Buffanblu close in on state tourney berth with win
POSTED: Thursday, February 05, 2009
Janelle Nomura shoulders no burden.
Despite an aching shoulder, the senior guard poured in 17 points, including a pair of key 3-pointers during a third-quarter run, as No. 2 Punahou ran away from sixth-ranked 'Iolani 53-42 last night at Father Bray Athletic Complex.
Punahou (13-3) improved to 8-1 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and inched closer to a regular-season title and automatic state-tournament berth. The Buffanblu can clinch a state berth with one more win.
'Iolani (10-9) slid to 6-4 in league play.
Center Tressa Torres added nine points and nine rebounds, and guard Rebecca Lau dished out seven assists for the Buffanblu.
Tami Konishi drilled four treys and led 'Iolani with 12 points. Georgette Lopes-Liutolo added 10 points and Lahela Usui chipped in eight.
Punahou shot nearly 50 percent from the field (19-for-39) against a pesky 2-3 zone and outrebounded the Raiders 27-11. Punahou collected 10 offensive boards to 'Iolani's three.
“;It's great we're winning the offensive rebound battle, but we've gotta reward ourselves,”; coach Mike Taylor said of his team's missed putbacks.
The only thing the Buffanblu didn't excel in was free-throw shooting (11-for-21).
Nomura was hot from the start, hitting a runner along the baseline and a 3-pointer to spark a 7-0 lead. 'Iolani got within 22-17 after Konishi hit a 3-pointer and Kylie Maeda and Usui sank three free throws, but Punahou scored the last four points of the half for a 26-17 lead at the break.
Nomura then swished a pair of treys as Punahou opened a 36-21 lead midway through the third quarter. 'Iolani had some success against Punahou's physical man-to-man defense and made a run when Konishi sank three treys in a row, all from 22 to 24 feet out.
“;We were in position with our feet, but not with our hands,”; Taylor said. “;A great shooter like Tami will kill you.”;
Konishi's last 3-pointer brought the Raiders within 40-34 with 5:41 remaining, but Punahou's defense adjusted and didn't allow her to take another shot. With 5 minutes left, Punahou went to a four-corners delay and ate up the clock.
“;We knew Mike was going into a spread, maybe not so soon,”; 'Iolani coach Marlene Zeug said.
'Iolani stayed close, though. A steal by freshman Saphyre Rezentes led to a layup by Usui, and a couple of foul shots by Usui brought the Raiders within 47-42 with 1 minute to go.
However, Torres hit a foul shot, and then stood in the lane to take a charging foul from Konishi on a drive. Anna Merrifield, Torres and Lau made free throws in the final 43 seconds to ice the game.
It wasn't quite the senior-night present Konishi wanted, though she did get her share of gifts from some of her pals from Punahou, including Nomura. 'Iolani knocked off Punahou the first time the teams met in ILH play, but it's been a Punahou blitzkrieg since. If Punahou clinches the regular-season title, the other four teams will battle for the league's second state berth in a playoff tournament.
“;We'll keep fighting and practicing hard,”; Konishi said. “;We'll have to start off from scratch and keep playing together, playing for each other.”;
Konishi, one of only two seniors on the 'Iolani squad, has known Nomura since kindergarten, when both attended Kahala Elementary School.
“;She's always been there for me,”; Nomura said. “;She's been through ups and downs, so we wanted to support her. I feel real bad tonight.”;
Zeug credited the visitors.
“;They've been able to adjust and balance their offense. Nomura stepped up her game,”; Zeug said. “;She knows how to pass the ball and demonstrated that she can see the floor. They know how to win.”;
| Punahou (8-1) | 14 | 12 | 14 | 13 | — | 53 |
| 'Iolani (6-4) | 7 | 10 | 11 | 14 | — | 42 |
PUNAHOU—Kaylin Okuma 0, Rebecca Lau 4, Ali Santi 0, Julianne Nomura 0, Janet Li 6, Anna Merrifield 6, Brittnie Lau 3, Mysha Sataraka 0, Janelle Nomura 17, Ashley Feria 0, Jenny Ching 4, Julia Brand 4, Kysa Ludviksen 0, Tressa Torres 9.
