Friday, February 13, 1998
Moanalua finally got the semifinal monkey off its back in the Oahu Interscholastic Association semifinals. Moanalua, Kalaheo
By Pat Bigold
in OIA title game
Star-BulletinMr. Basketball, Ramsey Williams, scored 19 points -- including 8-for-8 from the line in the fourth quarter -- to lead the two-time defending state champion Menehunes past Aiea, 55-49, last night at the Moanalua gym.
The Menehunes (12-0) were eliminated in the league semifinals in 1996 and 1997 by a combined margin of two points.
"It feels good to finally go to the OIA finals," said Williams.
Moanalua seeks its first OIA title since 1990 when it faces four-time defending OIA champion Kalaheo (11-0) tonight at 8 at the Blaisdell Arena.
It will be the first meeting between the teams since Moanalua's dramatic 57-55 double-overtime victory in the 1997 state semifinals.
Na Alii (9-4), who had forced Moanalua into overtime on the same floor last month, kept up the suspense until the last minute when Williams turned a 49-44 lead into a comfortable nine-point cushion with four straight free throws.
The bane of Williams' night was the other No. 32, Lee George, who stuck like flypaper to 1997's Mr. Basketball both inside and on the perimeter. George held Williams to 50 percent from the floor (7-for-14) and only one 3-pointer in four tries.
"They were playing deny-me pretty good and coach said just try to rub off picks and get open," said Williams, who has never been to the OIA final before.
George also came to play on offense, scoring 19 points (including three treys) of his own. He put in 12 in the first half to keep Na Alii within one (26-25) at intermission.
Aiea went ahead, 25-18, late in the second quarter and threatened to pull away before Williams hit two straight baskets to cut the lead to three. A Bryson Kamakura steal and feed to Brian Green, followed by Green's steal and two free throws with six seconds gave the advantage back to Moanalua.
"That 8-0 run at the end of the half gave us momentum," said Moanalua head coach Eddie Maruyama.
Williams also hit a critical basket -- a 3-pointer -- to end the third quarter, insuring the Menehunes a 35-33 lead entering the final quarter.
"Ramsey hits big shots -- he's been there before," said Maruyama.
Moanalua went to the line nine times in the last eight minutes, converting on 14 of 16 attempts.
"We had a bunch of guys in foul trouble and they were in the double bonus," said Aiea head coach Rodney Cavaco. "You have to trust you can shut 'em down on D and play for one more possession. Unfortunately we fouled way too early."
Na Alii was without the services of their top scorer, senior guard Mark Stringert (14.1 points per game), who dressed but was too ill to play.
Mililani 12 14 16 11--53 Kalaheo 10 22 23 14--69Aiea: Robert Nakagawa 0, Shane Tam 0, Anthony Riel 0, Brandan Alconcel 0, Jarron Pope 0, Michael Pierce 14, Jonathan Mosqueda 3, Kapono Yim 0, Jesmond Toilolo 0, Lee George 19, Rex Kolone 5, David Llaoa 0, Mark Stringert 0, Ricky Liilii 0, Ing Aleaga 8.Moanalua: Jonathan Tanibe 0, Michael Towner 0, Marvin Santiago 0, Brian Green 7, Bryson Kamakura 12, Clint Fivella 0, Brian Rosado-Galindo 6, Ramsey Williams 19, Mike Yadao 2, Ki Deok Kwon 4, Rickey Marshall-Green 5.
Kalaheo 69, Mililani 53: At Kalaheo, Kaimana Freitas scored 16 points and Charles Harris came off the bench to contribute 13 points and solid defense as the Mustangs advanced to the championship game against Moanalua.
The 6-foot-4 Harris took up the slack for 6-7 Julian Sensley, who was hounded by the Mililani defenders and held to eight points.
Freitas, playing with a sprained finger on his shooting hand, still made four 3-point shots, three of them in the third quarter, when Kalaheo stretched its lead from 32-26 at halftime to 55-42.
Kenji Price had 18 points and Orville Smith 16 to pace the Trojans, Price connecting on three 3-pointers and Smith hitting four.
Kalaheo, Moanalua, Aiea and Mililani are all guaranteed berths in the state tournament.
Mililani 12141611--53
Kalaheo 10222314--69
Mililani: Michael Hudson 0, Orville Smith 16, Jose Serate 4, Cris Deveraturda 0, Kenji Price 18, Shane Alfar 6, Cory Brailsford 4, Kris Andres 5.
