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POSTED: Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The Kalani Falcons shot themselves out of their game last night against Moanalua. Just as quickly, they shot themselves back in.

But Na Menehune overcame 40 turnovers and grounded the flying Falcons with enough heady play down the stretch and held on for a 62-61, nail-biting win on Kalani's court.

Senior guard Hoku Dela Cruz put in 19 points—including Moanalua's only 3-pointer—and senior Justine Aguas scored 13 of her 16 points in the first half. Michelle Hardy added 13 for Na Menehune (8-5, 2-2 Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East), who snapped a two-game losing streak.

The Falcons (4-4, 1-3) fell behind by 16 points in a six-point third quarter in which they shot 0-for-13 on 3-pointers in their up-and-down, entertaining shoot-as-soon-as-you're-open offense. A 10-3 run to finish the game wasn't quite enough.

Kalani's Corie Kuia hit a runner with about 8 seconds left to pull the Falcons within one. They eventually fouled Moanalua's A.J. Verdida, who missed both free throws. But she hustled for the offensive rebound and by the time Kalani got the ball back for a fullcourt heave, there was only 0.1 seconds left—not enough time for even a tip-in.

“;I knew we were going to give a little bit, so I guess it's a matter of bending, not breaking,”; said Moanalua coach Kristie Morikawa. “;It's a step in the right direction.”;

Kalani's collective no-conscience shooting mentality bestowed this year by coach George Weeks allowed it to come right back with a staggering 31-point fourth quarter in which the Falcons went 5-for-9 on 3s.

“;It was kind of Charles Dickens tonight, the ... 'Tale of Two Cities,' “; Weeks said. “;We can shoot ourselves out of a game and we can shoot ourselves right back into a game. In the first half we just weren't mentally in the game. It took us to get down 16 before the light switch went (on).”;

Jamie Higa scored a team-high 14 points for Kalani, and Ashlyn Onaga added 10. Six-foot forward Violet Alama played her first game of the season in returning from an ACL injury and scored six points before fouling out.

As the Falcons kept creeping closer by virtue of shots taken (usually 3-pointers) within seconds of bringing the ball up court, Morikawa exhorted her team to stay calm. Her team led by 12 with 3 minutes, 33 seconds left.

“;We just said to keep together and finish,”; said Dela Cruz. “;Coach always tells us to finish a game.”;

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Moanalua (2-2) 16 18 12 16 — 62
Kalani (1-3) 13 11 6 31 — 61
MOANALUA—Joanna Nicholas 4, Michelle Hardy 13, Jaidon Rego 4, Hoku Dela Cruz 19, Justine Aguas 16, A.J. Verdida 2, Kiley Lau 0, Meleane Smith 0, Britney Calucag 1, Briana Dacoscos 2, Amanda Selvey 1.

KALANI—Ashlyn Onaga 10, Kiera Iinuma 3, Leina Faleolo 4, Hikaru Kumagai 3, Jamie Higa 14, Kelsie Maslanka 0, Corie Kuia 7, Christine Sasano 7, Tiare Maafala 1, Joyce Lam 0, Kristi Belshe 4, Tiffany Liao 2, Violet Alama 6.

3-pointers—Moanalua 1 (Dela Cruz), Kalani 8 (Onaga 2, Higa 2, Iinuma, Kumagai, Kuia, Sasano).

Junior varsity—Moanalua 39, Kalani 31

 

ILH Division I

No. 5 'Iolani 48, No. 6 Mid-Pacific 46
Lori Yamashita scored 11 points and Lahela Usui added 10 as the Raiders edged the Owls.

                                                                                                                                           

'Iolani (3-1)	10	14	12	12	—	48
Mid-Pacific (2-2)	14	5	13	14	—	46

'IOLANI—Elysse Tom 0, Tami Konishi 0, Kylie Maeda 9, Saphyre Rezentes 0, Lori Yamashita 11, Georgette Lopes-Liutolo 3, Kaitlyn Shikada 5, Kryn Masutani 0, Mahina Haina 8, Lahela Usui 10, Shauni Watanabe 0, Brittany Barnes 2.

MID-PACIFIC—Ashley Yamachika 3, Paige Young 0, Johnelle Kapua 16, Jacqueline Donovan 0, Shanon Nishimura 0, Kelli Shibata 0, Jordan Kealoha 5, Taylor Babbitt 7, Keaton McFadden 6, Jenna Savusa 9.

3-point goals—'Iolani 5 (Usui 3, Maeda, Shikada), Mid-Pacific 4 (Kapua 2, Yamachika, Kealoha).

  Varsity Division II
Kamehameha II 39, Hanalani 26

No. 2 Punahou 61,
No. 9 Sacred Hearts 23
Rebecca Lau's eight points led the Buffanblu's balanced scoring attack past the host Lancers.

