HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kalaheo's Shanadee Canon went up for a shot in the Mustangs' victory over Mililani last night. Canon popped in 22 points to lead all scorers in the OIA Red Division playoff game.
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Canon her old self in Kalaheo win
A bounce-back effort from Shanadee Canon was just what the Kalaheo Mustangs needed yesterday to advance past the first round in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red playoffs against scrappy Mililani.
Bounce back she did.
Canon, the OIA East's leading scorer, went for 22 points and nine rebounds as the Mustangs rallied from a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter to knock the Trojans from the postseason, 40-35, at Pearl City.
During the final game of the regular season, Canon struggled to a season-low seven points in a loss to Kalani. She averaged 15.1 during the season.
"It's important for me to play well because I'm a senior and trying to be a role model for my younger teammates," said Canon, a four-year starter and one of two seniors on the team. "I'm hoping they can learn from my experience over the past four years."
When necessary, Canon accounts for more than half of her team's points, as she did last night. She added three steals and a block.
"We came out flat and extremely nervous," said first-year Kalaheo coach Ryan Hogue of his team's total effort. "A lot of our girls, it was their first time in a role where they had to do something in the playoffs. It's important for (them) to get involved. Everyone knows (Canon's) a great scorer, but in no game is she going to carry the entire load for us."
Canon did her fair share and then some against the Trojans, looking for slashing opportunities with either hand that usually resulted in a layup or drawn foul.
The senior went to a series of nifty shots off the glass to score her team's first eight points and put Kalaheo (6-7) up 8-2 early. When Mililani (3-10) hung around late, coach Ryan Hogue put the ball in her hands. She knocked down critical free throws when Mililani went to fouling, converting nine of 12 (75 percent) in the fourth quarter to give Kalaheo some breathing room in the game's final moments.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Anu Ah Yun, left, of Kalaheo grabbed a rebound in front of Haunani Richardson of Mililani yesterday in an OIA playoff game.
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Chelsea Basilio, who scored a team-high nine points for Mililani, nailed a 3-pointer to tie things up at 33 with 3 minutes, 10 seconds remaining. Joleen Realin added seven.
Nicole Cobb connected on an 8-foot banker to give Kalaheo the go-ahead basket with 3 minutes left, and Canon hit two free throws to extend the lead to four.
Meilin Akiu broke through for a layup in traffic to cut the deficit to a basket, but Kalaheo's defense forced the Trojans into a turnover with 36 seconds left. Two more Canon free throws and a Trojan miss on the front end of a 1-and-1 foul shot sealed the deal.
Mililani coach Scott DeSilva coached his team to focus on winning segments of the game at a time.
"I told them just to be patient," he said. "If we try to win 8 minutes of the game, then another 8 minutes, we have a chance."
Using that philosophy, the Trojans did an effective job of making the other Mustangs take shots in the second and third quarters, allowing Mililani to "win" those quarters. Mililani outscored Kalaheo 12-5 in the third to take a two-point lead entering the final period.
As for containing Canon, the coach felt his team's defense was strong enough to avoid going to a box-and-1 to stop her, and "just be aware of where she was at all times," to mixed results. She scored 17 points combined in the first and fourth quarters.
Kalaheo forward Caira Pires, who Hogue said "is our energy" was ejected for intentional fouls on consecutive defensive possessions. As it stands, she will be unavailable for Kalaheo's game against top West seed Radford today at Mililani. Hogue said he plans to appeal the suspension.
At Pearl City H.S. gym
Mililani (3-10) |
5 |
10 |
12 |
8 |
-- |
35
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Kalaheo (6-7) |
11 |
9 |
5 |
15 |
-- |
40 |
MILILANI--Jordan Sakai 0, Chelsea Basilio 9, Kimi Ebina 3, Glenelle Nitta 0, Breana Locquiau 0, Jamielyn Kaleiwahea 3, Haunani Richardson 2, Chantel Tanuvasa 5, Joleen Realin 7, Meilin Aku 6.
KALAHEO--Nicole Cobb 6, Delicia Wilson 6, Sola Williams 0, Caira Pires 1, Anu AhYun 3, Shanadee Canon 22, Kourtni Thomas 2, Kaua Cale 0, Aui Williams 0.
3-point goals--Mililani 4 (Basilio, Ebina, Kaleiwahea, Tanuvasa), Kalaheo 2 (Wilson 2).
Moanalua 43, Pearl City 31
Jamie Ronolo wasn't content with just a buzzer-beater to make the playoffs.
Building off her game-winning shot over Kaimuki to qualify for the playoffs on the last day of the regular season, Ronolo scored 17 points and Na Menehune pulled off an upset of Pearl City in the Chargers' gym last night.
"Yeah, I think we gained some momentum playing against Kaimuki," said Moanalua coach Rick Gonsalves of the game that prevented a coin flip from deciding his team's postseason fate. "We like to play up-tempo, and (Ronolo's) a good up-tempo player. But tonight, I think they played as a team, especially defensively."
At Pearl City H.S. gym
Moanalua (4-9) |
13 |
10 |
9 |
11 |
-- |
43
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Pearl City (8-5) |
9 |
12 |
2 |
8 |
-- |
31 |
MOANALUA--Brianna Lagat-Ramos 8, AJ Verida 0, Hoku Dela Cruz 3, Michelle Hardy 8, Gelencia Brown 0, Janelle Uncangco 0, Jamie Ronolo 17, Indah Widyakusuma 3, Britni Ronolo 2, Tahirah Gibson 2.
PEARL CITY--Ariel Rivera 0, Tiffany Gadingan 0, Desiree Luis 1, Kasie Kunishima 2, Charee Heard 0, Kalei Adams 6, Ariel Komomua 1, Kaiona Auyong 10, Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia 5, Emme Cabrajos 0, Patricia Langi 4, Tearaina Meyer 2.
3-point goals--Moanalua 1 (Lagat-Ramos), Pearl City 2 (Auyong, Pahukoa-Malia).
Farrington 48, Nanakuli 28
C'ani Kealoha and Elane Leaupepe each scored 11 points to lead the Governors past the Golden Hawks in a first-round game.
Farrington will play Aiea in a quarterfinal game today at Roosevelt at 5.
At Farrington H.S. gym
Nanakuli (3-10) |
9 |
4 |
9 |
6 |
-- |
28
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Farrington (9-4) |
6 |
14 |
12 |
16 |
-- |
48 |
NANAKULI--Kamil Keawe 2, Chazmyne Morgan 5, Sasha Montez 10, Sheila Argayoso 0, Ambree Hauhio 2, Britney Wolf 0, Lahela Sylva-Kanagusuku 5, Delisha Kaimi 0, Violet Mao 4.
FARRINGTON--Cani Kealoha 11, Jorell Telefoni-Sablan 4, Macilee Moi 6, Deja Bryce 7, Valerie Lesu 7, Angie Gasio 0, Honour Stone 0, Sandy Valdez 2, Elane Leaupepe 11, Polohiva Folaumahina 0.
3-point goals -- Nanakuli 2 (Morgan, Sylva-Kanagusuku), Farrington 2 (Kealoha, Leaupepe).
Kahuku 59, Kapolei 48
The Red Raiders advance to a quarterfinal matchup with the top-seeded Rough Riders tonight at 6:30 at Roosevelt.
Individual statistics not reported.