JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Kaliko Kepa of Kalaheo tried to block a shot attempt by Maryknoll's Bowha Kang yesterday.

Maryknoll up to 4-0
in Punahou tourney

The Maryknoll Spartans are doing just fine against any foe not nicknamed Buffanblu.

Cheryl Lee pumped in 16 points as Maryknoll downed Kalaheo 51-37 yesterday in the Punahou Wahine Spring Basketball Classic at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

The Spartans got eight points apiece from center Sela Fisilau, Kristie Watanabe and sophomore Nicole Fu to go 4-0 in the tourney. Maryknoll is now 6-1, with its lone defeat at the hands of Punahou at the Lady Falcons Invitational tournament last week.

Senior forward Taylor Smith led Kalaheo (5-2) with 13 points. Sophomore guard Shanadee Canon added 12 points.

Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado was puzzled as much as he was disappointed.

"I don't think it's fatigue," he said, referring to playing four games in four days. "Maryknoll played well."

Maryknoll took a 13-4 lead midway through the first half.

"We fell behind because of nine turnovers in the first quarter. You'd think our veteran players would have more focus," Furtado said.

Focus and experience certainly helped Maryknoll, which has four starting seniors.

"I saw a pretty different Kalaheo team the other night when they were focused," Spartans coach Bobby Samson said. "You can say the same things about us. There's a lot of things we can fix."

The Spartans extended the lead to 15 just before halftime. Kalaheo cut the margin to 11, but lost momentum. After Fu drilled a trey from the top of the key, Maryknoll led 37-22 midway through the third quarter.

Smith, a 5-foot-10 senior, hit a pull-up jumper in the lane and drove for a three-point play to help Kalaheo cut the lead to 37-29 late in the third.

Turnovers, however, killed the Lady Mustangs' flow. Maryknoll went on a 7-0 run to start the final quarter, pushing the lead back to 15. Kalaheo never seriously threatened after that.

"This was a real good test of us. Kalaheo is a good team, and this shows us where we are," Samson said.

Kamehameha-Hawaii 52, St. Andrew's Priory 31

Lisa Yang scored 15 points and Jamie Mattos tallied 12 as the Warriors opened a double-digit first-half lead en route to victory. The Warriors, who went 3-1 at the Punahou tourney, improved to 5-2.

Laurie Miyasato scored 11 points and Holly Saito added 10 for the Pride.

Mid-Pacific 48, Moanalua 17

Meghan Laughlin poured in 26 points as the Owls overwhelmed the Menehunes. Jasmine Vieira added 10 points for the Owls, who went 2-2 in the tourney.

Despite the loss of starters Danielle Mafua and Morgen Sullivan, Mid-Pacific has been competitive. The Owls lost to defending Division I state champion Konawaena 52-35 and defending Division II state champ Roosevelt 42-35. Then the Owls toppled Kamehameha-Hawaii 50-49 before yesterday's win over the Menehunes.

Mesha Macadangdang and Jade Miller led Moanalua with five points each.

Konawaena 60, Punahou II 26

Jessica Hanato racked up 24 points as the Wildcats overwhelmed the Division II Buffanblu. Freshman center Mana Hopkins and Jazzmin Awa-Williams added 10 points apiece for the defending state champions.

Konawaena went 3-1 at the tourney as their playing schedule began. Shelly Masuda led Punahou II (3-5) with eight points.

Iolani 54, McKinley 36

Hennasea-Sue Tokumura raced to 19 points and the Raiders pulled away in the third quarter.

The Raiders led 19-17 after one half, but outscored McKinley 21-4 in the third quarter.

Alana Wall added eight points for Iolani, which has no seniors.

Kaitlyn Ikehara led the Lady Tigers (5-3) with 15 points. Sophomore Chelsie Sato added nine.