The view from the top spot isn't as comfortable as one might think. Kamehameha girls escape
upset at hands of MoanaluaBy Grace Wen
gwen@starbulletin.comTop-seeded Kamehameha needed Lehua Wood's free throw with 20 seconds left in the game to finish off a determined Moanalua squad. The Warriors squeaked by the Menehunes, 41-38, in the quarterfinals of the 2002 Hawaiian Airlines Girls State Basketball Championship. The Warriors had not played since clinching the ILH championship almost two weeks ago.
Kamehameha faces Kahuku in tonight's first semifinal at 6:30 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. Punahou tips off against surprising Iolani at 8 p.m. in the second semifinal.
"This game was a reflection on how we played during the preseason, not the second half of the season," Kamehameha coach Clay Cockett said. "We were bouncing off walls in preseason and we managed to win. We were bouncing off walls today and we managed to win.
"Of all the second-round games we probably had the toughest. Moanalua, they've improved a whole lot. It's a credit to the girls and (coach Roy Dias). We almost lost tonight cause we didn't play smart enough."
The Menehunes might have improved mightily since the preseason, but they still couldn't make their free throws. Dias said the problem has plagued them all season. Moanalua didn't take advantage of the numerous trips to the charity stripe, converting on just 13 of 33 opportunities.
Junior Patti Hardimon scored a game-high 16 points but struggled from the free-throw line, hitting just 8 of 14 attempts.
"We actually could have pulled it out if we converted our free throws," said Hardimon, who also had seven rebounds and three steals. "People on the team stepped up. People coming off the bench stepped up for us."
It was an aggressive battle the entire game with plenty of pile-ups in the paint as both teams went hard on the boards. Moanalua won the battle, outrebounding Kamehameha 42-34, but turnovers were costly for the Menehunes. Moanalua coughed up the ball 28 times. Kamehameha was only slightly steadier with 19 turnovers.
The Menehunes had trouble with the Warriors' press and turned the ball over 14 times in the first half. Moanalua could have used point guard Amy Kotani, who warmed-up but had not played much this season after suffering two concussions.
"Patti's not a '1' (point guard), so with Amy in there it could have been a tremendous help," Dias said. "She's an awesome point guard, possibly one of the best in the state. It was a tough loss, but our team overcame adversity. In real tough games, our players come to play. Sometimes our girls, they don't show up. But in tough, important games, they really step up."
Kamehameha's game wasn't crisp either, but its shooting beyond the arc gave it a boost. Wood buried back-to-back 3-pointers in the second quarter to give Kamehameha a 24-17 lead. But Wood went to the pine after she picked up her third foul with 1:19 left before intermission.
Despite not being able to control the ball, Moanalua stayed within range as Hardimon scored on a putback with 10 seconds left in the half to trim Kamehameha's lead to 29-23.
Kamehameha's defense bothered Moanalua the entire game, but the Menehunes clamped down on the Warriors in the third quarter. Moanalua allowed just four points and scored nine to close to 33-32. Freshman Ronni Keliihoomalu provided a spark on offense with two baskets sandwiched around a 3-pointer by Kepua Lee.
In the fourth quarter, Kamehameha surged to a 37-32 lead after a basket by Mounia Nihipali. The game see-sawed back and forth and Moanalua was within one after Hardimon sank both free throws with 2:23 on the clock. But Kamehameha pulled away for good after Amber Carter stole the ball and scored on the ensuing basket.
Moanalua 10 13 9 6 -- 38 Kamehameha 16 13 4 8 -- 41 MOANALUA (11-5): Christina Sierra 0-7 2-5 2, Sasha Silva 0-2 2-8 2, Patti Hardimon 4-10 8-14 16, Kepua Lee 4-11 0-3 11, Marleen Leautu 0-2 0-0 0, Jessie Kamakura 1-1 0-1 2, Brittany Briem 0-0 0-0 0, Ronni Keliihoomalu 2-3 1-2 5. Totals 11-36 13-33 38.
KAMEHAMEHA (15-1): Ashley Ruff 2-12 2-4 6, Amber Carter 4-8 0-0 10, Lehua Wood 2-5 1-2 7, Mounia Nihipali 2-4 1-2 5, Megan Ching 2-16 3-6 7, Jeneka Taeoalii 0-1 0-0 0, Tiffany Ann Shim 0-1 0-0 0, India Soo 1-4 0-1 2, Courtney Chai 1-1 0-0 2, Kekai Crabbe 1-1 0-0 2, Chrystal Hodson 0-0 0-0 0, Megan Kanoa 0-0 0-0 0, Chelsea Kalama 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-53 7-15 41.
