[ HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS ]
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If the Kalaheo girls basketball team seems immune to the pressure of postseason play, it isn't a result of being battle tested. With eight freshmen and sophomores on the roster, the Mustangs simply don't know any better. Mustangs ride to title game
By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.com"I don't think they feel any of this," Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado said after last night's playoff game at Pearl City. "They're so young I don't think they really feel any this stuff, which is good."
The Mustangs earned their sixth straight trip to the Oahu Interscholastic Association championship game with a 43-20 win over Pearl City in last night's semifinal game.
Kalaheo, the four-time defending league champion, will face OIA Eastern Division rival Kahuku in the title game Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center. Pearl City will face Moanalua in the third-place game.
In a game in which both teams combined for 50 turnovers, the Kalaheo defense limited Pearl City to 7-of-30 shooting from the field.
The Chargers struggled to find any rhythm against the Mustang defense, attempting only two shots in the final quarter.
"Offensively we struggled a little bit, turned the ball over a little bit too much," Furtado said. "But when you're not playing well offensively, defense kind of bails you out, and I thought we played extremely well defensively except for that third quarter."
Latoya Wily led Kalaheo with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Pearl City played most of the game without guard Christie Ayers, who sprained her right ankle in practice on Monday. She started the game, but left in the first quarter and didn't return.
"We definitely missed her running the offense and her toughness on defense," Pearl City coach Mike Morton said.
Kalaheo set the tempo in the first quarter by jumping out to an 11-4 lead. The Mustangs led 20-6 at halftime, with the total number of points equaling the teams' combined turnovers.
The Chargers made a run at the Mustangs in the third quarter, cutting Kalaheo's lead to 10 on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Kelli Yuen.
But Kalaheo opened the fourth quarter by scoring eight points before the Chargers attempted their first field goal. The Chargers were shut out in the period before Kristin Lai made a free throw with 29.8 seconds left.
"They played really tough defense, and they gave us a hard time," Morton said. "But the girls never gave up, and I liked that, but Kalaheo turned it up also.
"Kalaheo's playing really good right now, they're peaking."
At Pearl City H.S. gym
Kalaheo (10-2) 11 9 8 15 -- 43 Pearl City (10-2) 4 2 12 2 -- 20 KALAHEO -- Bre Carson 3, Shaina Siliga 2, Kalena Hatori 4, Shantel Marumoto 2, Brandi Benson 6, Natasha Lagapa 0, Dawnelle Nahinu 1, Brina Fritzche 7, Latoya Wily 14, Kalena Huihui 2, Hauoli Kahlbaum 2.
PEARL CITY -- Darcie Hamamoto 0, Jillan Soria 3, Amy Fujihara 0, Joni Yoon 0, Christie Ayers 0, Chalice Kaapuni 2, Kelli Yuen 5, Jamie Iwata 0, Kristin Lai 1, Tatum Higdon 1, Frances Mabalay 0, Tina Questel 2, Marci Lobendahn 6, Lusia Kleinschmidt 0.
3-point goals -- Kalaheo 1 (Carson), Pearl City 1 (Yuen).
Junior varsity -- Kalaheo 55, Pearl City 41
Kahuku 45, Moanalua 36
Michelle Peters scored 11 of her 14 points in the first half as the Red Raiders advanced to the OIA championship game.
Mereani Lewenilovo picked up the scoring load in the second half, hitting for 10 of her 11 points.
At Kahuku H.S. gym
Moanalua (9-4) 6 7 10 13 -- 36 Kahuku (10-3) 9 8 11 17 -- 45 MOANALUA -- Christina Sierra 5, Sasha Silva 0, Patti Hardimon 14, Marleen Leautu 1, Brittany Briem 0, Kepua Lee 14, Ronni Keliihoomalu 2.
KAHUKU -- Mereani Lewenilovo 11, Lesina Funaki 2, Krisha Kai 1, Karla Tailele 9, Melissa Aumua 0, Charlotte Leitupo 7, Michelle Peters 14, Tanya Alo 0, Nicole Po'uha 0, Kelci Naihe 0, Alberta Fotu 1.
3-point goals -- Moanalua 2 (Lee 2).
ILH TOURNAMENT
Sacred Hearts 51 Hawaii Baptist 31
Brittney Aiwohi scored a game-high 27 points to lead the Lancers past the Eagles in the second round of the ILH third-place tournament at McCabe Gym.
Kari Morita led HBA with 14 points.
At McCabe Gym
Hawaii Baptist (9-5) 6 5 5 15 -- 31 Sacred Hearts (7-8) 7 9 12 23 -- 51 HAWAII BAPTIST -- Kara Onosaki 2, Wednianne Chu 0, Liza Onuma 3, Kara Morita 14, Patrice Kodama 6, Jessica Ho 0, Chelsea Yasuda 5, Kelli Furutomo 0, Jennifer Matsui 0, Raena Kaneshiro 0, Diana Au 1.
SACRED HEARTS -- Katie Rutlin 2, Cherie Kinoshita 4, Tamieka Trujillo 0, Brittney Aiwohi 27, Nicole Lehner 2, Shalei Soueira 3, Colbey Aiwohi 2, Nikki Agor 0, Lani Faumuina 2, Nicole Raiola 9.
3-point goals -- Hawaii Baptist 1 (Kodama), Sacred Hearts 4 (B.Aiwohi 3, Raiola 1).
University 39, Mid-Pacific 33
Leahi Frias scored 12 points to lead the Junior 'Bows past the Owls.
MPI's Jasmine Vierra led all scorers with 14 points.At McCabe Gym
Mid-Pacific (2-13) 9 5 9 10 -- 33 University (5-10) 13 9 10 7 -- 39 MID-PACIFIC -- Kelli Kajiwara 0, Leihoku Pederson 0, Kristy Minamishin 7, Jasmine Vierra 14, Stephanie Toshi 3, Talia Onosai 5, Mariko Strickland 4.
UNIVERSITY -- Iwa Yamaguchi 0, Diane Okubo 5, Brittany Anderson 4, Kamaile Durett 7, Leahi Frias 12, Kylie Lum 5, Karlee Kailehu 2, Cara Pang 4.
3-point goals -- University 2 (Okubo 1, Lum 1).
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