Backup stars in OT as Lady Tigers capture conference crown

Reserve Tatiana Dinson sparked McKinley in overtime as the Lady Tigers rallied past Kailua 44-41 last night to capture the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference title.

A boisterous crowd of 2,000 at McKinley Student Council Gym saw Kylie Sato tie the game in regulation with a three-point play. McKinley (15-1) went on to clinch a seeded berth at the Division II state championships, which begin Tuesday.

"It was poise from the start," first-year McKinley coach Abel Warner said of his team. "All four quarters."

Chelsea Taele nailed a 3-point shot to bring McKinley within 39-36. Sato then made the game-tying play -- a steal and drive to the hoop -- to tie the game at 39-all with 46 seconds to go.

"Time was winding down. Gotta make a three-point play. It was do or die," Sato said.

Kailua's Ashley Jacobs missed a 3-point try at the buzzer, and the home team took control in the extra period.

Dinson, who finished with a game-high 16 points, scored on a putback for a three-point play to start overtime. Sola Williams brought Kailua to 42-40 after hitting a free throw with 2:56 to go, but the Surfriders got no closer.

Kailua had the ball with 51 seconds left, but a bad pass and a hustle play by Allyson Villanueva, who forced a jump ball, gave the Tigers possession with 27 seconds to go.

Dinson then swished two free throws -- she made all seven of her foul shots -- for a 44-40 lead with 19 ticks left.

Kailua's Zsalei Kamaka sank a foul shot with 6.4 seconds to go, bringing Kailua within 44-41, but McKinley took 5 seconds off the clock on its ensuing inbounds pass. Jorina Faletoi missed her foul shots for McKinley with 1.3 seconds left, but Jacobs' desperation heave from 70 feet away missed the mark.

Dinson also had six rebounds and had a perfect shooting night -- 5-for-5 from the field. Her play was a big boost after Pearly Togiai fouled out.

"I thought we were in trouble, but we stepped up and played as a team," she said.

The two teams had split their games during the regular season, each time decided by a two-point margin.

"Coach said to be patient and don't worry about it," Sato said of Kailua's eight-point lead entering the final quarter. Kailua began stalling late in the third quarter and lost offensive momentum. The Surfriders shot 1-for-10 in the fourth quarter and overtime.

McKinley, which also lost Dinson to fouls late in overtime, was flawless from the line down the stretch. The Tigers were 10-for-10 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Kamaka led Kailua with 11 points. The Surfriders (13-3) shot 31 percent from the field (12-for-38). They have already clinched a state-tournament berth.

The Surfriders zoomed to a 17-9 lead only to see the Tigers rally. Late in the third quarter, Kailua opened a 29-21 lead after Kau Kohatsu hit two follow shots.