HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Farrington's C'ani Kealoha had her shot blocked by Kalaheo's Hoku Kaiu-Denning while Lohi Aweau looked on.
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Kalaheo gets it right this time in OIA quarterfinals
The similarities brought back bad memories of this same time last season. But the Lady Mustangs were determined to make sure history would not repeat itself.
OIA girls basketball
Red Division Tournament
Seeds: East--1. Roosevelt. 2. Kalaheo. 3. Kahuku. 4. Moanalua. 5. Kaiser. 6. Farrington. West--1. Radford. 2. Mililani. 3. Leilehua. 4. Pearl City. 5. Kapolei. 6. Campbell.
Thursday
At Leilehua H.S. gym
Game 1: Moanalua 54, Kapolei 27
2: Farrington 59, Leilehua 51
At Kahuku H.S. gym
3: Kaiser 53, Pearl City 38
4: Kahuku 63, Campbell 32
yesterday
At Radford H.S. gym
5: Kalaheo 43, Farrington 34
6: Radford 38 Moanalua 33
At McKinley H.S. gym
7: Kahuku 39, Mililani 33
8: Roosevelt 65, Kaiser 27
Wednesday
At higher seed
9: Farrington vs. Moanalua
10: Mililani vs. Kaiser
At Mililani H.S. gym
11: Kalaheo vs. Radford
12: Kahuku vs. Roosevelt
Thursday
At higher seed
13: Fifth place--Winners Games 9 and 10, 5 p.m.
Friday
At McKinley H.S. gym
14: Third place--Losers Games 11 and 12, 3:30 p.m.
15: Championship--Winners Games 11 and 12, 7:30 p.m.
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Despite shooting 5-for-26 from the field in the first half, Kalaheo was the sharper team throughout as the Lady Mustangs defeated Farrington 43-34 yesterday in the quarterfinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I Girls Basketball Tournament at Radford.
Unlike last year, when the top-seeded Mustangs were upset by Roosevelt in the quarterfinals, Kalaheo (10-3) advanced into the semifinals and will play Radford (12-1) on Wednesday at Mililani.
"It was the same situation, the same place, same (round), it was all déja vu except with a different team," Kalaheo's Shanadee Canon said. "We really wanted this game. This year, we wanted to come out with a bang and prove everybody wrong, that we can do it."
As the third seed this year, the Mustangs knew they couldn't take a sixth seed lightly; especially since this particular team had played Kalaheo tough in its last two meetings, including a 55-52 matchup in March.
"The thing about playing in the East, there really are no easy games," Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado said. "Even McKinley, who didn't make the playoffs, we struggled against them. Every game's a battle in the East. And when Farrington beat Leilehua, I knew this one was going to be the same."
After starting off with only four points in the first half, Canon exploded for 14 second-half points, including nine in the final quarter. The 5-foot-7 junior attacked the basket aggressively, taking drives down the lane for baskets or fouls.
"The first half they really played good defense on me, didn't let me get the ball too much," Canon said. "I told myself I had to turn it up because I did not want to lose this game. I did not want déja vu from last year."
Senior Kendra Fischer added 12 points for the Mustangs, including two treys.
"She's so good at getting to the bucket," Furtado said of Canon. "She made a few little boo-boos, but we can live with that because she does so much for us offensively. She just plays hard all the time. And she was the one bright spot for us free-throw-wise. She's going to be heavily relied on as we go further into the tournament."
Canon went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line, while the rest of the Lady Mustangs shot a combined 7-for-19.
The Lady Governors (5-9) struggled from the floor as well in the first half, making just four of 20 shots. Playing man defense for the first time this season, the Mustangs were effective, limiting the Govs to 10 field goals, none of which were 3-pointers, for the game.
"We felt we needed to take away that 3-point line, and we were very successful," Furtado said. "We gave up some stuff inside, but that's what happens. Our defensive effort was fine."
Tatiana Alualu led the Govs with 14 points, while C'ani Kealoha added eight.
Down by five going into the third quarter, the Govs came storming back behind the inside game of Alualu, who knocked down two quick buckets to bring Farrington within one at 20-19. But that's the closest the Govs would get as Canon took over.
With the win, the Mustangs locked up one of the OIA's six bids to the upcoming state tournament. The Governors will play Moanalua in the consolation bracket. The winner of that game will receive one of the last two state tourney berths.
"Every time you have a game like this, that gets you into the state tournament, it's kind of a stressful game," Furtado said. "Both teams came out a little flat, a little tight. I think it was the magnitude of the game."
At Radford H.S. gym
Farrington (5-9) |
6 |
9 |
6 |
13 |
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34
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Kalaheo (10-3) |
8 |
12 |
12 |
11 |
-- |
43 |
FARRINGTON--Janiene Telefoni-Sablan 2, Deja Bryce 2, Tatiana Alualu 14, Kirstyn Vaa 4, C'ani Kealoha 8, Kalani Alatasi 0, Tuki Laupepe 2, Kapio Alatasi 0, Bryana Tatupu-Leopoldo 2.
KALAHEO--Hoku Kaiu-Denning 0, Delicia Wilson 0, Lohi Aweau 1, Anu AhYun 6, Shanadee Canon 18, Brianne Villarosa 0, Katie Lintz 0, Kendra Fischer 12, Kaliko Kepa 6.
3-point goals -- Kalaheo 2 (Fischer 2).
Radford 38, Moanalua 33
With the teams tied at 32 early in the fourth quarter, the Rams went on a 6-1 run to close out the game. Marlena Malepeai had seven of her game-high 16 points in the quarter.
Britni Ronolo scored a team-high 10 points to lead the Menehunes.
Radford advances to play Kalaheo in the semifinals.
At Radford H.S. gym
Moanalua (5-9) |
10 |
5 |
7 |
11 |
-- |
33
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Radford (12-1) |
10 |
7 |
11 |
10 |
-- |
38 |
MOANALUA--Michelle Hardy 0, Brianna Lagat-Ramos 0, Jade Miller 5, Jamie Ronolo 7, Indah Widyakasuma 1, Terina Blue 3, Britni Ronolo 10, Nikol Felder 7.
RADFORD--Nicole Grebe 6, Marlena Malepeai 16, Brittini Fuller 5, Kiara Dykes 0, Kamia Smith 9, Chelsea-Ann Villanueva 2, Gabby Rellin 0, Marsharen DuPont 0.
3-point goals -- Moanalua 2 (Miller, Blue), Radford 2 (Smith 2).