HHSAA DIVISION II GIRLS BASKETBALL
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Mana Camara of Kalani drove to the basket around Kanisha Bello of Kamehameha-Hawaii.
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Kalani makes it to the top
A year after taking a big step in the program's history, the Kalani Falcons soared to their first state championship last night with a 58-51 win over Kamehameha-Hawaii in the title game of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Division II Girls Basketball Tournament.
A near-perfect night from the free-throw line lifted the Falcons to the title as they needed only four field goals in the second half to wrest the crown away from KS-Hawaii before a vocal group of Kalani fans who flocked to McKinley Student Council Gym.
Kalani, which finished fourth in last year's D-II tournament, went 25-for-28 from the foul line and captured the title a week after winning a second straight Oahu Interscholastic Association White Division championship.
"Two years ago they knocked on the door but didn't get in. Last year, we stepped in the door. This year we cleaned house," Kalani coach Darold Imanaka said.
Kalani guard Megan Kamehiro led a balanced Kalani attack with 16 points, hitting all eight of her free throws. Kacie Gushiken added 11 and senior forward Mana Camara closed her career by contributing 10 points and nine rebounds.
"Last year our goal was to get to states, this year we wanted to take it," said Gushiken, who went 9-for-10 from the line.
Kalani went 4-for-15 from the field after taking a nine-point lead into halftime, but made 21 of 22 free throws in the second half to thwart KS-Hawaii's comeback attempts.
"We do at least an hour of shooting everyday," Imanaka said. "Because we're so small we have to shoot well."
Jamie Mattos led KS-Hawaii with 20 points. Leilani Galdones, who will continue her career at the University of Hawaii, chipped in with 12 after hitting for 35 points in the Warriors' first two games of the tournament.
"You just have to try to stay with her," said Kamehiro, who guarded Galdones most of the night. "She's great with her drive and her shot. You have to play her straight up, you can't favor one thing."
Balanced scoring spurred the Falcons to a 29-20 halftime lead as seven different players got into the book before the break, led by freshman Violet Alama's eight points.
With the game tied at nine in the first quarter, Kalani went on a 12-2 run and opened a 21-11 lead when Camara fed Alama inside for an open layup.
The Falcons stretched the lead to 12 late in the second quarter as Kamehiro drained a 3-pointer from the corner with 50 seconds left. Galdones responded with a trey to bring the Warriors within nine at the break.
KS-Hawaii closed to within four on four occasions in the second half. But Kalani answered each time as Gushiken and Kamehiro combined to make 15 of 16 free throws in the fourth quarter.
Kamehiro was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, and was joined on the all-tournament team by Leilani Galdones and Jamie Mattos of Kamehameha-Hawaii, Jodi Kamemoto of Hawaii Baptist Academy, Courtney Gaddis of La Pietra and Siutiti Takai of St. Francis.
KS-Hawaii (12-4) |
11 |
9 |
11 |
20 |
-- |
51 |
Kalani (15-1) |
17 |
12 |
10 |
19 |
-- |
58 |
KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAII--Kanisha Bello 3, Leilani Galdones 12, Sierra Gacayan 4, Bryanna DeLima 0, Wikolia Enos 0, Cassidy Cabel 0, Jamie Mattos 20, Charven Rodrigues 0, Lisa Yang 3, Carissima Naki 0, Kamaile Allen 9.
KALANI--Chloe Martin 9, Megan Kamehiro 16, Chelsea Kimura 0, Violet Alama 8, Nicole Isemoto 2, Kacie Gushiken 11, Alisha Bonifacio 2, Chaude Bonifacio 0, Mana Camara 10.
3-point goals -- KS-Hawaii 3 (Galdones 2, Yang), Kalani 3 (Kamehiro 2, Martin).
Third place
St. Francis 51, La Pietra 42
Siutiti Takai posted 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Kanani Perry had 10 points and 10 boards to lead the Troubadours past the Panthers.
Courtney Gaddis paced La Pietra with 20 points.
La Pietra (13-3) |
9 |
11 |
13 |
9 |
-- |
42 |
St. Francis (17-3) |
13 |
12 |
16 |
10 |
-- |
51 |
LA PIETRA--Charity Caracol 0, Katie Nakamura 0, Sarah Peoples 4, Leah Kaina 2, Chelsea Kiyabu 0, Ashanti Shih 2, Christen Hirai 0, Courtney Gaddis 20, Tihon Nguyen 0, Jenny Kim 0, Jasmine Kimura 1, Megan Berardy 9, Megan Giles 4.
ST. FRANCIS--Kaui Berinobis 4, Visha Bungo 0, Nicole Perry 2, Kanani Perry 10, Danielle Tanaka 4, Emma Decalio-Spencer 0, Bryanna Batts 4, Rochelle Nakagawa 2, Kristen Enomoto 0, Melissa Allen 0, Jamie Iwashita 6, Siutiti Takai 19.
3-point goals -- La Pietra 1 (Gaddis).
Fifth place
Castle 59, Seabury Hall 56, 2 OT
Tihani Kekauoha led four Knights in double figures with 14 points as Castle outlasted the Spartans in double overtime.
Seabury Hall's Yacine Meyer finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Tiana Barbier also scored 17 points and grabbed 11 boards.
Castle (12-5) |
16 |
6 |
10 |
8 |
7 |
12 |
-- |
59 |
Seabury Hall (12-3) |
8 |
9 |
15 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
-- |
56 |
CASTLE--Kori Berinobis 0, Kellsie Sasaki 4, Candyce Ames 10, Nicole Kobashigawa 0, Sarah Phromisiri 3, Raquel Hoe-Pedro 0, Tihani Kekauoha 14, Tracie Kam 1, Marisa Ameperosa 2, Leighla Kalahiki 2, Faasaosao Lefotu 0, Shanyn Fafard-Kaaihue 12, Kawekiu Kawainui 11.
SEABURY HALL--Michelle Mallen 2, Allicia Imada 0, Emma Burns 9, Yacine Meyer 17, Kim Goodfellow 0, Korena Burgio 11, Tiana Barbier 17, Lesley Smith 0, Talia Anama 0, Chelsea Kikuchi 0, Ally Pennebaker 0.
3-point goals -- Castle 2 (Kawainui 2), Seabury Hall 3 (Barbier 3).
Consolation
Kapaa 53, Hawaii Baptist 32
Poerava Gantt scored 13 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had four steals to lead the Warriors to the consolation title. Jodi Kamemoto led the Eagles with 13 points.
Hawaii Baptist (11-7) |
7 |
4 |
10 |
11 |
-- |
32 |
Kapaa (9-3) |
11 |
11 |
8 |
23 |
-- |
53 |
HAWAII BAPTIST--Jodi Kamemoto 13, Candace Yonashiro 2, Adrienne Kishimoto 2, Narissa Fujii 0, Ashley Salado 0, Carissa Onuma 4, Stacie Sueda 0, Janine Diehl 7, Tiffany Chang 0, Leah Shizura 4.
KAPAA--Diane Toy 0, Michelle Toy 6, April Johnson 5, Kennilyn Nakamura 9, Poerava Gantt 13, Rachel Ganir 1, Hanalei Gomes 3, Alex Gausepohl 2, Danielle Creamer 0, Kieren Pond 2, Brittney Carvalho 10, Roselynn Ebinger 2, Mailika Napoleon 0.
3-point goals -- HBA 1 (Diehl), Kapaa 5 (Nakamura 2, M. Toy, Johnson, Gomes).