HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Melanie Feldman of Punahou drove to the hoop against Kierra Barba of Waimea last night.
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Beat goes on as Buffs deal with twins’ injuries
The leading ladies are different, but the result is much the same for two-time defending state champion Punahou.
Dara Tompkison scored 10 of her game-high 14 points in the first half and Chelsea Deptula added eight points as Punahou roared to a 57-36 win over Waimea last night in the Black and Gold Challenge at McKinley Student Council Gym.
Deptula was one of Punahou's swarming defenders in the fullcourt press, forcing the visitors from Kauai into myriad turnovers. Point guard Ciana Aiwohi had an effective game at the point for Punahou, which also got 10 points from reserve guard Devon Yamauchi.
Deptula hit a pair of foul shots before Tompkison drained a 3-pointer and turned a steal into a layup for a 20-9 lead early in the first quarter. Punahou extended the lead to 19 late in the second quarter and was never threatened.
Cheri Kua, a junior forward, led Waimea with nine points. The Division II Menehunes are getting their fill of elite competition. Today, they'll play Iolani. Coach Elton Montemayor keeps his perspective.
"With this team we only have two seniors, so we're pretty much a JV team," he said. Waimea is playing without point guard Josey Jacinto, who has a fractured finger.
"We do miss her a lot, but we competed well against a two-time defending state champion," Montemayor added.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Punahou's Chelsea Deptula fought for a rebound against Waimea's Moani Durant.
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The Buffanblu are playing the season without juniors Shawna-Lei and Shaena-Lyn Kuehu. Shawna-Lei Kuehu injured her ACL in an offseason league, while Shaena-Lyn suffered her injury while playing volleyball for Punahou.
Coach Mike Taylor isn't dwelling on the past, however.
"We're just trying to learn who we are," he said as the team left the gym immediately after the game. "We're going to have a meeting to talk about our focus."
Taylor wasn't upset, but he wasn't happy, either.
"We're a young team that needs leadership. We've gotta play with a purpose," he said. "Hat's off to Waimea. They played hard and went after the loose balls. If we don't have a sense of purpose, a patient team can pick us apart."
The little things, Taylor noted, are what the Buffanblu aren't doing.
"We don't make that little extra attempt to get in position, to fake before making a pass, things like that," he said. "It's going to take time."
Punahou improved to 8-1 in nonconference play. The only loss came against Kalani, 39-38, during last week's Punahou Wahine Spring Classic.