HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
No. 7 Riders shoot down No. 2 Kalani
Point guard Diana Zane drives and dishes and Roosevelt delivers an upset in the OIA Red East
The Roosevelt Rough Riders may want to check their phone bill after a thrilling 48-46 win over Kalani in a battle of Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East Division unbeatens.
Roosevelt (4-0) had a difficult time creating shots against the taller Falcons in the post in the first half, accounting for just five field goals.
But in the second half, coach Bobby Keanini encouraged his team to drive and kick to open shooters, and the Riders dialed it up from long range again and again thanks to the penetration of point guard Diana Zane.
Five times Zane found lanes into the paint, and five times she kicked the ball out when the Falcons converged on her. Teammates Tiyana Nakasone and Tiana Sugui rewarded her by knocking down open 3-pointers (three and two, respectively) and were the catalyst for Roosevelt's first lead of the game midway through the third quarter.
Keanini gave all the credit -- or most of it, anyway -- to Zane, calling her "one of the best point guards in the state."
"For all of us, we shoot the ball well," Keanini said. "When Diana Zane is in the pocket, in the paint, she finds them. They're standing there shooting the ball, it's no effort on their part. We always talk about, 'A good pass makes a good shot.' Right in the hands."
After building a 36-32 lead with Nakasone's final 3-pointer with 5 minutes, 13 seconds left, the Rough Riders put the ball in the capable hands of guard Iwalani Rodrigues. The 5-foot-9 junior sprinted for full-court passes to beat the Falcons' press, and hit seven of nine free throws in the final minute. She scored a game-high 16 points while allowing Roosevelt to maintain a two-possession lead when Kalani went to fouling.
Falcons guard Megan Kamehiro swished a halfcourt desperation shot at the buzzer for the final margin.
Nakasone nailed three from distance in the half with a unique, twisting release.
Kalani coach Darold Imanaka threw up his hands at the sudden accuracy of Nakasone and Sugui that changed the complexion of the game.
"They kick it down low," said Imanaka, "and when we cover down low they kick it back out. In retrospect, we should have defended that better."
In particular, Nakasone, who finished with 11 points, caught the Falcons unaware.
"She was 4 feet beyond the (3-point line). She was way back. Credit her -- she made the shots," Imanaka added.
He wasn't the only one caught off guard; Rodrigues, Roosevelt's leading scorer this season, didn't see it coming, either.
"I was really surprised, but she played a really good game," Rodrigues said. "When she hit those 3s, it made us more excited so we wanted to play, and then she brought energy to our team.
The Falcons (13-3, 3-1 OIA Red East) did their best to respond by getting reserve guard Chloe Martin open for back-to-back treys in the middle of the third quarter, and pulled ahead 26-22.
Nakasone hit her second 3-pointer to cut the lead to three. Kalani took a 30-26 lead going into the fourth.
"Chloe Martin, being open out there by herself, was our mistake," Keanini said. "We made some adjustments where the kids really picked it up well (defensively)."
Roosevelt took the lead for good on Zane's up-and-under bank shot with 5:45 left.
Courtney Gaddis led Kalani with 14 points while being primarily defended by Nakasone.
"When I was playing defense, it was pumping me up to stop (Gaddis)," Nakasone said. "I'm going to try to contribute every game, but we'll see what happens."
After Kalani jumped out to a 15-7 lead in the first quarter, neither team led by more than five points the rest of the way.
At Roosevelt H.S. gym
Kalani (3-1) |
12 |
7 |
11 |
16 |
-- |
46
|
Roosevelt (4-0) |
5 |
11 |
10 |
22 |
-- |
48 |
KALANI--Allison Nuessi 0, Kim Cabuyadao 8, Megan Kamehiro 7, Kacie Gushiken 0, Courtney Gaddis 14, Chloe Martin 8, Rhianna Farm 7, Chelsea Kimura 0, Violet Alama 2, Alicia Bonifacio 0, Chaude Bonifacio 0.
ROOSEVELT--Diana Zane 8, Tiana Sugui 6, Iwalani Rodrigues 16, Shandree Armstead 4, Tasia Kamakawiwoole 3, Tiyana Nakasone 11, Jayna Tasaka 0.
3-point goals--Kalani 5 (Cabuyadao 2, Martin 2, Kamehiro). Roosevelt 5 (Nakasone 3, Sugui 2).
Junior varsity--Roosevelt 39, Kalani 35.
Kalaheo 43, Moanalua 37
Shanadee Canon scored 15 points to lead the Mustangs past Na Menehune.
Britni Ronolo scored a game-high 18 points to pace Moanalua.
