Down by 15, La Pietra roars back, into final 4

On the brink of elimination, ILH champs and third seed La Pietra made up a 15-point third-quarter deficit in the Panthers' 40-36 win over Aiea in the quarterfinals of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division II State Championships at McKinley's Student Council Gym.

HHSAA Division II girls At McKinley H.S. gym Seeds: 1. Kalani. 2. Kamehameha-Hawaii. 3. La Pietra. 4. Seabury Hall. YESTERDAY 5: Kapaa 34, Hawaii Prep 25 6: St. Francis 64, Seabury Hall 43 7: Kamehameha-Hawaii 54, Castle 42 8: La Pietra 40, Aiea 36 9: Kalani 64, Word of Life 41 TODAY 10: Molokai vs. Hawaii Baptist, 12:45 p.m. 11: Seabury Hall vs. Word of Life, 2:30 p.m. 12: Aiea vs. Castle, 4:15 p.m. 13: St. Francis vs. Kalani, 6 p.m. 14: La Pietra vs. KS-Hawaii, 8 p.m. TOMORROW 15: Game 10 winner vs. Kapaa, 2:30 p.m. 16: Winners of Games 12 & 11, 4:15 p.m. 17: Losers of Games 14 & 13, 6 p.m. 18: Winners of Games 14 & 13, 8 p.m.

Junior Courtney Gaddis led the Panther attack, posting a game-high 12 points. La Pietra (13-1) advances to play defending state champion Kamehameha-Hawaii.

As they were in Tuesday's first-round game, Na Alii (9-6) were without starter Jennifer Yuen, who is out with the flu. Likewise, the Panthers had to make due without a starting guard, as senior Megan Berardy stayed off the court with a sprained ankle she suffered on Monday.

"This was a game where we just had to figure out who was going to step up, and we didn't find out who that was until the fourth quarter," La Pietra coach Anthony Czaja said. "It just came together for us at the end. Really, it's just one of those wild games you can't really explain."

Though the Panthers closed to within 10 points in the third, a late bucket by Tasha Johnson gave Na Alii a commanding 13-point lead at the end of the period.

"I looked the girls in the eye and told them honestly, 'I think we have this game,' " Czaja said.

With Na Alii in foul trouble, the Panthers attacked the lane, drawing more fouls and opening up the stingy Aiea defense. Three Na Alii fouled out in the game.

"We just got too passive," Aiea coach Michael Yen said.

With 2:05 left in the game, Ashanti Shih nailed a free throw to give the Panthers their first lead since the closing seconds of the first quarter. La Pietra made three of its last six free throws to seal the win.

Aiea (9-6)	6	17	11	2	--	36
La Pietra (13-1)	5	8	8	19	--	40

AIEA--Chasity Guzman 0, Tierra Miguel 0, Tasha Johnson 2, Natasha Helsham 10, Jessica Tan 0, Tasha Fong 0, Annie Orial 0, Michelle Shiroma 2, Sara Watanabe 0, Nohelani Fonoti 1, Tierra Tauanuu 8, Emily Tausaga 3, Capri Holiona 10.

LA PIETRA--Charity Caracol 4, Katie Nakamura 0, Sarah Peoples 0, Leah Kaina 7, Chelsea Kiyabu 0, Ashanti Shih 8, Christen Hirai 0, Courtney Gaddis 12, Tihon Nguyen 3, Jenny Kim 0, Jasmine Kimura 0, Megan Giles 6.

3-point goals -- Aiea 1 (Helsham), La Pietra 1 (Kaina).

Kalani 64, Word of Life 41

Megan Kamehiro hit both of her 3-pointers in the second quarter to spark a 22-6 Falcons run. Violet Alama and Nicole Isemoto scored 13 points apiece to lead Kalani, while Careena Onosai had 14 to pace Word of Life.

Word of Life (11-6)	12	6	11	12	--	41
Kalani (13-1)	11	22	14	17	--	64

WORD OF LIFE--Samantha Khan 4, Krystle DeBorja 1, Jasmine Saquilon 2, Justine Sampaga 8, Nicoelle Hookano 0, Rayane Alvarado 0, Earl Lynn Phillip 0, Piilani Mahoe 9, Kanani Sagon 0, Careena Onosai 14, Brittany Iwamoto 0, Shayna Onosai 2, Moani McBraun 1.

KALANI--Chloe Martin 8, Megan Kamehiro 9, Brandi Yamauchi 4, Kerri Chikamori 1, Yasmina Taketa 0, Kimberly Balsai 3, Chelsea Kimura 4, Violet Alama 13, Nicole Isemoto 13, Kacie Gushiken 0, Nicole Ameperosa 0, Alisha Bonifacio 0, Erin Arakaki 2, Chaude Bonifacio 3, Mana Camara 4.

3-point goals -- Word of Life 2 (Sampaga, Mahoe), Kalani 3 (Kamehiro 2, Martin).