3-point goals--Moanalua 3-7 (Lee 3-5, Hardimon 0-1, Sierra 0-1), Kamehameha 4-13 (Wood 2-3, Carter 2-5, Soo 0-2, Ching 0-3).
Rebounds--Moanalua 42 (Leautu 11), Kamehameha 34 (Nihipali 9). Assists--Moanalua 3 (Hardimon 2), Kamehameha 9 (Ching 3). Total fouls--Moanalua 14, Kamehameha 24. Fouled out--Hardimon, Nihipali, Soo.
Kahuku 58, Baldwin 41
The Red Raiders used an enormous rebounding advantage (42-11) to upset the fourth-seeded Bears.
The Bears kept it close in the first half and only trailed 24-17, but a scoring frenzy by the Red Raiders in the third quarter put the game way out of reach. Kelci Naihe scored seven of her game-high 16 points as Kahuku scored a whopping 21 points in the third period.
The Red Raiders got a lot of second looks but didn't allow the Bears many second chances. Kahuku crashed the boards for 25 defensive rebounds. Mereani Lewenilovo just missed a double-double, pulling down nine rebounds to go with 11 points.
Kahuku 10 14 21 13 -- 58 Baldwin 8 9 10 14 -- 41 KAHUKU (12-4): Kelci Naihe 6-11 2-2 16; Mereani Lewenilovo 5-6 1-2 11; Karla Tailele 2-7 2-4 8; Nicole Pouha 2-3 0-0 4; Tanya Alo, 2-2 0-0 4; Michelle Peters 2-3 0-0 4; Alberta Fotu 1-3 1-2 3; Nancy Vave 1-2 0-0 2; Krisha Kai 1-4 0-0 2; Charlotte Leitupo 1-2 0-0 2; Lesina Funaki 1-5 0-0 2. Totals 24-48 6-10 58.
BALDWIN (13-2): Kami Kapaku 6-13 1-1 14; Crystal Manuel 1-6 5-6 7; Jenna Mailou 2-2 3-4 7; Mahie Atay 2-8 0-0 6; Isabeau Waiau 2-2 2-4 6; Kapua Atay 0-5 1-4 1. Totals 13-36 12-19 41.
3-point goals--Kahuku 4-14 (Naihe 2-4, Tailele 2-6, Fotu 0-1, Funaki 0-3), Baldwin 3-14 (M. Atay 2-7, Kapaku 1-2, Manuel 0-5).
Rebounds--Kahuku 43 (Lewenilovo 9), Baldwin 11 (M. Atay, K. Atay 3). Assists--Kahuku 16 (Peters 5), Baldwin 9 (K. Atay, Mailou, Kapaku 2). Total fouls-Kahuku14, Baldwin 13.
Punahou 46, Konawaena 38
The third-seeded Wildcats, the only undefeated team in the tournament, were fighting for respect and almost got the upset. With a loud contingent from the Big Island cheering, Konawaena nearly toppled the Buffanblu in an up-tempo game where neither side to slowed down.
The Wildcats led 38-34 with 4:30 left before Punahou's Becky Hogue hit a free throw and another basket that brought the Buffanblu within one. Hogue had been contained most of the night by Konawaena sophomore Nancy Hoist.
The game slipped away from the Wildcats as the Buffanblu hit all nine of their free throws in the final two minutes to hand Konawaena its first loss of the season.
Wildcats coach Bobbie Awa didn't want to make excuses for the loss, but Awa said two of her players weren't 100 percent. Hoist, the Wildcats top rebounder and defender, suffered an asthmatic attack yesterday and had to be rushed to urgent care. Freshman Jessica Hanato, who had a double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds), has been battling bronchitis.
Punahou 13 15 3 15 -- 46 Konawaena 12 13 6 7 -- 38 PUNAHOU (15-2): Rachel Kane 4-12 4-6 14; Elyse Umeda 2-9 6-8 10; Becky Hogue 3-8 2-3 8; Shanna-Lei Dacanay 2-11 0-0 4; Kelly Karns 2-3 0-0 4; Sydney Anderson 0-1 2-2 2; Christine Takara 0-4 2-3 2; Eryn Chun 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 13-49 18-24 46.
