Wednesday, May 20, 1998
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Lahainaluna's Marie Tu' ua, left, and McKinley's
Seni Folaumahina battle for a loose ball last night.
McKinley
too much for
Lahainaluna
Tigers advance to the
By Pat Bigold
quarterfinals of the state girls'
basketball tournament
Star-BulletinWhen Young Sil Yang heard her assignment for McKinley's opening-round girls' state basketball tournament game against Lahainaluna, she was a little stunned.
For good reason.
The lightly built, 5-foot-7 Yang was told by her coaches that she had to guard 6-1 University of Hawaii recruit Aina Kohler for four quarters.
Kohler isn't just tall. She already has the powerful frame of an NCAA Division I forward and the moves to go along with her physical attributes.
But the smaller, quicker Yang, with help from the McKinley low post, was able to bother and tire the future Wahine just enough to help McKinley to a 54-49 victory last night at Kamehameha Schools' Kekuhaupi'o Gym.
In the other first-round game at Kamehameha, Kauai defeated Nanakuli, 63-57. In first-round games at McKinley, Maryknoll beat Waipahu, 30-25, and Konawaena beat Kahuku, 67-59.
Yang held the otherwise overpowering Kohler to only six points in the first half and 10 in a pedal-to-the-metal second half.
"Young Sil is the player of the game as far as I'm concerned," McKinley head coach Jesse Victorino said. "She took on a girl twice her size, and that's why we pulled this out against a very good team."
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
McKinley's Amber Ehia, right, eludes Lahainaluna's
Aina Kohler on her way to the basket last night.
The 22nd Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournament continues today with quarterfinals at the Stan Sheriff Center.McKinley plays third-seeded Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Waiakea at 7:30 tonight.
"Yesterday (Monday) at practice, coach told me, 'We got a big job for you,' " Yang said with a smile after the game.
"I was surprised when they told me to guard her because I'm only about 115 pounds, and she's much bigger than me. Now I've got charley horses all around my body. But it's OK because it's all for my teammates."
Victorino said the strategy against Lahainaluna was carefully planned.
"What we told Young Sil was that when Aina gets the ball, we need our low post people to come across and help because we weren't too worried about their other low post people.
"We just told her to make it harder for Aina to take her shots, make her work and get her tired. Aina played the whole game, so we thought we could outlast her."
McKinley took an 18-16 lead in the first quarter. And even though Kohler wasn't scoring, she had six rebounds, two steals and an assist in the second quarter as the Lunas went ahead, 31-26, at the half.
Amber Ehia, a 5-4 sophomore guard, came through with 11 points, three rebounds and a steal in the third quarter. McKinley tied the score three times in the quarter and trailed, 40-39, entering the final quarter.
Senior Seni Folaumahina put McKinley up by one, 41-40, and Ehia, who finished with a game-high 21 points, gave the Tigers a 43-40 lead before fouling out on a charge with 4:48 left.
Ehia committed three offensive fouls in the quarter.
"I wasn't disciplined," Ehia said.
"We were doing good at the beginning but we just went out of our game, so we couldn't pull it off," said Kohler.
In other quarterfinal games today, fourth-seeded Baldwin plays Maryknoll at 3 p.m., top-seeded Kalaheo meets Konawaena at 4:30 p.m. and second seed and defending state champion Punahou meets Kauai at 6 p.m.
Lahainaluna 16 15 9 9--49 McKinley 8 18 13 15--54Lahainaluna: Mane Tu'ua 0, Kalei Robia 7, Arlet Okimoto 2, Ha'aheo Kahoohalahala 0, Lisa Arcangel 14, Twyla Kukahiko 3, Sionna Stallings-Alailina 7, Aina Kohler 16, Melanie Faruhi-Ovario 0.McKinley: Patty Ishikli 5, Amber Ehio 21, Stacey Towai 10, Karlata Nepo 0, Brianne Ching 0, Christine Gora 3, Shanena Lino 0, Anela Kimoto 0, Seni Folaumahina 15.
Kauai 63, Nanakuli 57: At Kamehameha, Clifflynn Gonsalves hit a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to give the Red Raiders a 41-38 lead, and they went on to earn the school's first opening-round tournament win.
Kauai had to rally from a 24-21 halftime deficit.
Trisha Ramos led Kauai with 19 points.
The Golden Hawks, who were competing in the tournament for the first time, were led by Kori Montez (19) and Kelly Lum Ho (18).
Nanakuli 12 12 14 19--57 Kauai 5 16 20 22--63Kauai: Clifflynn Gonsalves 9, Marcel Garcia 6, Jill Dobashi Milissa Ceria 2, Trisha Ramos 19, Leslie Kona 9, Denise Kodani 7, Michelle Romano 0, Alisa Iloreta 13.Nanakuli: Brianne Young 2, Kelly Lum Ho 18, Francis Ako 8, Kori Montez 19, Lahela romena 2, Shaela lew 2, Summer Victor 0, Rhonda Naki 6.
Michelle Gabriel led Maryknoll with 13 points.
Maryknoll 6 4 11 9--30 Waipahu 6 8 1 10--25Maryknoll: Kainoa Filawolski 0, Nicole Mew 0, Elizabeth Kam 0, Debey Fukuda 8, Genesis Vincent 0, Mailani Maikainai 0, Dana Fukuda 0, Clayreen Song 0, Michelle Gabriel 13, Kim Washington 1, Kelly O'Brien 0, Merel Ver 0, Megan O'Brien 0, Nabosa Basse 8.Waipahu: Renee Pecpec 0, Arlynn Orpilla 0, Mataifono Poto 0, Mariko Meana 0, Christine Houghton 0, Siutupe Faumui 0, Narita Meana 4, Silhouette Saau 0, Moevasa Uele 0, Marie Tuifao 10, Lani Gatoloai 11.
Meris Ota scored 11 of her 19 points, including a key 3-pointer, in the fourth.
Konawaena 12 18 9 28--67 Kahuku 9 20 12 18--59Konawaena: Tiana Martines-Alcain 0, Kim Shiraishi 11, Chelsea Benton 5, Meris Ota 19, Mi Suk Lee 23, Napua Kamoku 4, Enjoli Izumi-Baltero 1, Nikki Kane 3, Hana Toko 0, Diana Switaj 0, Kahea Cahill-Ramirez 1.Kahuku: Pearl Aukai 0, Joy Schlachter 0, Marvel Mau 3, Teizi Sorenson 0, Angie Soliai 11, Samantha Alapa 1, Nene Soliai 7, Teisa Fotu 0, Marina Fonoimoana 0, Siki Suguturaga 11, Alumita Tuisuvura 12, Hemaile Enos 10, Ida Vimahi 0, Betty Betham 4, Alesi Tevaga 0.
