Kapolei earns share
of West title

No matter how they'll look back on it, the Kapolei Hurricanes are co-champions of the Oahu Interscholastic Association West.

Despite 30 turnovers and 36 percent field-goal shooting, Kapolei came up with key plays down the stretch for a 38-32 win over Leilehua last night at the Hurricanes' gym.

Senior center Jerrell Taituave led the way with 15 points and 16 rebounds for Kapolei, which won its first division title in girls basketball.

"We had to win this or it would've been for naught," the 6-foot Taituave said. "Beating Radford would've been for nothing."

Kapolei (11-15) closed regular-season play 11-1 in the OIA West, tied with Radford. A coin flip will determine who the OIA West No. 1 seed will be. Both teams have earned first-round byes, but the top seed will gain home-court advantage through the playoffs. The finals are scheduled at McKinley Student Council Gym.

Leilehua slipped to 7-5 in league play, finishing third in the West. The Lady Mules will host the opening round of the playoffs on Thursday.

"Take nothing away from Kapolei. We tried to double down on Taituave," Leilehua coach Elroy Dumlao said.

When the Hurricanes were patient, they found Taituave open on the backside.

"We worked on getting the ball to Jerrell. We know from watching the film of our last game with them, Leilehua ran out of gas in the second half," Kapolei coach Jesse Baugh said. "We forced a lot of passes, but Jerrell came through tonight."

Ui Forgione led the visiting Mules with 10 points, but mistakes in the final minutes spelled trouble.

The game featured nine lead changes, but Leilehua's fortunes began to dwindle after center Marquesha McVea fouled out with 4 minutes remaining.

"We needed her in there. We had to take a chance," Dumlao said of the 6-foot sophomore.

Forgione kept the Mules in the game, hitting a baseline jumper for a 28-27 lead with 3:32 left. Without McVea in the post, Leilehua's offense struggled against Kapolei's man-to-man defense.

Leilehua forward Isis Atualevao swished two free throws to tie the game at 32 with 1:04 to go, but Kapolei dominated from that point. Elizabeth Simanu made a free throw with 47 seconds left, and guard Charmaine Jackson stole a pass near the sideline to give her team possession.

"The pass was going to Brittaney (Stafford) and I hit it. It was bouncing and I grabbed it," said Jackson, who made two free throws to give Kapolei a 35-32 lead with 38 seconds remaining.

Leilehua turned the ball over again shortly after, and the Hurricanes made three of their next six free-throw attempts to put the game away.

Kapolei shot 13-for-36 from the floor but outrebounded Leilehua 36-22. The Lady Mules shot just 27 percent from the field (13-for-48), missing all eight of their 3-point tries. Their fullcourt pressure led to 16 steals.

Baugh credited seniors Kayla Kam and Taituave for Kapolei's success after a rough nonconference slate.

"I can't say enough about their leadership,"he said. "Without it, we wouldn't be where we are. The girls really look up to them."

At Kapolei H.S. gym

Leilehua (7-5)	6	5	8	13	--	32
Kapolei (11-1)	7	6	9	16	--	38

LEILEHUA--Mahela Punley 0, Ui Forgione 10, Charlene Borromeo 4, Trisha Reitz 0, Brittaney Stafford 7, Isis Atualevao 7, Jaslen Collado 0, Marquesha McVea 4, Joray Nacapuy 0.
KAPOLEI--Whitney Tatomer 0, Kesha Miller 0, Berlyn Devera 4, Charmaine Jackson 8, Jasmine Gipson 0, Charlyn Kawachi 0, Kayla Kam 6, Trisha Warashima 5, Jerrell Taituave 15, Shanna Arthur 0, Lehua Figueroa 0.
3-point goals -- Kapolei 1 (Jackson).
Junior varsity -- Kapolei 33, Leilehua 29.

Nanakuli 54, Pearl City 44

Sierra Nakea scored a game-high 16 points as the Golden Hawks clinched a playoff berth.

Tazha Passi scored 13 points and Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia added 11, including three 3-pointers, for the Chargers.

At Pearl City H.S. gym

Nanakuli (3-9)	15	13	9	17	--	54
Pearl City (5-7)	9	9	7	19	--	44

NANAKULI--Sasha Montez 8, Kristen Serrano 3, Delisha Kaimi 2, Sheila Argayoso 0, Vernadine Vickers 9, Frances Busano-Leleo 2, Kina Palaualelo 0, Lahela Kanagasuku 8, Chantel Tuiloma 4, Sierra Nakea 16, Britney Wolf 0, Sasha Kanahele 2, Tiana Tuiloma 0.
PEARL CITY--Crystal Tadeo 3, Tiana Bolosan 0, Desiree Luis 5, Veronica Bothelo 0, Lindsay Cartwright 0, Channette Nakama 0, Tazha Passi 13, Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia 11, Tiffany Manning 1, Mele Laulea 9, Kaiona Auyong 2.
3-point goals -- Pearl City 4 (Pahukoa-Malia 3, Tadeo).
Junior varsity -- Nanakuli 35, Pearl City 30

Mililani 50, Campbell 33

Christina Korodan hit the game's only 3-pointer and scored a game-high 16 points as the Trojans beat the Sabers.

Darlyn Livae scored 12 points to lead Campbell.