                                                                                                                                           

Sacred Hearts (1-3)	4	10	4	5	—	23
Punahou (3-1)	14	13	17	17	—	61

SACRED HEARTS—Kara Vause 0, Rayna Munos 4, Lynsey Overstreet 0, Kamri Lin 0, Morgan Donohue 2, Sara Souza 7, Crystal Maria 0, Vanessa Freitas 0, Lindsey Bareng 2, Raecha-Ann Kauahikaua 2, Theresa O'Connor 0, Kuhina Luis 6, Naihe Paikai 0.

PUNAHOU—Kaylin Okuma 2, Rebecca Lau 8, Alexandra Santi 5, Julianne Nomura 4, Janet Li 0, Anna Merrifield 4, Brittnie Lau 3, Mysha Sataraka 6, Janelle Nomura 7, Ashley-Anne Feria 4, Jennifer Ching 6, Julia Brand 4, Kysa Ludviksen 2, Tressa Torres 6.

3-point goals—Sacred Hearts none, Punahou 3 (R. Lau 2, B. Lau).

 

ILH Division II

Word of Life 53, Hawaii Mission Academy 45

 

OIA Red East

No. 1 Farrington 75, Roosevelt 44
Kirsten Liana scored 20 points and Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo added 14 as the Governors handed the Rough Riders their first conference loss.

                                                                                                                                           

Roosevelt (3-1)	15	12	7	10	—	44
Farrington (4-0)	16	16	24	19	—	75

ROOSEVELT—Charisse Tanabe 2, Kelcie Namba 6, Samantha Murakami 0, Kathleen Nakata 7, Nicole Ramirez 8, Abcde Furuta-Harada 5, Rachel Gomes 0, Cierra Kapea 0, Joshy Noga 8, Tasia Kamakawiwoole 8.

FARRINGTON—Kahea Ho'ohuli 0, Janell Nance 5, Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo 14, Valerie Lesu 4, Natalie Mata 11, Lusina Otineru 4, Kirsten Liana 20, Macilee Moi 0, Sofia Folaumahina 2, Jasmine Funtanilla 4, Angie Argel 3, Lucky Crichton 3, Precious Maave 0, Aisha Gaea 5.

3-point goals—Roosevelt 3 (Namba, Ramirez, Nakata), Farrington 2 (Tatupu-Leopoldo 2).

Junior varsity—Farrington 47, Roosevelt 28

Kailua 34, Castle 22
Ashley Jacobs' two 3-pointers in the second quarter helped the host Surfriders go on a 14-2 run in a victory over the winless Knights.

                                                                                                                                           

Castle (0-5)	9	2	7	4	—	22
Kailua (1-4)	8	14	9	3	—	34

CASTLE—Brandee Sasaki 2, Cailee Awa 5, Britt Hann 5, Britt Lane 1, Leisha Liilii 2, Kaity Wills 0, Maycee Moe 0, Joshell Lilio 2, Kree Espinda 5, Ashley Ballesteros 0.

KAILUA—Jayna Hanawahine 0, Tawny Kiko 2, Sola Williams 12, Teuila Asele 2, Zsalei Kamaka 5, Ka'u Kohatsu 3, Alysha Franco 0, Anu Ahyun 2, Ashley Jacobs 8, Tia Nazarra 0.

3-point goals—Castle 2 (Awa, Hann), Kailua 2 (Jacobs 2).

Junior varsity—Kailua 28, Castle 23

 

OIA Red West

Pearl City 49, Kapolei 43, OT
Glacen Florita's basket with 5 seconds left in regulation sent the host Chargers into overtime against the Hurricanes.

In the extra period, Pearl City blanked Kapolei and got four points from Shanise Gabriel-Yomes to sew up the victory.

                                                                                                                                                           

Kapolei (3-1)	7	8	6	22	0	—	43
Pearl City (3-1)	8	8	16	11	6	—	49

KAPOLEI—Krystal Jacobs 0, Danniel Tapat 13, Victoria Afoa 0, Sarah Awana 0, Rhilee Soriano 0, Alysse Bishop 4, Kawehi Hagi 2, Cherece Beyer 4, Shaina Ducosin 0, Kayla Fuataga 2, Nicole Fuataga 18.

PEARL CITY—Charmagne Monis 5, Ashley Goto 0, Shanise Gabriel-Yomes 8, Victoria Victor 0, Glacen Florita 10, Jordan Ahakuelo 9, Kiaeani Tassi 1, Alana Kaili 1, Keshia Manning 11, Leina Basques 4, Meyer 0.

3-point goals—Kapolei 1 (Tapat), Pearl City 4 (Florita 2, Basques, Monis).