At Kalaheo H.S. gym
Moanalua (0-4) |
13 |
3 |
10 |
11 |
-- |
37
|
Kalaheo (2-2) |
13 |
7 |
7 |
16 |
-- |
43 |
MOANALUA--Brianna Lagat-Ramos 9, A.J. Verdida 0, Hoku Dela Cruz 1, Michelle Hardy 0, Jalencia Brown 0, Janelle Uncangco 0, Jamie Ronolo 6, Indah Widyakusuma 0, Britni Ronolo 18, Dawn Dela-Cruz 3, Tahirah Gibson 0.
KALAHEO--Nicole Cobb 2, Delicia Wilson 6, Caira Pires 3, Nova Bird 4, Anu Ahyun 7, Shanadee Canon 15, Kourtni Thomas 6, Kiana Wasson 0, Hoku Malama-Custer 0.
3-point goals -- Moanalua 2 (Lagat-Ramos, Ronolo), Kalaheo 1 (Canon).
Junior varsity-- Kalaheo 32, Moanalua 24
OIA Red West
Pearl City 40, Aiea 39
Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia scored a game-high 17 points as the Chargers defeated Na Alii.
Pahukoa-Malia calmly sank a game-winning free throw with 3 seconds left to give the Chargers a one-point victory over Aiea.
Natasha Helsham scored 12 points to lead Aiea.
At Pearl City H.S. gym
Aiea (3-2) |
11 |
10 |
8 |
10 |
-- |
39
|
Pearl City (4-1) |
7 |
12 |
13 |
8 |
-- |
40 |
AIEA--Tasha Johnson 0, Jennifer Yuen 4, Natasha Helsham 12, Natasha Fong 0, Annie Orial 0, Michelle Shiroma 5, Sara Watanabe 0, Nohelani Fonoti 0, Chelsea Albrecht 4, Tierra Tauanuu 0, Emily Tausaga 2, Carol Sio 2, Capri Holiona 10.
PEARL CITY--Ariel Rivera 0, Tiffany Gadingan 1, Desiree Luis 4, Kasie Kunishima 0, Charee Heard 0, Kalei Adams 3, Ariel Komomua 6, Kaiona Auyong 7, Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia 17, Patricia Langi 2, Tearaina Meyer 0.
3-point goals -- Aiea 1 (Helsham).
Junior varsity-- Aiea 30, Pearl City 23
OIA White
Castle 43, Waialua 32
Niki Kobashigawa scored 16 points to lead the Knights over the Bulldogs. Kori Berinobis added 10 points, including two 3-pointers.
Kimberly Meyerowitz scored 21 points for Waialua in a losing effort.
At Waialua H.S. gym
Castle (2-3) |
14 |
14 |
9 |
6 |
-- |
43
|
Waialua (2-2) |
5 |
3 |
10 |
14 |
-- |
32 |
CASTLE--Kori Berinobis 10, Candy Ames 0, Niki Kobashigawa 16, Kelsea Berinobis 5, Sarah Phromisiri 2, Brandee Sasaki 0, Chevy Au-Stein 6, Leesha Domingo 0, Ette Ameperosa 4, Nicole Aberilla 0.
WAIALUA--Klleirr Tuyay 2, Shiree Dela Cruz 0, Misty Maxwell 0, Geena Pinacate 0, Salvie Alfanla 0, Kimberly Meyerowitz 21, Chelsey Ramirez 5, Brittney Basillo 2, Ashley Carillo 2, Noe Dela Pena-Ho'opai 0.
3-point goals -- Castle 3 (Kori Berinobis 2, Kelsea Berinobis ), Waialua 1 (Ramirez).
Junior varsity-- Castle 52, Waialua 31
Waianae 62, Anuenue 8
Dynasty Ayala led 10 Searider scorers with 12 points in the Seariders' rout of the Rainbows.
Leikula Gottlieb led Anuenue with three points.
At Waianae H.S. gym
Anuenue (0-5) |
1 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
-- |
8
|
Waianae (3-2) |
17 |
18 |
17 |
10 |
-- |
62 |
ANUENUE-- Ka'imi Asing 1, Kapela Kahili 0, Kenui Wahilani 2, Leikula Gottlieb 3, Nalani Kamano 2, Pua'alekai Kimball-Aikau 0, Pikake Conradt-Nunuha 0, Naalehu Tolentino 0, Kamaile Grilho 0.
WAIANAE-- Danielle Lovell 11, Brittni Dinong 4, Chaelyn Manuel 7, Kahealani Kelii 6, Emma Atiga 8, Dynasty Ayala 12, Genevieve Cuesta 1, Ngaire Yuen 2, Afioga Tago 5, Melody Moe 6.
3-point goals -- Anuenue 1 (Gottlieb), Waianae 2 (Manuel, Tago).