[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ]

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Naihe the difference
for Red Raiders

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By Tim Crouse
tcrouse@starbulletin.com

In a two-minute span in the third quarter Kelci Naihe took over the game for Kahuku last night.

The senior guard, who is playing her first year for the Red Raiders after transferring from Texas, had a hand in four straight baskets to give Kahuku a lead it would never relinquish in a 36-35 win over host Moanalua.

The Red Raiders had to withstand a last-minute frenzy of scoring by the Menehunes to improve to 4-0 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division. Moanalua fell to 4-1.

Trailing 36-28 with less than two minutes left, Moanalua went on a 6-0 run to pull within two. Patti Hardimon then made a steal with 20 seconds remaining, leading to three shots for the Menehunes that wouldn't fall. Hardimon rebounded two of them, and was fouled trying to shoot with 2.8 seconds left.

She made the first free throw to cut the margin to 36-35, but missed the second.

Moanalua had one final chance at a full-court shot as time expired, but it was well off the mark.

"This is a very big win for us," Red Raiders coach Mona Ah-Hoy said. "We knew if we stayed mentally strong we could win."

It was the play of Naihe that set up Kahuku's victory, its second in as many years against Moanalua.

She sank a pair of free throws with 4:30 left in the third period to give the Red Raiders a 20-17 lead. Moments later, Naihe started a run that ended with Kahuku leading 32-21.

"She's been our go-to player all year," Ah-Hoy said. "She, and Karla (Tailele) are the keys. If one of them isn't on, the other is."

Naihe hit consecutive 3-pointers in a 35-second span, prompting Moanalua coach Roy Dias to call timeout. When play resumed, she made a steal to trigger a fast break. Naihe could have scored again, but fed Krisha Kai for an easy layup.

After Moanalua responded by making two free throws, Naihe found Mereani Lewenilovo inside for another easy score and another assist. Lesina Funaki closed out Kahuku's 12-2 run with a bucket, giving the Red Raiders an 11-point lead.

"I wasn't into the game in the beginning, but once I hit the 3s, I picked it up," Naihe said.

She finished with those eight points, plus three rebounds and two steals. Lewenilovo also had eight points. Tailele chipped in six points.

Hardimon just missed out on a double-double for Moanalua, which outrebounded Kahuku 31-19 -- including five in the frantic final minute.

Hardimon finished with nine points and 10 rebounds. Kepua Lee had six points and nine rebounds.

"Last year (against Kahuku) we shot poorly at the free-throw line, and this year we did, too," Dias said.

Moanalua was 13-for-24 at the free-throw line, including 3-for-8 in the final 1:03 of the game.

"It's a tough loss. We just ran out of time," Dias said.

Kauhuku led 17-14 at halftime, thanks to a late 6-2 spurt in the last two minutes of the second quarter. Michelle Peters scored two baskets and Funaki finished the half with a fast-break layup.

At Moanalua H.S. gym

Kahuku (4-0)	6	11	15	4	--	36
Moanalua (4-1)	7	7	9	12	--	35

KAHUKU -- Mereani Lewenilovo 8, Lesina Funaki 6, Krisha Kai 2, Karla Tailele 6, Charlotte Leitupo 2, Michelle Peters 4, Kelci Naihe 8.

MOANALUA -- Amy Kotani 9, Jessie Kamakura 1, Sasha Silva 2, Patti Hardimon 9, Marleen Leautu 4, Kepua Lee 6, Ronni Keliihoomalu 4.

3-point goals -- Kahuku 3 (Naihe 2, Tailele). Moanalua 2 (Hardimon, Lee).

McKinley 35, Kaimuki 19: The Tigers turned up the defensive pressure to limit the Bulldogs to five points in the second half and remain undefeated in the OIA East.

At McKinley H.S. gym

Kaimuki (2-2)	5	9	2	3	--	19
McKinley(4-0)	4	10	8	13	--	35

KAIMUKI -- Flora Mesa 0, Kara Hayashida 3, Diana Malavong 0, Jessica Arakawa 0, Katherine Martin 0, Dalia Solia 2, Chyenna Souza 8, Tyleen Tausaga 3, Shella Sanders 2, Lovely Moyle 1, Alana Burges 0.

