Wednesday, May 20, 1998

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Konawaena's Mi-Suk Lee, left, and Chelsea Benton, right,
collide with Kalaheo's Jen Conner (20) in their girls'
state quarterfinal game last night.

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Top seeds rule

Kalaheo, Punahou, Waiakea,
Baldwin advance in the girls'
state tournament

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

Being the follow-up act to the Miss Universe Pageant isn't easy.

But nobody said the quarterfinals of the 22nd Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls' Basketball Tournament were going to be pretty.

The top seeds all advanced to today's semifinals at the Stan Sheriff Center, with three blowouts and a low-scoring nail-biter that produced an Oahu versus the neighbor islands final four. Yesterday's action was the first at the Sheriff Center since the pageant.

Defending state champion Punahou (No. 2) will face Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Waiakea (No. 3) at 6 p.m., and top-seeded Kalaheo, undefeated in 26 games this year, will face Maui Interscholastic League champion Baldwin (No. 4) at 7:30 p.m.

Punahou (1979-81, 1994, 1997) and Waiakea (1985-86) have seven state titles between them, but the Mustangs and the Bears have none. Kalaheo lost to top seed Honokaa in the state semifinals last year.

In Baldwin, Kalaheo encounters size and athleticism.

The Bears feature the state's tallest player, 6-foot-6 starting senior center Diona Hussey, and all-around athlete Aloha Santiago, who is coming off state championships in the discus and shot put last weekend at Kaiser High.

Bear facts The Baldwin Bears have the size and strength to contend for their first girls' state basketball championship: At 6-foot-6, center Diona Hussey is the tallest girls' player in the state. Aloha Santiago, a 6-1 forward, is the girls' state champion in the discus and shot put.

Kalaheo 48, Konawaena 29: Kim Taylor scored 19 points -- 13 in the second half -- and had three assists, and two steals as the Mustangs cruised to their 26th straight win of 1998.

Brandy Richardson had eight points, seven steals and three blocks for Kalaheo.

Sophomore Jen Conner had a big first quarter as the Mustangs jumped out to a 14-3 lead. Conner scored six points, grabbed three rebounds and had two steals in the eight-minute stretch.

The Mustangs had 17 steals.

Konawaena	3	8	8	10--29
Kalaheo		14	5	16	13--48

Konawaena: Napua Kamoku 11, Mi-Suk Lee 3, Chelsea Benton 5, Kim Shiraishi 1, Nikki Kane 0, Meris Ota 8, Tiana Martines-Alcain 0, Kahea Cahill-Ramirez 0.

Kalaheo: Brandy Richardson 8, Kim Taylor 19, Liz Trexler 0, Jen Conner 10, Steph Redman 0, Malia Marks 2, Sherrine Kanahele 2, Sharon Wahine-Kapu 7, Kate Mellinger 0, Contina Kemp 0, Irie Richards 0.

Waiakea 76, McKinley 54: The Tigers tied the Warriors, 18-18, in the first quarter as Amber Ehia scored 11 of her game-high 21 points.

But Waiakea took the lead in the second quarter as six players scored.

The Warriors broke it open in the third as 5-7 Sheila Azevedo (15 points) scored eight points and took control of the low post and Jonee Carvalho (17 points) grabbed key rebounds and ignited the Baldwin break.

"We had a hard time coming off the high after beating Lahainaluna (Tuesday night) and it kind of caught up with us," McKinley head coach Jesse Victorino said.

"Azevedo is a big, strong girl. Throws a few elbows, too, but that's part of the physical game."

McKinley	18	10	13	13--54
Waiakea		18	16	24	18--76

McKinley: Christine Gora 7, Seni Folaumahina 8, Patricia Ishiki 3, Amber Ehia 21, Young Sil Yang 8, Brianne Chang 3, Karlata Nepo 0, Briana Ioane 1, Marlie Queja 0, Deann Flores 1, Teri Lynn Madrona 0, Summer Nagarda 2.

Waiakea: Mona Amisone 8, Tiffany Chang 9, Jonee Carvalho 17, Sheila Azevedo 15, Mary Pedro 5, Casey Remmers 6, Shannessy Mitchell 5, Alyson Martin 7, Tiffany Lee-Read 0, Chana Ichinotsubo 2, Natasha Hilderbrand 0, Sarah Kaaiakamanu 0, Leeann Holden 0.

Baldwin 38, Maryknoll 37 (2OT): Tiffiny Saito, a 5-3 senior guard, made a backcourt steal and went in for the layup to give the Bears the lead (36-35) with 31 seconds left in the second overtime. She then made a pair of free throws to ice it with seven seconds left.

Mandy Oania forced the first overtime with a 3-pointer that made it 25-25.

Michelle Gabriel, who led the Spartans with 15 points, forced the second OT at 31-31 with a desperation one-hander that went in while she was falling backwards.

The Bears took a 34-31 lead in the second OT as Gabriel made another basket and Kim Washington made a free throw. But Tia Medeiros hit a 3-pointer for the Bears to tie it at 34.

Maryknoll	8	8	3	6	6	6--37
Baldwin		10	6	6	3	6	7--38

Maryknoll: Debey Fukuda 5, Genesis Vincent 3, Michelle Gabriel 15, Kim Washington 6, Megan O'Brien 2, Nabosa Basse 6.

Baldwin: Mandy Oania 3, Tiffiny Saito 10, Tia Medeiros 5, Nicole Garbin 4, Aloha Santiago 10, Kim Peroff 2, Diosa Hussey 4, Charito Richardson 0.

Punahou 77, Kauai 33: Onaona Miller scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds, made four blocks and had three steals as the defending state champions rolled.

Fifteen players scored for the Buffanblu in a game that was decided in the first quarter.

Freshman guard Milia Macfarlane scored nine points in the first quarter as the Buffanblu led, 23-8, after one.

Punahou		23	26	13	15--77
Kauai		8	11	10	4--33

Punahou: Onaona Miller 14, Milia Macfarlane 9, Candice Usita 3, Wendy Takeguchi 4, Gayna Nakajo 2, Lauren Yamada 6, Christen Zoccolante 8, Mia Moe 4, Chanel Kealoha 2, Jennifer Androus 6, Adrienne Hamlin 2, Hilary Arakaki 4, Malia Durand 7, Jyoti Mau 4, Susan Wherry 2. Kauai: Alisa Iloreta 8, Trisha Ramos 8, Cliflynn Gonsalves 1, Marycel Garcia 5, Milissa Ceria 4, Denise Kodani 1, Leslie Koga 3, Jill Dobashi 0, Valerie Naea 1, Alisa Racelo 2, Michelle Romano 0.

Waipahu 34, Kahuku 29: Christine Houghton scored 23 points to lead the Marauders in a consolation bracket game.

Waipahu		7	12	4	11--34
Kahuku		7	5	5	12--29

Waipahu: Renee Pecpec 2, Arlynn Orpilla 7, Christine Houghton 23, Narita Meana 5, Silhouette Saau 2, Moevasa Uele 0, Moevasa Uele 0, Marie Tuifao 8, Lani Gatoloai 10.

Kahuku: Aukai Pearl 0, Joy Schlacter 0, Marvel Mau 3, Angie Soliai 0, Samantha Alapa 0, Nene Soliai 2, Teisa Fotu 1, Marina Fonoimoana 4, Siki Suguturaga 4, Alumita Tuisovura 6, Hemaile Enos 6, Ida Vimahi 3, Betty Betham 0.