Junior varsity—Kapolei 45, Pearl City 40

  Mililani 46, Campbell 39
Despite being held to four points in the third quarter, the Trojans came back strong by scoring 21 in the fourth to defeat the Sabers.

Darcey Goulsby scored 18 points and Chelsea Basilio added 16, including two 3-pointers for Mililani.

Olia Kila led Campbell with 18.

                                                                                                                                           

Campbell (1-3)	11	5	10	13	—	39
Mililani (2-2)	13	8	4	21	—	46

CAMPBELL—Ama Lui 6, Jaysha Delizo 0, Karen Tano 0, Jazmin Brown 6, Chantaty Samante 4, Ikoa Dias-Kekahuna 1, Stormi Wright 2, Ariel Medlin 2, Randi Wright 0, Oli Kila 18.

MILILANI—Chelsea Basilio 16, Glenelle Nitta 0, Kellise De La Cruz 0, Samantha Yuki 0, Jordan Sakai 1, Amber Ogata 3, Celina Garces 0, Abby McKoy 1, Darcey Goulsby 18, Elima Pangoran 0, Sophie Chang 6, Khyla Alcantra 1, Pomai Grube-Hose 0.

3-point goals—Campbell none, Mililani 3 (Basilio 2, Ogata).

Junior varsity—Campbell 46, Mililani 36

  Aiea 46, Waianae 28
Carol Sio scored 17 points and Natasha Helsham added 14 as undefeated Na Alii breezed by the visiting Seariders.

                                                                                                                                           

Waianae (0-5)	4	11	5	8	—	28
Aiea (5-0)	16	15	7	8	—	46

WAIANAE—Alisa Tupuola 0, Alesa Ramaila 0, Emma Atiga 2, Maili Enos-Branigan 2, Beverly Madrid 4, Genevieve Cuesta 14, Evalani Yoshimura 4, Shantel Bucker 2, Emma Tanoi 0.

AIEA—Ashlei Liilii 0, Celeste Fong 1, Natasha Helsham 14, Natasha Fong 6, Briana Brooks 0, Crystal Tagudin 2, Rayna Strom-Okimoto 2, Maria Holtzman 0, Kaui Kuehu 4, Carol Sio 17, Emily Tausaga 0.

3-point goals—Waianae 1 (Cuesta), Aiea 2 (Helsham 2).

Junior varsity—Waianae 40, Aiea 33

 

OIA White

Leilehua 42, Nanakuli 21
The game between the Mules and the Golden Hawks was stopped with about 3 minutes left in the fourth quarter due to rough play.

Leilehua coach Elroy Dumlao and Nanakuli coach Gerald Lum said they and the officials agreed to call the game before the play, which included several technical fouls, got “;out of hand.”;

The results are considered official at the time the game was stopped.

                                                                                                                                           

Nanakuli (1-3)	2	9	9	1	—	21
Leilehua (3-1)	16	12	8	6	—	42

NANAKULI—Stephanie Kalili 2, Kirstie Rosa 3, Napualani Kelii 0, Naniuolealelei Kakiva 2, Sia Toli 0, Sena Foi 1, Violet Mau 13, Erica Sula 0.

LEILEHUA—Ciara Paracualles 6, Ashley Gonzales 2, Chelsey Fontes 4, Patricia Lindo 0, Alaina Johnson 7, Starr Hayashida 0, Vanessa Bocobo 5, Kehau Rivera 0, Keke Moala 4, Michelle Fletcher 0, Mariyah Tamaalemalo 8, Toe Motu 6, Brittney Taufui 0, Carline Wilson 0, Alondra Hooks 0.

3-point goals—Nanakuli 2 (Mau 2), Leilehua 2 (Paracuelles, Fontes).

Junior varsity—Leilehua 38, Nanakuli 31

  Kalaheo 78, Kaiser 66
Kaua Cale dropped 16 points to lead the Mustangs past the Cougars.

                                                                                                                                           

Kaiser (1-1)	10	10	17	29	—	66
Kalaheo (2-1)	8	19	19	32	—	78

KAISER—Lijah Bowerman 3, Chelsey Okuma 26, Keely Bitanga 23, Dayrn Vorderbruegge 3, Shelby Pa 4, Hailey Purham 2, Kailtlyn Nakana 0, Alaiza Del Andre 0, Bailey Miller 5.

KALAHEO—Nicole Cobb 10, Caira Pires 7, Hi'i Olson 2, Kourtni Thomas 11, Kaua Cale 16, Kamele Perry 5, Tiffany Harada 8, Mele Adams 9, Jordy Smith 10.

3-point goals—Kaiser 4 (Chelsey Okuma 2, Keely Bitanga, Bailey Miller), Kalaheo none.

Junior varsity—Kaiser 38, Kalaheo 8.

  Other scores
No. 10 Kahuku 80, Waialua 14