HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kalani's Rhianna Farm scored only one point but contributed five rebounds and three blocked shots against Kahuku last night.
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Falcons turn up defense
In their time of need, the Kalani Falcons didn't turn to a super-heroine to save the day.
Instead, the Falcons tightened the screws on defense and hit free throws in the clutch. Second-ranked Kalani, trailing midway through the third quarter, went on a 19-6 run to take command and gain a hard-earned 68-51 win over Kahuku last night in a key Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East showdown.
A pensive crowd of about 450 at Earl C. Holmer Gym saw Kalani improve to 4-1 in league play (14-3 overall). Unranked Kahuku came into the game with a chance to take control in the East, but fell to 3-2 in conference play (7-5 overall).
Megan Kamehiro scored 23 points and Courtney Gaddis added 18 to pace Kalani, which bounced back strong after a close loss at Roosevelt earlier in the week.
Keisha Moeai and Vaimalama Tito scored 10 points each to lead Kahuku. Tito also had a team-high seven rebounds.
Free throws were a huge difference-maker. Kalani shot 28-for-36 from the line (78 percent).
Kahuku shot 13-for-19 from the line. Kamehiro shot 9-for-12 from the line, while Gaddis was 8-for-10 and Kacie Gushiken was 5-for-6, all in the fourth quarter.
"Our morning shootaround helped," Kamehiro said. "Coach (Darold Imanaka) said we had to make 60 free throws."
Kahuku eschewed its usual fullcourt pressure in favor of a halfcourt man-to-man.
"I wanted to see what would happen if we sat back," Kahuku coach Peni Latu said.
The tactical change worked for more than a half. Gaddis, who had four blocked shots in the first quarter, racked up personal fouls quickly. She committed her fourth foul with 4:11 left in the third quarter and went back to the bench. Kahuku led 41-36 and appeared to be in control.
Instead, Kamehiro hit a foul shot, reserve guard Chloe Martin hit a high-arching trey, and Gushiken swished an open 16-footer from the right wing to give Kalani a 42-41 lead.
Kahuku answered with a bucket by Alayna Galeai and free throws from Taeja Afalava, but Violet Alama swished two foul shots to give Kalani the lead for good at 46-45 shortly before the end of the third quarter.
Gaddis returned to the game at the start of the fourth quarter, and Kalani promptly went into a 2-3 zone. The 5-foot-11 senior scored six points in a row as the Falcons extended the lead to 55-47.
"It was a good call by (assistant coach Glen Jandoc) to go zone and hide Courtney," Imanaka said.
Kahuku got within 56-51 on a jump shot by Afalava, but Kalani closed out the game with a 12-0 run.
"Our team goes deep," Imanaka said. "That's why we play everyone in preseason."
Kahuku outrebounded Kalani 43-33, but shot 17-for-48 from the field (35 percent) and committed 25 turnovers against the Falcons' fullcourt pressure.
Kim Cabuyadao had six of Kalani's 14 steals.
"We'll see them again," Latu said of the upcoming rematch in Kahuku. "We're going around the halfway bend. Kalani's an awesome team. They've proven themselves. I know I'll do different things next time."
At Kalani H.S. gym
Kahuku (3-2) |
14 |
16 |
15 |
6 |
-- |
51
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Kalani (4-1) |
20 |
10 |
18 |
20 |
-- |
68 |
KAHUKU--Taeja Afalalva 7, Brittney Fesolai 5, Kelcy Latu 0, Krystle Manguba-Glover 5, LeNora Nauahi 4, Vaimalama Tito 10, Nicholle Nautu 4, Keisha Moeai 10, Alayna Galeai 6, Kenra Moe 0.
KALANI--Chloe Martin 5, Kayla Kimura 0, Brandi Yamaguchi 0, Kim Balsai 3, Violet Alama 4, Allison Neussl 2, Kim Cabuyadao 3, Megan Kamehiro 23, Tia Kobayashi 0, Kacie Gushiken 7, Rhianna Farm 1, Alisha Bonifacio 2, Courtney Gaddis 18, Chaude Bonifacio 0.
3-point goals--Kahuku 2 (Latu, Tito), Kalani 4 (Kamehiro 2, Martin, Balsai).
Junior varsity--Kahuku 64, Kalani 58.
OIA RED EAST
No. 7 Roosevelt 51, Moanalua 33
Iwalani Rodrigues and Tiana Sugui scored 13 and 10 points, respectively, and the Rough Riders shot 52.6 percent from the field in a win against Na Menehune.
Britni Ronolo and Janelle Uncangco scored eight points apiece to lead Moanalua.
