HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Falcons stop Troubadours to advance to Division II final
With quickness and scrappy play, Kalani showed that even in basketball, size isn't everything, as the much-smaller Falcons dominated St. Francis 59-45 yesterday at McKinley's Student Council Gym.
Junior Megan Kamehiro scored a team-high 16 points and recorded seven rebounds to lead the Falcons (14-2) to a win in the first semifinal of the Hawaiian Airlines Girls Basketball Division II State Championships.
Mana Camara added 15 points to help the tournament's No. 1 seed to reach its first championship game, meeting Kamehameha-Hawaii, after finishing fourth last season.
The Troubadours (16-3) play La Pietra in the third-place game.
The Falcons set the tone early, pushing up the court on offense and implementing a fullcourt press on defense.
"As long as we run, we're OK," Kalani coach Darold Imanaka said. "The minute we stop running, we're in trouble."
In the first half, the Falcons dominated the boards, getting second, third and even fourth chances at the basket.
"We just really had to pound the boards," Kamehiro said. "We're small, we got to just crash inside. We're always the underdog."
Kalani's objective defensively was simple -- try to control St. Francis center Siutiti Takai.
"You can't stop her from scoring, but we tried," Kamehiro said. "Our post stepped up and shut down the inside."
Using her size and agility to get to the basket, Takai scored 15 of her team's 19 first-half points. Kanani Perry added 10 for the Troubadours.
"We told them one person cannot beat the team. So we're going to concede that, and just play the best that we can," Imanaka said. "She's a load. It's very difficult to defend her."
Following a Takai bucket to put the Troubadours up 6-4, the Falcons went on a 10-0 run to end the first quarter. The Falcons, who were hitting jumpers and getting open lanes to the basket, continued to bother Takai, collapsing on the 6-foot-1 senior with two or three defenders.
Takai, who effectively drew fouls in the first half, got into foul trouble early and spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench.
"We tried to get Titi more involved, but she just ran out of gas," Tanaka said.
| St. Francis (16-3) |
6 |
13 |
10 |
16 |
-- |
45
|
| Kalani (14-1) |
14 |
16 |
13 |
16 |
-- |
59 |
ST. FRANCIS--Kaui Berinobis 1, Visha Bungo 0, Nicole Perry 3, Kanani Perry 10, Danielle Tanaka 4, Emma Decalio-Spencer 0, Bryanna Batts 7, Rochelle Nakagawa 0, Kristen Enomoto 0, Melissa Allen 0, Jamie Iwashita 2, Kacee Coito 0, Siutiti Takai 18.
KALANI--Chloe Martin 12, Megan Kamehiro 16, Kerri Chikamori 0, Yasmina Taketa 0, Kimberly Balsai 0, Chelsea Kimura 2, Violet Alama 0, Nicole Isemoto 5, Kacie Gushiken 7, Nicole Ameperosa 0, Alisha Bonifacio 0, Erin Arakaki 0, Chaude Bonifacio 2, Mana Camara 15.
3-point goals--Kalani 4 (Martin, Kamehiro, Gushiken, Camara).
CONSOLATION
Hawaii Baptist 65, Molokai 43
Jodi Kamemoto scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Eagles over the Farmers.
| Molokai (9-7) |
6 |
13 |
15 |
9 |
-- |
43
|
| Hawaii Baptist (11-6) |
16 |
15 |
14 |
20 |
-- |
65 |
MOLOKAI--Elizabeth Kahoohanohano 5, Ayla Bicoy 1, Trinity Toress-Umi 2, Malia Schnackenberg 6, Aolani Ahina 2, Christine Keliikuli-Peters 4, Julie Bicoy 0, Amber Sterner 5, Tawney Fernandez 4, Kristan Forsberg 4, Kelsy Takashima 2, Hilary Chow 8, Natasha Rapanot 0.
HAWAII BAPTIST--Jodi Kamemoto 20, Candace Yonashiro 0, Adrienne Kishimoto 10, Narissa Fujii 5, Angie Lee 0, Carissa Onuma 6, Stacie Sueda 1, Janine Diehl 16, Tiffany Chang 4, Leah Shizura 3.
3-point goals -- Molokai 2 (Kahoohanohano, Fernandez), Hawaii Baptist 1 (Kamemoto).
Seabury Hall 45, Word of Life 44
Yacine Meyer posted a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds and added four steals as the Spartans held off the Firebrands.
| Seabury Hall (12-2) |
11 |
7 |
18 |
9 |
-- |
45
|
| Word of Life (11-7) |
13 |
12 |
8 |
11 |
-- |
44 |
SEABURY HALL--Michelle Mallen 0, Emma Burns 0, Yacine Meyer 20, Korena Burgio 4, Tiana Barbier 16, Lesley Smith 0, Talia Anama 0, Chelsea Kikuchi 5, Ally Pennebaker 0.
WORD OF LIFE--Samantha Khan 0, Krystle DeBorja 0, Jasmine Saquilon 0, Justine Sampaga 5, Rayane Alvarado 4, Piilani Mahoe 0, Kanani Sagon 7, Careena Onosai 24, Shayna Onosai 4, Moani McBraun 0.
3-point goals -- Seabury Hall 6 (Barbier 4, Meyer, Kikuchi), Word of Life 2
(Sampaga, C. Onosai).
Castle 54, Aiea 39
Tihani Kekauoha posted a team-high 14 points as the Knights defeated Na Alii.
| Aiea (9-7) |
9 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
-- |
39
|
| Castle (11-5) |
8 |
17 |
12 |
17 |
-- |
54 |
AIEA--Tierra Miguel 0, Tasha Johnson 4, Natasha Helsham 20, Jessica Tan 0, Tasha Fong 0, Annie Orial 0, Michelle Shiroma 5, Noelani Fonoti 0, Tierra Tauanuu 0, Emily Tausaga 0, Capri Holiona 10.
CASTLE--Kellsie Sasaki 4, Candyce Ames 4, Nicole Kobashigawa 0, Sarah Phromisiri 3, Raquel Hoe-Pedro 0, Tihani Kekauoha 14, Kori Berinobis 6, Tracie Kam 4, Marisa Ameperosa 6, Leighla Kalahiki 0, Faasaosao Lefotu 0, Shanyn Fafard-Kaaihue 8, Kawekiu Kawainui 5, Rachel Gage 0.
3-point goals -- Aiea 4 (Helsham 3, Shiroma), Castle 3 (Kekauoha 2, Kawainui).