'IOLANI—Elysse Tom 0, Tami Konishi 12, Kylie Maeda 3, Saphyre Rezentes 1, Lori Yamashita 0, Georgette Lopes-Liutolo 10, Kaitlyn Shikada 2, Kryn Masutani 0, Mahina Haina 4, Lahela Usui 8, Shauni Watanabe 0, Brittany Barnes 2.
3-point goals—Punahou 4 (Ja. Nomura 3, B. Lau), 'Iolani 6 (Konishi 4, Lopes-Liutolo 2).
ILH DIVISION I
No. 8 Mid-Pacific 51, No. 5 Kamehameha 45
Ashley Yamachika converted all eight of her free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter to lead the Owls past the visiting Warriors.
Yamachika finished with 14 points and Johnnelle Kapua added 13 in the upset victory.
| Kamehameha (4-6) | 8 | 12 | 10 | 15 | — | 45 |
| Mid-Pacific (5-5) | 9 | 11 | 14 | 17 | — | 51 |
KAMEHAMEHA—Alexis Furtado 2, Sanoe Keliinoi 4, Tia Perreira 0, Lindsey Wong 11, Pomaikai Kalakau 6, Piikea Kalakau 10, Makana Borden 0, Kylle Roy 12, Noelani Mikami 0.
MID-PACIFIC—Ashley Yamachika 14, Paige Young 0, Johnnelle Kapua 13, Shanon Nishimura 0, Mahina Doktor 2, Jordan Kealoha 2, Taylor Babbitt 9, Keaton McFadden 3, Jenna Savusa 8.
3-point goals—Kamehameha 1 (Wong), Mid-Pacific 2 (Yamachika, Kapua).
ILH Division II
Varsity boys
Saint Louis 55, Island Pacific Academy 37
Leading scorers—StL: Laakea Frias 11. IPA: Theo Duplechain 11.
Varsity girls
Kamehameha 60, Christian Academy 28
Leading scorers—KS: Rachel Kaneakua 12. CA: Chazley Baitlon 9.
OIA RED EAST
No. 1 Farrington 57, Moanalua 33
Valerie Lesu scored 15 points and Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo added 14 as the Governors trounced Na Menehune.
Tatupu-Leopoldo hit two 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Governors held Moanalua scoreless until late in the period.
Michelle Hardy led Moanalua with 10 points.
| Moanalua (3-7) | 3 | 11 | 12 | 7 | — | 33 |
| Farrington (10-0) | 25 | 9 | 12 | 11 | — | 57 |
MOANALUA—Brittany Calucag 1, Brianna Dacoscos 0, Kiley Lau 0, Joanna Nicolas 2, Michelle Hardy 10, Amanda Selvey 0, Meleane Smith 0, Jaidon Rego 2, Hoku Dela Cruz 7, A.J. Verdida 8, Justine Aguas 3.
FARRINGTON—Janell Nance 4, Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo 14, Valerie Lesu 15, Natalie Mata 6, Lusina Otineru 6, Kirsten Liana 2, Sofia Folaumahina 4, Jasmine Funtanilla 0, Angie Argel 0, Lucky Crichton 2, Precious Maave 2, Aisha Gaea 2.
3-point goals—Moanalua 2 (Hardy 2), Farrington 7 (Tatupu-Leopoldo 4, Lesu 3).
Junior varsity—Farrington 57, Moanalua 41
McKinley 61, Roosevelt 57, OT
Ashley Gravely scored five of her game-high 13 points in overtime to lead the Tigers past the visiting Rough Riders.
Teammate Tatiana Dinson helped with 13 points for McKinley.
| Roosevelt (6-5) | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 8 | — | 57 |
| McKinley (8-3) | 13 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 12 | — | 61 |
ROOSEVELT—Charisse Tanabe 0, Kelcie Namba 11, Samantha Murakami 2, Kathleen Nakata 0, Nicole Ramirez 6, Abcde Furuta-Harada 2, Cierra Kapea 0, Mikela Thoemmes 13, Joshy Noga 10, Tasia Kamakawiwoole 13.
MCKINLEY—Jackie Tihano 3, Kylie Sato 11, Ashley Gravely 14, Tatiana Dinson 13, Brenda Walker 8, Jorina Faletoi 12, Juwill Starks 0.
