Kamehameha turns to
defense to earn first
ILH win

With their backs to the wall, the Kamehameha Warriors needed a breakthrough.

They may have gotten one thanks to a gritty defensive effort last night. Kamehameha went to a box-and-one defense to put shackles on Sacred Hearts sharpshooter Samantha Saito en route to a 44-35 win at Kekuhaupio Gym.

The Warriors (6-6) recorded their first win in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play after four losses. Sophomore Analee Viena Lota scored 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting and hustled for 13 rebounds. She also blocked four shots, including three in the second half, as the Warriors broke open a close game.

Sacred Hearts (4-6) slipped to 1-4 in league play. Center Rebecca Debo scored 11 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Cara Smith finished with 10 points, but struggled from the field without Saito in her usual groove. As Kamehameha closed off the passing lanes to Saito, Smith shot 4-for-19 from the field.

Saito got just four shots off and finished with seven points.

"We kind of told her to be patient and trust her teammates," Lancers coach Alan Matsui said. "Some of our girls didn't want to shoot, at least not until the second half. We need the other kids to start believing. Kamehameha was ready, and they shot well."

The Warriors made 13 of their 15 free-throw attempts. Sacred Hearts was just 4-for-10 from the line.

Kamehameha got nine points and four rebounds from guard Tatrianna Lorenzo.

"It was a good win, but it was sloppy," the junior said. "I hope it builds our confidence. We need time and experience. To do that we just have to get out and play."

Lorenzo is among some Warriors who have struggled at points through the early part of the season.

"I have to learn to work with what we have. We don't have a Mo (Nihipali) down low I can just pass the ball to," she said.

Down six points early on, Kamehameha rallied and managed a 10-point lead in the third quarter as Nakamura set up teammates for wide-open shots. Sacred Hearts pulled within 35-30 early in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors went on a 7-0 run thanks to a baseline jumper and two follow shots on the break by Viena Lota.

Sacred Hearts got no closer than seven the rest of the way.

The Warriors relied on defense and transition baskets. From the start, Miki Nakamura and Danna Freidemann took turns covering Saito all game long, while Lilia Lee came through with seven rebounds.

"Lilia did a nice job for us," longtime Kamehameha coach Clay Cockett said.

The Lancers jumped to a 10-4 lead, but turnovers killed their momentum. Kamehameha's man-to-man defense thwarted Sacred Hearts' weave offense and sparked a 13-4 run.

Johanna Sai's drive for a three-point play, plus a 3-point shot by Lorenzo from the right corner, vaulted the Warriors ahead 17-14 midway through the second quarter. Tianna Abbley came off the bench to score four points in the last 43 seconds of the half for Kamehameha, which led 23-17 at intermission.

The Warriors drove often against the Lancers' man defense and got into bonus early. Kamehameha took nine free-throw attempts in the first half, making eight. Sacred Hearts made one of its two tries from the line.

At Kamehameha H.S. gym

Sacred Hearts (1-4)	10	7	10	8	--	35
Kamehameha (1-4)	8	15	12	9	--	44

SACRED HEARTS--Samantha Saito 7, Rebecca Debo 11, Karis Moi-Simeona 4, Kiana Rapozo 2, Stephanie Horn 2, Samantha Valle 1, Lola Williams 0, Cara Smith 8.
KAMEHAMEHA--Miki Nakamura 2, Johanna Sai 4, Analee Viena Lota 18, Tiana Abbley 4, Noelani Hoopii 0, Trixie Miller 0, Tatriana Lorenzo 9, Danna Friedemann 0, Thais Lee 7, Leah Godinet 0, Casey Lum 0.
3-point goals -- Sacred Hearts 0, Kamehameha 1 (Lee).

No. 1 Punahou 35, No. 5 Iolani 32

The young guns had No. 1-ranked Punahou on the ropes for three quarters, but the host Buffanblu got clutch plays from their leader, Shanna-Lei Dacanay.

Dacanay drained two 3-pointers to power an 11-0 run midway through the second half. That eliminated Iolani's 25-18 lead and proved to be the difference.

Dacanay's second trey -- both came on passes from Shawna-Lei Kuehu -- gave Punahou a 29-25 lead with 5:27 left. In all, Iolani went 7 minutes, 20 seconds without scoring.