At Moanalua H.S. gym
Roosevelt (5-0) |
14 |
14 |
17 |
6 |
-- |
51
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Moanalua (0-5) |
9 |
6 |
5 |
13 |
-- |
33 |
ROOSEVELT--Dianna Zane 8, Tiana Sugui 10, Iwalani Rodrigues 13, Kathleen Nakata 0, Jayna Tasaka 0, Shandree Armstead 0, Tiyana Nakasone 7, Brittni Au 0, Tasia Kamakawiwoole 11, Kaui Kuehu 2.
MOANALUA--Brianna Lagat-Ramos 0, A.J. Verdida 0, Hoku Dela Cruz 7, Michelle Hardy 5, Jalencia Brown 0, Janelle Uncangco 8, Jamie Ronolo 2, Indah Widyakusuma 0, Britni Ronolo 8, Dawn Dela Cruz 0, Tahirah Gibson 3.
3-point goals -- Roosevelt 2 (Nakasone 2), Moanalua 1 (Uncangco).
Junior varsity--Roosevelt def. Moanalua, score unavailable.
OIA RED WEST
Aiea 57, Leilehua 42
Capri Holiona scored 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Na Alii over the Mules.
The rest of the Aiea roster combined to score 28, but the team used a 17-2 advantage in the second quarter to put a stranglehold on the game.
Brittaney Stafford led Leilehua with 24 points.
At Aiea H.S. gym
Leilehua (1-4) |
8 |
2 |
7 |
25 |
-- |
42
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Aiea (4-2) |
8 |
17 |
16 |
16 |
-- |
57 |
LEILEHUA--Ashley Gonzales 6, Josette Bocobo 0, Alaina Johnson 4, Sabrina McBride 2, Cassey Borromeo 4, Ashley Momiyama 0, Brittaney Stafford 24, Claudia Veikune 2, Tete Moore 0, Mariah McCloud 0, Shanee Henderson 0, Kyla Gorton 0.
AIEA--Tasha Johnson 6, Jennifer Yuen 2, Ashley Primacio 0, Natasha Helsham 10, Natasha Fong 0, Annie Orial 0, Michelle Shiroma 3, Sara Watanabe 0, Nohelani Fonoti 2, Chelsea Albrecht 0, Tierra Tauanu'u 2, Emily Tausaga 0, Carol Sio 3, Capri Holiona 29.
3-point goals -- Leilehua 1 (Stafford), Aiea 2 (Helsham 2).
Junior varsity-- Leilehua 38, Aiea 19
OIA WHITE
Castle 56, Anuenue 5
Brandee Sasaki scored 13 points and Nicole Aberilla added 12 in the Knights' rout of the Rainbows.
Nalani Kamano led Anuenue with three points.
At Castle H.S. gym
Castle (3-3) |
14 |
9 |
19 |
14 |
-- |
56
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Anuenue (0-6) |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
-- |
5 |
CASTLE--Kori Berinobis 4, Candy Ames 6, Kelsea Berinobis 8, Sarah Phromisiri 6, Brandee Sasaki 13, Chevy Au-Stein 7, Leesha Domingo 0, Ette Ameperosa 0, Nicole Aberilla 12.
ANUENUE-- Ka'imi Asing 0, Kapela Kahili 2, Kenui Wahilani 0, Leikula Gottlieb 0, Nalani Kamano 3, Pua'alekai Kimball-Aikau , Pikake Conradt-Nunuha 0, Punawai Crawford-Kapanui 0, Hoonani Wahilani 0, Naalehu Tolentino 0, Kamaile Grilho 0.
3-point goals -- Castle 3 (Sasaki 3), Anuenue 0.
Waialua 42, McKinley 36
Chelsey Ramirez scored a game-high 18 points as the Bulldogs used a 15-4 fourth quarter spurt to stun the Tigers.
Chelsie Sato poured in 17 points to pace McKinley.
At Waialua H.S. gym
McKinley (4-1) |
10 |
15 |
7 |
4 |
-- |
36
|
Waialua (3-2) |
9 |
12 |
6 |
15 |
-- |
42 |
MCKINLEY--Kaitlyn Ikehara 9, Chelsie Sato 17, Jaelynn Lopez 0, Maribel Hebron 0, Kylie Sato 5, Sasha Hong 0, Allyson Villanueva 5.
WAIALUA--Klleirr Tuyay 0, Shiree Dela Cruz 0, Misty Maxwell 7, Geena Pinacate 0, Salvie Alfanla 2, Kimberly Meyerowitz 6, Chelsey Ramirez 18, Brittney Basillo 6, Ashley Carillo 3.
3-point goals -- McKinley 3 (Ikehara 3), Waialua 4 (Ramirez 3, Maxwell).
Junior varsity-- McKinley 32, Waialua 22