MCKINLEY -- Chantal Yadao 0, Rayna Isaki 0, Kristi Fukumoto 1, Kelli Fukumoto 0, Meagan Miyasaka 5, Chyloh Rodrigues 5, Janine Corpuz 1, Noe Correia 0, Amanda Leopoldo 0, Ceslie Maafala 5, Amber Lee 18, Tania Liufau 0.

3-point goals -- Kaimuki 1 (Hayashida). McKinley 1 (Rodrigues).

Junior varsity -- McKinley 38, Kaimuki 27

OIA West

Leilehua 47, Waialua 36: Inez Tauvala scored 14 points to help the Mules remain undefeated in the OIA West.

Kira Nakasono led Waialua with 11 points.

At Waialua H.S. gym

Leilehua (4-0)	13	11	12	11	--	47
Waialua (0-4)	6	15	8	7	--	36

LEILEHUA -- Priscilla West 2, Heidi Garcia 9, Naschelle Scott 9, Maria Quidez 4, Pikake Nutter-Gaudet 6, Sara Smith 2, Inez Tauvela 14.

WAIALUA -- Ashley Yoshizu 5, Joanna Alfanta 2, Clarice Kajiwara 6, Melissa Baker 1, Glenelle Matas 9, Shanay Coloma 2, Kira Nakasono 11.

3-point goals -- Leilehua 1 (Garcia). Waialua 3 (Yoshizu, Kajiwara, Nakasono).

Junior varsity -- Leilehua 24, Waialua 23

Waianae 41, Waipahu 19: Tiare Holbron and Angeline Lino combined for 29 points to lead the Seariders.

At Waianae H.S. gym

Waipahu (1-3)	4	7	2	6	--	19
Waianae(2-1)	9	12	9	11	--	41

WAIPAHU -- Crystal Baliguat 0, Ranalyn Baldovi 0, Rosanna Jardin 3, Jenna Rosario 2, Nicole Keaunui 2, Tiana Ortogero 0, Angeli Espiritu 0, Adrianna Olione 0, Talapasia Samuela 1, Jerrell Taituave 11, Sharon Amisone 0.

WAIANAE -- Kisha Hampton 6, Angeline Lino 13, Chelsea Park 0, Yvonne Eli 3, Wailana Darden 0, Tiare Holbron 16, Czarina Gaspar 0, Tristina Nitta 1, Janeen Lee-Abelye 0, Tabitha Randles 2, Rochelle Kekoa 0.

3-point goals -- Waipahu 1 (Jardin). Waianae 2 (Lino, Eli).

Junior varsity -- Waipahu 28, Waianae 27

Radford 42, Kapolei 24: Heather Massey hit for 15 points as the Rams cruised past the Hurricanes.

Radford led 13-12 at halftime, but outscored Kapolei 29-12 in the second half.

At Radford H.S. gym

Kapolei (0-4)	5	7	4	8	--	24
Radford (3-2)	6	7	13	16	--	42

KAPOLEI -- Tasha Faumuina 0, Kamaile Kelekolio 0, Kayla Kam 8, Charlyn Kawachi 0, Doreen Anguay 3, Danielle Hughes 0, Shauntay Leutu 0, Tanya Menino 8, Sanoi Peahu 0, Ama Haupu-Silva 3, Pam Mellinger 1, Edna Talo 1.

RADFORD -- Joanne Czumalowski 3, Nakita Viavia 2, Chantel Romano 1, Jenna Johnson-Endo 2, Marina Watts 0, Jennifer Taylor 3, Brianna Reyes 2, Heather Massey 15, Lia Mickey 9, Michelle Winebush 4, Talaya Jones 1.

3-point goals -- Kapolei 1 (Anguay). Radford 2 (Massey, Mickey).

Junior varsity -- Radford 30, Kapolei 20

Pearl City 52, Campbell 44: Christie Ayers scored nine of her game-high 13 points in the second half to lead the Chargers past the Sabers.

Kristin Lai and Marci Lobendahn added 10 points each for Pearl City.