Iolani pulled within 29-28 on a trey by freshman Chanel Hirata with 1:42 left, but got no closer. Dacanay sank three free throws in the final 1:24 as Punahou sealed the win.

Punahou (14-1) seized sole possession of first place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu at 5-0. Iolani (12-5) dropped to 4-1 in league play.

The Lady Raiders made just one of their 10 free-throw attempts.

"We were in the game until the end. The girls played hard and didn't quit," Iolani coach Glenn Takara said. "At the end of the third quarter, we had some breakdowns. I think we were a little tired."

Punahou, behind Dacanay's veteran leadership and tight man defense, made the key plays.

"They're a veteran team," Takara said. "We're learning. We're getting there."

Freshman center Jamie Smith limited Punahou's talented freshman center, Kuehu, to nine points.

At Hemmeter Fieldhouse

Iolani (4-1)	9	10	6	7	--	32
Punahou (5-0)	6	8	9	12	--	35

IOLANI--Kaz Masutani 0, Hennasea-Sue Tokumura 5, Alana Matayoshi 6, Chanel Hirata 3, Marci Kang 1, Alana Wall 4, Jamie Smith 8, Meilin Akamu 5, Sarah Turgeon 0, Keilyn Fujioka 0.
PUNAHOU--Ciana Aiwohi 4, Shanna-Lei Dacanay 11, Stacy Brossy 0, Shawna-Lei Kuehu 9, Shaena-Lyn Kuehu 0, Tessa Sonobe 4, Sophie Merrifield 2, Chelsea Deptula 4, Christine Takara 1.
3-point goals--Iolani 3 (Tokumura, Hirata, Akamu), Punahou 2 (Dacanay 2).

No. 3 Maryknoll 52, Mid-Pacific 39

Tammie Andres scored a game-high 16 points and Nicole Fu added 11 as the Spartans outscored the Owls 26-8 in the final quarter to come from behind.

Kristina Lin had 11 points to lead the Owls.

At Sacred Hearts gym

Mid-Pacific (1-4)	18	10	3	8	--	39
Maryknoll (3-2)	2	18	6	26	--	52

MID-PACIFIC--Keri Nakamura 5, Ciera Aiwohi 0, Yuki Sei 0, Jasmine Viera 9, Meghan Laughlin 9, Kristina Lin 11, Sherice Ajifu 2, Marysia Wu 1, Melanie Wu 2.
MARYKNOLL--Nicole Fu 11, Kristie Watanabe 0, Jessica Akamine 9, Tammie Andres 16, Cassandra Natividad 0, Joni Wong 0, Kaulana Salangdron 0, Mimi Takamune 0, Bowha Kang 2, Cheryl Lee 10, Sela Fisilau 4.
3-point goals -- Mid-Pacific 1 (Lin).

OIA WEST DIVISION I
Kapolei 45, Nanakuli 37

Jerrell Taituave scored 20 points as the Hurricanes held off a late charge by the Golden Hawks.

Down by 17 entering the fourth quarter, Nanakuli managed to trim the deficit to under 10.

Sierra Nakea scored 11 points to lead Nanakuli.

At Nanakuli H.S. gym

Kapolei (8-1)	11	13	16	5	--	45
Nanakuli (1-7)	13	6	4	14	--	37

KAPOLEI--Whitney Tatomer 0, Kesha Miller 3, Berlyn Devera 0, Becka Simanu 3, Charmaine Jackson 6, Jasmine Gipson 4, Charlyn Kawachi 0, Kayla Kam 3, Jerrell Taituave 20, Shanna Arthur 2, Lehua Figueroa 2, Tricia Warashina 2.
NANAKULI--Sasha Montez 7, Kristen Serrano 9, Delisha Kaimi 0, Sheila Argayoso 0, Vernadine Vickers 8, Frances Busano-Leleo 0, Lahela Kanagasuku 0, Chantel Tuiloma 2, Sierra Nakea 11, Britney Wolf 0, Sasha Kanahele 0.
3-point goals -- Nanakuli 1 (Vickers).
Junior varsity -- Kapolei 29, Nanakuli 25

Radford 38, Pearl City 22

Tereva Moore scored a game-high 15 points as the Rams defeated the Chargers to remain unbeaten.

