HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Iolani upends Punahou
Maybe it was the "must-win" scenario.
ILH
Through Jan. 11
TEAM |
W |
L
|
Punahou |
6 |
1
|
Iolani |
5 |
1
|
Kamehameha |
3 |
3
|
Mid-Pacific |
1 |
5
|
Sacred Hearts |
0 |
5 |
|
Jamie Smith likes to think it was simply teamwork. The Iolani senior amassed 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks as second-ranked Iolani rallied past No. 1 Punahou 48-35 last night at the Raiders gym.
The victory lifted Iolani to 5-1 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play, virtually tied with Punahou (6-1). Iolani's only league defeat came 10 days ago at Punahou. The difference this time was a more unified performance.
"The first time (against Punahou) we definitely didn't play as a team," said Smith, who had 27 points and 15 boards in that contest. "We set up our offense better this time, and when we do that, we play better defense. We played as a team."
Punahou coach Mike Taylor was unhappy about his team's performance, but credited the Raiders. "Iolani is a disciplined team and they moved the basketball. Jamie Smith is Jamie Smith," he said.
Iolani trailed 10-4 after one quarter, but came back to seize a 21-18 lead at the break thanks to Smith. The 6-foot post player had 14 points and eight boards by the break, battling hard against Punahou's Shawna-Lei Kuehu. Both players tailed off in the third quarter, and it was Iolani's skilled battalion of scorers who came through.
After Kuehu hit a free throw to give Punahou a 23-21 lead, Iolani responded with a 17-4 run to close out the third quarter. The bonus for Iolani was that Smith only needed to score two baskets during that crucial stretch.
Reserve guard Lahela Usui's behind-the-back drive and three-point play, plus a nice feed to Tami Konishi for a 3-pointer, helped the Raiders take command with a 38-25 lead.
Punahou got no closer than 10 the rest of the way. Kuehu led the Buffanblu with 21 points on 9-for-18 shooting, along with nine caroms and three blocks.
The Buffanblu shot 6-for-19 in the second half (32 percent). Besides Kuehu, no other Buffanblu had more than four points.
"We played scared," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "We started out with confidence, but once adversity hit, we got gun shy. People with open shots passed them up. We started to stare at one person (Kuehu) again."
Dayna Jandoc, one of Iolani's slashers, added eight points for the feisty Raiders. Punahou, the taller team, won the rebounding battle by just a bit, 26-24.
"Our team came out hard, and I think they were a little intimidated by that. Last time, we kind of backed down. We came out hard and they weren't ready for it," Jandoc said.
Punahou will host the rubber match in a regular-season finale on Jan. 26, but has to face Kamehameha on Tuesday. Taylor hopes his team's defensive effort improves.
"Defense is about communication, pride, passion. We needed to do it and that comes from within," he said.
Smith's leadership has been impeccable, Iolani coach Glenn Takara noted. "We talked about how we can't be a one-man team. If we're going to be a good team, we have to play as a team," he said. "Jamie took good shots, gave up the ball when she was covered, rebounded. The effort is always there with her and the rest of the team knows that."
Punahou shot 14-for-44 (32 percent) against Iolani's man and zone defenses. Iolani shot just 34 percent (16-for-47), but was 13-for-15 from the line (87 percent). Smith was 7-for-8 from the stripe.
At Iolani H.S. gym
Punahou (6-1) |
10 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
-- |
35
|
Iolani (5-1) |
4 |
17 |
17 |
10 |
-- |
48 |
PUNAHOU -- Rebecca Lau 0, Julianne Nomura 0, Dara Tompkison 3, Anna Merrifield 0, Shawna-Lei Kuehu 21, Ashley Satterwhite 0, Shaena-Lyn Kuehu 4, Janet Li 0, Jenny Ching 3, Tressa Torres 2, Tiera Jenson 2.
IOLANI -- Tami Konishi 6, Kylie Ahlo 4, Lahela Usui 4, Lori Yamashita 2, Kaitlyn Shikada 0, Chanel Hirata 2, Dayna Jandoc 8, Jamie Smith 20, Raechele Takara 0, Hailey Maeda 2.
3-point goals -- Punahou 1 (Shawna-Lei Kuehu), Iolani 3 (Konishi 2, Smith).
Kamehameha 47, Mid-Pacific 35
Mid-Pacific struggled to overcome a scoreless second quarter, falling to Kamehameha.
At Mid-Pacific H.S. gym
Kamehameha (3-3) |
11 |
12 |
6 |
18 |
-- |
47
|
Mid-Pacific (1-5) |
9 |
0 |
11 |
15 |
-- |
35 |
KAMEHAMEHA -- Alexis Furtado 11, Zayne Apiki 0, Shaleese Javillo 10, Lindsey Wong 11, Tiana Abbley 6, Rhani Kaneaiakala 9, Mara Mukai 0, Kylie Roy 0, Casey Lum 0.
MID-PACIFIC -- Paige Young 0, Ashley Yamachika 7, Kristin Yama 0, Shanon Nishimura 2, Kelli Shibata 0, Alyssa Kau 2, Jordan Kealoha 8, Keaton McFadden 8, Jenna Savusa 8.
3-point goals -- Kamehameha 4 (Furtado 2, Wong 2, Abbley), Mid-Pacific 1 (Kealoha).
Junior varsity-- Kamehameha , Mid-Pacific
OIA WHITE
Anuenue 31, Thompson 15
Nalani Kamano scored 10 points to lead Na Koa past the Sharks.
At Anuenue H.S. gym
Thompson (0-7) |
4 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
-- |
15
|
Anuenue (1-5) |
8 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
-- |
31 |
Thompson -- Thatyana Vasquez 7, Justell Arthur 2, Taryn Pacewicz 4, Raquel Vasquez 2, Jessica Pruss 0.
Anuenue -- Kenui Wahilani 8, Nalani Kamano 10, Pua'alekai Kimball-Aikau 8, Ululani McShane 2, Kapela Kahili 1, Hoonani Wahilani 2.
3-point goals -- Thompson 1 (Vasquez), Anuenue 2 (Wahilani, Kamano).