Remmers 4. Baldwin: Medeiros 3, Oania 1, Marumoto 6, Saito 6, Mailo 4, Hussey 12, Singson 7.

Kapaa 53, Waipahu 41: Cian Carvalho, Kapaa's agile 6-foot center, scored 13 points and had 12 rebounds to lead the Kauai contingent.

Waipahu's Lani Gatoloai paced her team with 14 points.

Kapaa	8	10	15	20--53
Waipahu	6	11	10	14--41

Kapaa: Torio 2, Devitt 2, Anakalea 11, Martin 8, Hoskins 1, Abalos 4, Alfiler 10, Kaleiohi 2, Paleka 0, Laranio 0, Carvalho 13. Waipahu: Orpilla 11, Poto 0, Hales 1, Meana 8, Sa'au 0, Uele 4, Tuifao 2, Gatoloai 14.