At Mililani H.S. gym

Campbell (1-11)	7	8	7	11	--	33
Mililani (4-8)	12	10	11	17	--	50

CAMPBELL--Cheyna Tagura 1, Nicole Jackson 0, Latara Tano 1, Everlyn San Agustin 6, Shiann Leong 0, Tiani Sojot 2, Jenna Contemplo 2, Jasmine Valentin 3, Jenny Sweeney 4, Elysia Makaena 0, Cierra Tagura 0, Darlyn Livae 12, Nicole Gardner 2.
MILILANI--Kimi Ebina 0, Kelsie Woodward 7, Ally Ochoa 1, Melissa Lehano 4, Christina Korodan 16, Rayna Downey 2, Ulu Ahsam 5, Lori Nonies 4, Ashley Anthony 0, Joleen Realin 8, Chelcey Pang 2, Elsa Apo 0, Ashley Payne 0, Diamond Bacajos 1.
3-point goals -- Mililani 1 (Korodan).
Junior varsity -- Mililani 48, Campbell 34

OIA DIVISION II
Kalani 61, Aiea 46

In a game plagued by 28 Na Alii fouls, the Falcons capitalized on their opportunities from the line and played strong defense to defeat visiting Aiea.

Megan Kamehiro finished with a team-high 14 points for the Falcons, including 10-for-10 shooting from the free-throw line.

Aiea's Kalei Castillo scored a game-high 23 points.

At Kalani H.S. gym

Aiea (10-6)	6	9	15	16	--	46
Kalani (13-2)	16	15	19	11	--	61

AIEA--Shareyn Muneoka 5, Jennifer Yuen 4, Jessica Tan 0, Chelsea Puma 0, Shannon Nahoopii 2, Michelle Shiroma 0, Zori Drew 8, Nohelani Fonoti 0, Kalei Castillo 23, Capri Holiona 4.
KALANI--Chloe Martin 5, Brandi Yamauchi 0, Megan Kamehiro 14, Kim Cabuyadao 5, Mana Camara 13, Yasmina Taketa 4, Chelsea Kimura 4, Nicole Isemoto 6, Kacie Gushiken 3, Liandra Bonifacio 5, Kerri Chikamori 2.
3-point goals -- Aiea 2 (Castillo 2), Kalani 2 (Cabuyadao, Isemoto).
Junior varsity -- Kalani 64, Aiea 27

Kaimuki 58, Thompson 14

The Bulldogs rolled over the winless Sharks to improve to 12-3 in OIA Division II play.

Eleven Kaimuki players scored, with Mindy Hirokawa's nine points leading the way.

At Kaimuki H.S. gym

Thompson (0-15)	4	3	5	2	--	14
Kaimuki (12-3)	19	10	16	13	--	58

THOMPSON--Kayla Torres-Petrone 7, Ramona Soosenuu 0, Melissa Fern 0, Alanna Fern 0, Britnee Greene 5, Christina Sei 0, Tatiana Wilbur 2, Ilorra Fern0, Christine Wray 0.
KAIMUKI--Flora Mesa 8, Mindy Hirokawa 9, Keri Kaneshiro 7, Nicole Sasaki 2, Kanoe Nicola 6, Chelsea Gornichec 1, Rachelle Butler 2, Paige Moi 7, Ashley Moi 8, Chasity Laulusa 4, Keri Nakahashi 4.
3-point goals -- Thompson 1 (Greene), Kaimuki 3 (Kaneshiro, Nakahashi, Hirokawa).

Waialua 45, Waianae 42

Chelsey Ramirez scored 20 points to lead the Bulldogs past the Seariders. Christina Dunn added nine points.

The score was tied at 40 with 2 minutes left when Ramirez nailed a 3-pointer to take the lead. Waianae answered, but Waialua made two free throws to seal the win.

At Waialua H.S. gym

Waianae (4-11)	9	13	9	11	--	42
Waialua (6-9)	19	8	4	14	--	45

WAIANAE--Danielle Lovell 12, Kahea Kelii 2, Naomi Endo 2, Melody Moe 7, Serita Ulu 4, Kuuipo Babayos 8, Afi Tago 7.
WAIALUA--Shalane Manuel 1, Christina Dunn 9, Erica Tuyay 1, Jessica Miller 0, Noe DelaPena-Hoopai 2, Jamie Souza 7, Chelsey Ramirez 20, Chasity Suyat 5
3-point goals --Waialua 6 (Ramirez 5, Suyat).
Junior varsity -- Waialua 38, Waianae 24

Kailua 30, Castle 28

After several lead changes in the game's final 4 minutes, the Surfriders nailed free throws down the stretch to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Kailua's Kalina Kama sank four from the line in the last 2 minutes to seal the win. Castle had an opportunity to tie with 4 seconds remaining, but missed its final shot.

At Kailua H.S. gym

Castle (12-3)	6	8	8	6	--	28
Kailua (9-6)	5	6	9	10	--	30

CASTLE--Karissa Kinney 0, Candyce Ames 2, Niki Kobashigawa 0, Kellsie Sasaki 3, Sarah Phromisiri 0, Uilani Kekauoha 9, Audrey Ako 5, Tracie Kam 3, Titi Kawainui 6, Kawena Kawainui 0.

KAILUA--Kristen Corrales 14, Kim Yamashita 6, Kalina Kama 6, Keala Iaea 2, Ashley Shigaki 0, Pomai Fernandez 2.

3-point goals -- Castle 3 (Sasaki, Ako, Kawainui), Kailua 0.

Junior varsity -- Castle 42, Kailua 36

ILH
No. 1 Punahou 56, Sacred Hearts 22

No further details reported.