3-point goals—Roosevelt 2 (Namba, Ramirez), McKinley 1 (Tihano).
Junior varsity—Roosevelt 48, McKinley 39
Kalani 65, Castle 48
The Falcons drained nine 3-pointers and scored 28 points in the third quarter to beat the visiting Knights.
Ashlyn Onaga hit six from behind the arc and paced Kalani with 26 points.
| Castle (1-11) | 11 | 9 | 11 | 17 | — | 48 |
| Kalani (6-5) | 16 | 11 | 28 | 10 | — | 65 |
CASTLE—Brandee Sasaki 6, Cailee Awa 9, Britt Hawn 0, Britt Lane 3, Leisha Liilii 12, Kaity Wills 5, Maycee Moe 3, Joshell Lilio 2, Kree Espinda 3, Ashley Ballesteros 1, Nicole Aberilla 4.
KALANI—Violet Alama 2, Ashlyn Onaga 26, Jamie Higa 13, Kelsie Maslanka 0, Corie Kuia 12, Kiera Iinuma 2, Christina Sasano 5, Kristi Belshe 2, Loretta Misaalefua 0, Tiare Maafala 0, Tiffany Liao 0, Joyce Lam 0, Hikaru Kumagai 3.
3-point goals—Castle 1 (Moe), Kalani 14 (Onaga 6, Kuia 3, Higa 3, Sasano, Kumagai).
Junior varsity—Castle def. Kalani
OIA RED WEST
Radford 36, Campbell 33
Bui Baravilala scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Rams over the Sabers.
Baravilala hit for eight points in both the first and fourth quarters, and Mama Fiaseu added 10 for Radford.
Jazmin Brown and Ariel Medlin each had eight points for Campbell.
| Campbell (4-7) | 6 | 11 | 12 | 4 | — | 33 |
| Radford (5-6) | 14 | 6 | 8 | 8 | — | 36 |
CAMPBELL—Ama Lui 5, Jaysha Delizo 0, Karen Tano 0, Jazmin Brown 8, Chantay Samante 5, Ikoa Dias-Kekahuna 0, Stormi Wright 2, Ariel Medlin 8, Oli Kila 5.
RADFORD—Melanie Alofaituli 0, Alana Gionet 0, Antionette Carradine 4, Bui Baravilala 22, Ja'Kira Leggett 0, Lily Sevao 0, Disa Brown 0, Pierra Brown 0, Mama Fiaseu 10.
3-point goals—Campbell 1 (Brown), Radford none.
Junior varsity—Campbell 36, Radford 25
Kapolei 47, Mililani 43
The Hurricanes stormed back from a poor second quarter to outscore the Trojans 22-10 in the third to pull out the victory.
Kapolei's Alysse Bishop scored eight of her game-high 16 points in the third.
| Kapolei (6-5) | 9 | 8 | 22 | 8 | — | 47 |
| Mililani (8-3) | 3 | 21 | 10 | 9 | — | 43 |
KAPOLEI—Krystal Jacobs 0, Danniel Tapat 7, Victoria Afoa 0, Rhilee Soriano 4, Alysse Bishop 16, Kawehi Hagi 4, Cherece Beyer 2, Nicole Fuataga 14.
MILILANI—Chelsea Basilio 9, Samantha Yuki 3, Jordan Sakai 2, Celina Garces 0, Abby McKoy 0, Darcey Goulsby 10, Sophie Chang 11, Khyla Alcantra 4, Pomai Grube-Hose 4.
3-point goals—Kapolei 1 (Tapat), Mililani 1 (Basilio).
Junior varsity—Kapolei def. Mililani
Pearl City 47, Waianae 35
Jordan Ahakuelo scored 17 points, including a 3-pointer in both the second and third quarters, to lead the Chargers over the Seariders.
| Waianae (0-12) | 8 | 8 | 6 | 13 | — | 35 |
| Pearl City (7-4) | 11 | 10 | 14 | 12 | — | 47 |
WAIANAE—Alisa Tupuola 3, Alesa Ramaila 2, Emma Atiga 0, Maili Enos-Branigan 4, Beverly Madrid 8, Genevieve Cuesta 3, Evalani Yoshimura 2, Shantel Bucker 13, Emma Tanoi 0.