Kalaheo: Shawn Withy-Allen 2, Kaimana Freitas 16, Edwin Wachner 0, Levon Freeman 10, Kaleo Morton 4, Charles Harris 13, Ryan Hogue 0, Kip Lutu 9, David Abbott 7, Julian Sensley 8, Josh Rust 0.
Kaimuki will play Kahuku at 4 p.m. today at Blaisdell, with the winner going to the state tournament.
Warren Tang chipped in 11 points for Kaimuki while Leilehua's Justin Daniels led all scorers with 21 and Jerome Williamson had 12 for the Mules.
Leilehua 5 12 14 21--52 Kaimuki 14 11 15 24--64Leilehua: Sean Arquinas 5, Justin Daniels 21, John Dumlao 0, Joshua Jumawon 9, Lauvale Sape 4, Jerome Williamson 12, Joey Raquino 1.Kaimuki: Jamie Barquis 2, Ryne Sonoda 8, Diamond Villarue 0, Warren Tang 11, Alton Wong 0, Tony Moore 0, Jorden Moniz 2, Darrell Tautofi 4, Chris Kamakeiana 2, Matt Sione 0, Matt Faga 0, William Maiava 6, Tyrone Tausaga 7, David Tautofi 2, Travis Francisco 20.
In ILH basketball:
St. Louis (10-3) and Punahou (11-2) will play for the second berth in the state basketball tournament tonight at 6 at Damien.
Justin Takasaki had 14 points for Kamehameha.
Kamehameha 8 9 8 11--36 Punahou 14 6 9 19--48Kamehameha: Keola Abreu 5, Imai Winchester 7, Puni Ellis 3, Justin Takasaki 14, Peter Hashimoto 3, Jake Ordenstein 2, Chris Tano 2.Punahou: Blair Suzuki 3, Noah Wee 5, Steve Gilliam 8, Kai Young 1, Micah Tang 1, Wade Ichinose 8, Deane Slater 3, Jesse Lam 2, Brandon Brooks 17.
Matt Vivas led St. Louis with 20 points and teammates Joseph Siofele (11), Kalin Dudley (10) and Kapena Lum (10) also cracked double figures. Lance Takai scored 10 points for Mid-Pacific, which had upset University High Wednesday night.
Mid-Pacific 5 11 6 8--29 St. Louis 9 20 24 17--69Mid-Pacific: Brent Ushijima 3, Lance Takaki 10, Casey Taiva 3, Max Krohn-Ching 4, Kris Cuarecma-Primm 9.St. Louis: Junior Wong 5, Kalin Dudley 10, Brett Nakoa 6, Keala Loo 2, Matt Vivas 20, Sione Thompson 4, Joseph Siofele 11, Kapena Lum 10, Jason Borja 1.
Moanalua knocked off top-seeded Kalaheo, 1-0, yesterday on a goal by Chris Narimatsu in the quarterfinals of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association boys' soccer tournament at Aloha Stadium. Moanalua upsets No. 1 Kalaheo
Associated PressMoanalua and Maui, both unseeded teams, play at 7:30 p.m. in today's semifinals at Aloha Stadium. No. 2 Punahou meets No. 3 Baldwin at 5:30 p.m.
Maui beat No. 4 Waiakea, 3-1, on three first-half goals, Paul Tallman breaking a 1-1 tie at 29:06. Bennett Valencia and Brett Ho scored Punahou goals in the first 15 minutes of a 3-1 win over Mililani.
After the Trojans' Brad Kaai scored with just over eight minutes left in the game, Cory Tengan put the game away for Punahou at 76:42.
Baldwin had goals from Andrew Ponce and Buford Kapua'ala in its win over Kauai.
Defending state champion Kailua was upset, 10-1, by Waiakea in the late game last night in the quarterfinals of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Softball Tournament at Roosevelt Stadium. Castle, Kailua fall in softball
Star-Bulletin staffIn another major upset, top-seeded Castle fell to unseeded Roosevelt, 2-1 in eight innings yesterday. Courtney Dang got the win for the Rough Riders.
Kamehameha defeated Mililani, 4-0, and Lahainaluna beat Leilehua, 11-2, in other quarterfinal games.
In today's semifinals at Roosevelt, Kamehameha will meet Waiakea at 5:30 p.m., and Roosevelt will play Lahainaluna at 7 p.m.