HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Wily helps No. 7 Kahuku overcome late deficit and defeat Mililani
Just when it seemed like the Western Division would finally record a victory in the Oahu Interscholastic Association girls basketball playoffs, No. 7 Kahuku finally decided to play up to its ranking.
Artevia Wily scored five of her 11 points in the final 3 minutes and the Red Raiders overcame a five-point fourth-quarter deficit to pull out a 39-33 victory over Mililani last night at McKinley and advance to the OIA semifinals, also clinching a berth in the state tournament. It was the fifth straight win for Kahuku and sixth consecutive victory in the playoffs by a team from the East, who won all four of Thursday's opening-round games. Radford later got the West's first win by beating Moanalua.
Kahuku's Camilla Ah-Hoy added a game-high 14 points and had six rebounds and four steals for the Red Raiders (10-4), who used a full-court man-to-man pressure defense late in the game that forced the Trojans into critical mistakes. Mililani finished with 21 turnovers, including eight in the final quarter.
"We probably should have gone to (fullcourt press) earlier," Kahuku coach Valerie Anae said. "We sat back and let them dictate the pace of the game, but give Mililani credit -- they played a really good game and were scrappy on defense."
Sophomore Ashley Anthony had 10 points to lead the Trojans, while Joleen Realin and Christina Korodan each contributed eight points.
Neither team led by more than four points in the first half and Kahuku entered halftime with an 18-15 advantage. The Trojans opened the third quarter by scoring the first six points, but after a Kahuku timeout, Ah-Hoy responded for the Red Raiders. She scored the next six points as Kahuku went on a 8-0 run to take a 26-21 lead.
"During the timeout, Coach told us to stop reaching and we went to the press," Ah-Hoy said. "We've struggled all year playing a slow-down type of game, but we were able to get a couple of steals and pick it up."
The Trojans quickly returned the favor, however, as they held Kahuku without a point for a 5-minute span in the third and fourth quarters. Korodan and Realin each hit 3-pointers during the stretch as Mililani opened up its largest lead of the game at 31-26 with 6 minutes left.
"They were really scrappy and we just weren't disciplined enough on the offensive end," Wily said. "We were getting too cute inside and not going up hard enough to get the foul."
When they needed it the most, the Red Raiders got the stops they needed on the defensive end. They forced the Trojans into three straight turnovers with 4 minutes left and Wily nailed Kahuku's only 3 ball of the game, tying the score at 31. Anthony gave the Trojans the lead back with two free throws, but Kahuku answered by scoring the game's final six points to pull out the victory.
"All season we've struggled and played to the level of our opponents," Anae said. "Usually you play the way you practice, and we've practiced well, but that just hasn't been the case."
At Roosevelt H.S. gym
Kahuku (10-4) |
11 |
7 |
8 |
13 |
-- |
39
|
Mililani (9-4) |
9 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
-- |
33 |
KAHUKU--Camilla Ah-Hoy 14, Lenora Nauahi 2, Ane Vea 2, Lily Latu 0, Krystal Manguba-Glover 0, Brittney Fesolai 0, Artevia Wily 11, Nicole Nautu 0, Kaimi Ah Puck 2, Salote Livai 2, Christine Meredith 6, Keisha Moeai 0, Kenra Moe 0.
MILILANI--Kimi Ebina 0, Kelsey Woodward 0, Jamie Kaleiwahewa 0, Summer Wigeil 0, Christina Korodan 8, Rayna Downey 2, Lia Nishikura 0, Ashley Anthony 10, Haunani Richardson 0, Chantel Tanuvasa 5, Joleen Realin 8, Diamond Badados 0.
3-point goals -- Kahuku 1 (Wily), Mililani 4 (Korodan 2, Tanuvasa, Realin).
No. 4 Roosevelt 65, Kaiser 27
Shannon Miyashiro scored 19 points as the Rough Riders routed the Cougars. Tati Beasley added 12 points for Roosevelt.
Chelsey Okuma led Kaiser with eight points, including two 3-pointers. The Cougars were without leading scorer Sharde Pratt, who dislocated her sholder against Pearl City on Thursday.
At Roosevelt H.S. gym
Kaiser (5-9) |
10 |
4 |
3 |
10 |
-- |
27
|
Roosevelt (12-1) |
19 |
21 |
16 |
9 |
-- |
65 |
KAISER--Aja Yamamoto 2, Amber Nakachi 4, Jessica Dusich 2, Chelsey Okuma 8, Keely Bitanga 3, Renee Shitanishi 6, Tasia Chase 2, Tiare Kepa 0.
ROOSEVELT--Dianna Zane 10, Tati Beasley 12, Tiana Sugui 9, Iwalani Rodrigues 10, Shandree Armstead 3, Noelle Kawelo 2, Shannon Miyashiro 19, Kayleen Kaaiai 0, Mahie Rattley 0, Kanani Young 0.
3-point goals -- Kaiser 2 (Okuma 2), Roosevelt 3 (Zane 2, Sugui).