PEARL CITY—Charmagne Monis 2, Shanise Gabriel-Yomes 8, Victoria Victor 0, Glacen Florita 11, Jordan Ahakuelo 17, Alana Kaili 1, Keshia Manning 8, Leina Basques 0, Emme Cabrejos 0.
3-point goals—Waianae none, Pearl City 4 (Ahakuelo 2, Florita 2).
Junior varsity—Pearl City 35, Waianae 23
OIA WHITE
Kaiser 35 , No. 10 Kaimuki 34
Keely Bitanga's 3-point buzzer-beater for the Cougars gave the host Bulldogs their second conference loss.
Bitanga finished with a game-high 11 points in the upset win.
| Kaimuki (9-2) | 3 | 15 | 6 | 10 | — | 34 |
| Kaiser (8-4) | 9 | 8 | 11 | 7 | — | 35 |
KAIMUKI—Olivia Phommachanh 6, Pua Akaka 3, Sasha Tokuda 0, Brooke Borce 0, Tanya Villanueva 0, Dinishah Fa'asoa 2, Justell Arthur 0, Brittney Anglin 0, Letishah Fa'asoa 8, Dejah Fa'asoa 10, Mikki Morihara 0, Leti Mikaele 2, Ashley Fortson 0, Lani Mikaele 3.
KAISER—Alaiza Del Andre 0, Hailey Durham 0, Krysta Yasui 4, Lijah Bowerman 4, Chelsy Okuma 7, Keely Bitanga 11, Kaitlyn Nakano 0, Daryn Vorderbruegge 0, Bailey Miller 7, Shelby Pa 2.
3-point goals—Kaimuki 7 (Phommachanh 2, L. Fa'asoa 2, D. Fa'asoa 2 Akaka), Kaiser 6 (Bitanga 3, Okuma 2, Miller).
Junior varsity—Kaiser 38, Kaimuki 31
Kalaheo 77, Anuenue 20
Kaua Cale scored 20 points to lead the Mustangs over Na Koa.
Mele Adams scored six of her 15 points in the first quarter as Kalaheo held Anuenue scoreless and cruised the rest of the way.
| Anuenue (0-9) | 0 | 10 | 7 | 3 | — | 20 |
| Kalaheo (7-4) | 27 | 7 | 15 | 28 | — | 77 |
ANUENUE—Kenui Wahilani 0, Leikula Gottlieb 5, Nalani Kamano 1, Kala Lewis 0, Kahanu Walker 0, Kapela Kahili 9, Hoonani Wahilani 4, Kahala Kaowili 1, Nanea Kon 0.
KALAHEO—Nicole Cobb 10, Hiilei Olsen 4, Kamele Perry 4, Caira Pires 8, Mele Adams 15, Kourtni Thomas 12, Kaua Cale 20, Jordy Smith 4.
3-point goals—Anuenue 1 (Gottlieb), Kalaheo 4 (Cale 3, Adams).
Leilehua 44, Waipahu 41
Ashley Gonzalez scored six of her 15 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Mules over the Marauders.
| Leilehua (7-4) | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | — | 44 |
| Waipahu (1-8) | 10 | 13 | 9 | 9 | — | 41 |
p> LEILEHUA—Ciara Paracualles 0, Chelsy Fontes 0, Patricia Lindo 0, Alaina Johnson 4, Starr Hayashida 0, Vanessa Bocobo 0, Kehau Rivera 0, Keke Moala 0, Michelle Fletcher 12, Mariyah Tamaalemalo 5, Toe Motu 4, Brittney Taufui 0, Alondra Hooks 4, Ashley Gonzales 15, Carline Wilson 0.
WAIPAHU—Moriah Blackmon 5, Geneva Balladares 5, Jessica Lozano 2, Amber Javier 0, Genivee Velasco 12, Alyssa Torres 3, Adrienne Mendiola 5, Brendalyn Brub 2, Shanice Julio 7, Dara Aiwohi-Dutro 0.
3-point goals—Leilehua 1 (Fletcher), Waipahu 3 (Velasco 2, Balladeres).
Junior varsity—Waipahu 39, Leilehua 35