At Pearl City H.S. gym

Campbell (3-1)	14	7	6	17	--	44
Pearl City (4-1)	14	10	15	13	--	52

CAMPBELL -- Joanne Corpuz 3, Jasmine Lopez 4, Venicia Morris 0, RJ Costa 0, Denise Alonzo 0, Jalen Garcia 8, Christina Meekins 0, Jamie Kua 6, Jacqueline Mendes 4, Jolani Bobbitt 0, Kim Edwards 2, Hoku Leiato 10, Chaunte Jackson 7, Denise McRae 0.

PEARL CITY -- Darcie Hamamoto 2, Jillan Soria 2, Amy Fujihara 0, Christie Ayers 13, Chalice Kaapuni 4, Kellie Yuen 5, Kristin Lai 10, Tatum Higdon 0, Frances Mabalay 0, Tina Questel 6, Marci Lobendahn 10, Lusia Kleinschmidt 0.

3-point goals -- Campbell 2 (Leiato 1, Garcia 1). Pearl City 1 (Yuen).

Aiea 18, Nanakuli 16: Na Alii improved to 4-1 with their low-scoring win over the Golden Hawks (2-3). Details were not available.

ILH

Iolani 54, Sacred Hearts 36: Ginger Gravelle scored 17 points and hit three 3-pointers to lead the Raiders past the Lancers.

At Iolani H.S. gym

Sacred Hearts (3-3)	10	11	6	9	--	36
Iolani (3-3)	11	13	14	16	--	54

SACRED HEARTS--Katie Rutland 2, Cherie Kinoshita 2, Tamieka Trujillo 0, Brittney Aiwohi 6, Nicole Lehner 4, Shalei Soueira 0, Kimberlee Young 8, Colby Aiwohi 8, Nikki Agor 0, Lani Faumuina 6, Nicole Raiola 0.

IOLANI--Jen Nagamine 2, Raeceen Woolford 4, Jackie-lyn Sasaki 1, Lana Young 7, Ginger Gravelle 17, Fabriann Gin 12, Kiani Wong 11, Keri Oyadomari 0, Patricia Wong 0, Diana McClain 0.

3-point goals -- Sacred Hearts 1 (C. Aiwohi). Iolani 3 (Gravelle 3).

University 46, Mid-Pacific 43: Diane Okubo scored 20 points as the Junior 'Bows edged the Owls.

At Mid-Pacific Gym

University (2-4)	13	13	6	14	--	46
Mid-Pacific (1-5)	8	10	13	12	--	43

UNIVERSITY -- Iwalani Yamaguchi 0, Diane Okubo 20, Brittany Anderson 0, Kamaile Durrett 9, Leahi Frias 4, Kylie Lum 7, Karlee Ka'iliehu 2, Cara Pang 4.

MID-PACIFIC -- Keli Kajiwara 6, Leihoku Pedersen 0, Kristy Minamishin 0, Mariko Strickland 2, Stephanie Toshi 23, Valerie Aficial 2, Talia Onosai 10.

3-point goals -- University 2 (Okubo 2). Mid-Pacific 4 (Toshi 3, Kajiwara).

Maryknoll 52, St. Francis 40: Michelle Baduria and Cheryl Lee scored 14 points each to lead the Spartans past the Troubadours.

At Maryknoll H.S. gym

Maryknoll (4-2)	11	11	17	13	--	52
St. Francis (0-6)	8	9	15	8	--	40

MARYKNOLL -- Michelle Baduria 14, Jenna Castillo 8, Stacey Doran 1, Sela Fisilau 6, Jessica Ho 0, Cheryl Lee 14, Diana Samson 7, Whitney Wong 2.

ST. FRANCIS -- Jasmine Dulan 12, Mandy Llamedo 22, Annie Llamedo 0, Latasha Griffin 0, Chelsey Powell 0, Jennifer Lim, Lauren Upadhyaya 0, Bennita Robinson 5, Melanie Keliipuleole 1.

3-point goals--Maryknoll 2 (Baduria, Samson). St. Francis 6 (M. Llamedo 5, Dulan).

Division II
La Pietra 24, Iolani 18.
Kamehameha 59, Redemption 15
Punahou 48, Hanalani 29

Leading scorers -- LP: Elizia McGuire 11. KS: Naleisha Pelekai-Wai 14, Wendy Kashiwabara 13. Han: Jennifer Ramos 14.

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