Nicole Grebe added five points for the Rams.

Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia and Tiffany Manning each scored seven points for Pearl City in a losing effort.

At Radford H.S. gym

Pearl City (4-5)	4	8	0	10	--	22
Radford (9-0)	4	6	11	17	--	38

PEARL CITY--Crystal Tadeo 0, Tiana Bolosan 0, Desiree Luis 0, Lindsay Cartwright 5, Channette Nakama 2, Tazha Passi 0, Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia 7, Tiffany Manning 7, Mele Laulea 1.
RADFORD--Sonya Legaspi 3, Nicole Grebe 6, Celina Cruz 0, Sarah Brown 1, Marlena Malepeai 4, Frances Respicio 0, Tereva Moore 15, Chelsea-Ann Villanueva 5, Gabby Rellin 4, Marie Fe Bumanglag 0.
3-point goals -- Pearl City 1(Pahukoa-Malia).
Junior varsity --Pearl City 28, Radford 25

OIA DIVISION II
Aiea 38, Kaimuki 35

Zori Drew scored a game-high 13 points as the Na Alii defeated the Bulldogs. Shannon Nahopii added six points for the Na Alii.

Kaimuki scored 18 points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to rally for the win.

Paige Moi and Chasity Laulusa each scored eight points for Kaimuki.

At Kaimuki H.S. gym

Aiea (8-3)	8	10	10	10	--	38
Kaimuki (7-3)	9	2	6	18	--	35

AIEA--Shareyn Muneoka 2, Shannon Nahoopii 6, Michelle Shiroma 1, Zori Drew 13, Nohelani Fonoti 0, Kalei Castillo 9, Capri Holiona 7.
KAIMUKI-- Flora Mesa 7, Mindy Hirokawa 6, Keri Kaneshiro 0, Chelsea Gornichec 2, Rachelle Butler 0, Paige Moi 8, Ashley Moi 1, Chasity Laulusa 8, Keri Nakahashi 3.
3-point goals -- Kaimuki 1(Nakahashi).
Junior varsity -- Kaimuki 35, Aiea 24

Kailua 39, Waianae 27

Kalina Kama scored 10 points to lead the Surfriders past the Seariders. Kristen Corrales added eight points.

Kuuipo Babayos scored 11 points for Waianae in a losing effort.

At Waianae H.S. gym

Kailua (6-5)	10	11	2	16	--	39
Waianae (2-8)	9	7	4	7	--	27

KAILUA--Kristen Corrales 8, Kim Yamashita 2, Stephanie Nault 1, Kalina Kama 10, Pume Kanoa-Docterello 0, Keala Iaea 9, Francine Su'a 0, Nani Nault 2, Ashley Shigaki 5, Pomai Fernandez 2, Tanisha Milca 0.
WAIANAE--Danielle Lovell 5, Kahea Kelii 5, Priscilla Mathewson 2, Aliah Irvine 0, Naomi Endo 2, Melody Moe 2, Serita Ulu 0, Kuuipo Babayos 11.
3-point goals -- Waianae 3 (Babayos, Kelii, Lovell).
Junior varsity -- Waianae 42, Kailua 41

Waialua 47, Thompson 12

Shalane Manuel scored 17 points and Chelsey Ramirez added 12 as the Bulldogs defeated the Sharks.

At Waialua H.S. gym

Thompson (0-10)	4	0	2	6	--	12
Waialua (5-5)	13	14	11	9	--	47

THOMPSON--Kayla Torres-Petrone 2, Ramona Soosenuu 2, Melissa Fern 2, Alanna Fern 0, Britnee Greene 0, Christina Sei 0, Tatiana Wilbur 3, Ilorra Fern 0, Christine Wray 3.
WAIALUA--Shalane Manuel 17, Christina Dunn 6, Erica Tuyay 2, Jessica Miller 0, Stacey Pua 0, Noe DelaPena-Hoopai 9, Jamie Souza 1, Chelsey Ramirez 12, Chasity Suyat 0.
3-point goals -- Thompson 1 (Wray), Waialua 0.

OTHER ILH

Division II varsity girls
Kamehameha 51, University 24
Leading scorers--Kam: Shannon Spencer 10.
Division II junior varsity girls
La Pietra 32, Lutheran 29, OT