HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Na Alii cruise past Chargers on their way to playoffs
In the game's most crucial moment, Mike Yen said something important during a time out.
The Aiea coach can't remember what that was, but his wisdom paid dividends. After watching Pearl City rally to within three points with 3:42 left, Aiea closed out the game with a 16-8 run to secure a tumultuous 50-39 win last night.
The victory over their rivals in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West pushed Na Alii to 7-3, nudging them closer to a potential first-round bye in the playoffs.
Jazmine Pahukoa-Malia's 3-pointer -- her first field goal -- with 3:42 left in the game brought Pearl City within 34-31. Yen called time out to give his team a clear reminder, sort of.
"I don't remember what I said. I think I told them to play aggressive, to not play scared," said Yen, shrugging his shoulders.
"Coach said it was our fouls that let them back in the game," said center Capri Holiona, who was a force for Aiea with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Following the time out, Natasha Helsham hit a pull-up bank shot, and Holiona hustled for a follow shot to spark Aiea's game-closing run.
Helsham finished with 14 points, but her defensive work against Pahukoa-Malia was stellar.
Pahukoa-Malia finished with just nine points on 2-for-15 shooting, but her defense on Helsham was effective, as well. Helsham shot just 4-for-15 from the field as both teams were in no-holds barred mode.
Pearl City dropped to 7-4 in league play despite 12 points by Kaiona Auyong. The Chargers were limited to 8-for-44 shooting (18 percent) against Aiea's man-to-man and 2-3 zone defenses.
"We had to stop 14 and 15," Pearl City coach Mike Morton said of Helsham and Holiona. "But we didn't come out ready. Their other big girls stepped up."
Nohe Fonoti (seven points, six boards), Carol Sio (eight rebounds) and Emily Tausaga (five boards) helped Aiea command the key.
A boisterous senior-night crowd of about 500 at Aiea saw the home team bolt to a 15-4 run midway through the first half. Aiea's depth in the low post gave the Chargers some trouble as Na Alii took a 20-8 lead.
Aiea, which outrebounded Pearl City 42-33, was in foul trouble for most of the second quarter. The Chargers scored seven points from the free-throw line in the second and pulled within 24-17 at intermission.
At McKinley H.S. gym
Pearl City (7-4) |
6 |
11 |
8 |
14 |
-- |
39
|
Aiea (8-3) |
13 |
11 |
7 |
19 |
-- |
50 |
PEARL CITY--Ariel Rivera 0, Tiffany Gadingan 0, Desiree Luis 7, Kasie Kunishima 0, Kalei Adams 3, Ariel Komomua 4, Kaiona Auyong 12, Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia 9, Patricia Langi 4, Tearaina Meyer 0.
AIEA--Tasha Johnson 1, Jennifer Yuen 5, Ashley Primacio 0, Natasha Helsham 14, Natasha Fong 0, Michelle Shiroma 4, Sara Watanabe 0, Nohelani Fonoti 7, Tierra Tauanuu 0, Emily Tausaga 3, Carol Sio 4, Capri Holiona 12.
3-point goals -- Pearl City 2 (Auyong, Pahukoa-Malia), Aiea 1 (Yuen).
Junior varsity-- Aiea 32, Pearl City 30
No. 9 Radford 34, Kapolei 32
Chelsea Villanueva scored a team-high eight as the Rams held off the upset-minded Hurricanes.
Tamara Satcher and Tahnee Foki each scored 11 for Kapolei.
At McKinley H.S. gym
Radford (9-1) |
9 |
8 |
11 |
6 |
-- |
34
|
Kapolei (3-7) |
1 |
9 |
11 |
11 |
-- |
32 |
RADFORD--Leslie Lazo 0, Itali Lindsey 0, Bui Baravilala 2, Celina Cruz 0, Disa Brown 7, Brittini Fuller 6, Kiara Dykes 4, Chelsea Villanueva 8, Marsh DuPont 0, Ta Nitra Byrd 7.
KAPOLEI-- Loleina Lapina 0, Danniel Tapat 2, Ashlee Dela Cruz 8, Tiffany Kasoga 0, Jasmine Gipson 0, Regina Simanu 0, Kesha Miller 0, Tamara Satcher 11, Jay Abbondanza 0, Cassidy Calio 0, Tahnee Foki 11, Hartley Marquez 0.
3-point goals -- Radford 1 (Brown ), Kapolei 2 (Dela Cruz).
OIA WHITE
Waialua 45, Waipahu 33
Ashley Carillo scored a game-high 16 points as the Bulldogs routed the Marauders by outscoring them 24-12 in the second half.
Margaret Siligo paced Waipahu with 10 points.
At Waipahu H.S. gym
Waialua (5-5) |
8 |
13 |
11 |
13 |
-- |
45
|
Waipahu (1-9) |
9 |
12 |
7 |
5 |
-- |
33 |
WAIALUA--Klleirr Tuyay 0, Shiree Dela Cruz 0, Misty Maxwell 5, Geena Pinacate 0, Salvie Alfanla 0, Kimberly Meyerowitz 0, Chelsey Ramirez 9, Brittney Basillo 7, Ashley Carillo 16, Noe Dela Pena-Ho'opai 4, Angela Whitaker 4.
WAIPAHU--Kristen Ballanay 0, Lilyan Donley 2, Mahealani Spencer 0, Margaret Siligo 10, Brendalyn Brub 2, Joyce Baptista 4, Demi Samson 7, Ashley Bullard 0, Mercedes Kaleikini 0, Ashley Garcia 8.
3-point goals -- Waialua 2 (Maxwell, Ramirez), Waipahu 1 (Garcia).
Junior varsity-- Waipahu 61, Waialua 39
ILH
No 4. Kamehameha 56, Maryknoll 34
Analee Viena Lota scored 12 points and Kylle Roy added 11 as the Warriors dominated the Spartans.
Nicole Fu scored a game-high 16 points for Maryknoll in the loss.
At Kamehameha H.S. gym
Maryknoll (0-9) |
10 |
5 |
10 |
9 |
-- |
34
|
Kamehameha (7-2) |
18 |
10 |
16 |
12 |
-- |
56 |
MARYKNOLL--Kristen Canencia 0, Nicole Lee 3, Nicole Fu 16, Amanda Macadangdang 5, Kiana Fuller 0, Tiana Marquez 0, Kimberly Henderson 2, Melissa Ching 5, Sam Chung 3, Soana Sifita 0.
KAMEHAMEHA--Alexis Furtado 2, Analee Viena Lota 12, Pomaikai Kalakau 2, Shaleese Javillo 4, Lindsey Wong 2, Tiana Abbley 9, Pualani Kalakau 0, Piikea Kalakau 2, Alexandres-Joan Akana 6, Kylle Roy 11, Casey Lum 6.
3-point goals -- Maryknoll 3 (Lee, Fu, Ching), Kamehameha 1 (Abbley).
Division II
La Pietra 46, St. Andrew's 40
Kamehameha 63, St. Francis 43
Leading scorers--LaP: Leah Kaina 13. StA: Kellee Tom 16; Minna Watanabe 10. Kam: Jamie-Marie Ferrigno, 15. Zayne Apiki 11, Brandi Kohatsu 12. StF: Bryanna Batts 12.
Junior varsity
Maryknoll 38, Hawaii Baptist 10