KONAWAENA (13-1): Jessica Hanato 2-6 8-10 12; Nancy Hoist 3-6 3-4 10; Shawna-Marie Gomes 1-3 2-2 5; Jennifer Tayamen 1-4 1-2 3; Keala Kaupu 1-3 0-0 2; Kristin Kitaoka 1-8 0-2 2; Kara Taniyama 1-5 0-1 2; E. Chung-Hoon Palau 1-4 0-0 2; Tiare DeAguiar 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 11-40 14-21 38.
3-point goals--Punahou 2-8 (Kane 2-4; Umeda 0-2; Dacanay 0-2), Konawaena 2-10 (Hoist 1-3; Gomes 1-2; Kitaoka 0-3; Taniyama 0-2). Fouled out--Taniyama. Rebounds--Punahou 37 (Hogue 8), Konawaena 32 (Hanato 10). Assists--Punahou 7 (Dacanay 3), Konawaena 7 (Hanato 3). Total fouls--Punahou 18, Konawaena 19.
Iolani 50, Kalaheo 29
The Mustangs, last year's runners-up, were the second seeded team to fall yesterday.
With a 9-7 record at the start of the tournament, the Raiders were considered sleepers.
Iolani led 37-23 early in the fourth quarter after Trisha Nishimoto converted two free throws off a technical foul issued to Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado.
Nishimoto missed most of the season with a high-right ankle sprain and also suffered a mild concussion on Tuesday. But none of it seemed to affect the senior as she led Iolani in scoring (19 points) and defense.
The Raiders were quicker to the ball and the basket and they didn't allow the Mustangs to get to the basket. Iolani's defense forced 12 turnovers in the second half.
Fabriann Gin added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Raiders. Latoya Wily led Kalaheo with 10 points.
Iolani 11 11 11 17 -- 50 Kalaheo 11 8 4 6 -- 29 Iolani (11-7): Trisha Nishimoto 5-14 9-14 19, Lana Young 1-2 4-6 6, Ginger Gravelle 2-14 0-1 4, Fabriann Gin 4-9 6-6 14, Diana McClain 0-0 2-2 2, Jennifer Nagamine 0-0 0-0 0, Raeceen Woolford 0-0 0-0 0, Jackie-Lynn Sasaki 0-0 1-2 1, Kiani Wong 0-0 0-0 0, Keri Oyadomari 0-0 2-2 2, Patricia Wong 1-2 0-4 2, Chelsea Wong 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-41 24-37 50.
Kalaheo (11-3): Bre Carson 1-5 2-3 5, Shaina Siliga 1-4 0-0 2, Brandi Benson 2-7 0-0 4, Brina Fritzsche 2-4 2-5 6, Latoya Wily 4-5 2-2 10, Kalena Hatori 1-3 1-2 3, Shantel Marumoto 0-1 0-0 2, Natasha Lagapa 0-5 0-0 0, Dawnelle Nahinu 0-3 0-2 0, Kaiena Huihui 0-0 0-0 0, Hauoli Kahlbaun 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 11-37 7-14 29.
3-point goals--Iolani 0-7 (Nishimoto 0-4; Gravelle 0-3), Kalaheo 0-11 (Carson 0-4; Siliga 0-2; Nahinu 0-1; Lagapa 0-4). Fouled out--Iolani: None, Kalaheo: Carson, Benson.
Rebounds--Iolani 33 (Gin 10), Kalaheo 29 (Fritzsche 9). Assists-Iolani 4 (Young 3), Kalaheo 4 (Siliga 2). Total fouls--Iolani 14, Kalaheo 29.
Consolation
Waiakea 51, Kapaa 41
Waiakea rallied from a 10-point deficit early in the second half to defeat Kapaa in a consolation round battle. Kapaa held a 29-19 with 7:03 remaining in the third quarter. Waiakea then went on a 13-0 run and took the lead for good at 30-29 on Kristine Irvine's basket with 45 seconds left in the period. Waiakea scored the first eight points of the final quarter to seal the win.
Kapaa 13 11 7 10 -- 41 Waiakea 8 11 13 19 -- 51 KAPAA (7-2): Kanoe Arinaga 8-15 4-7 20; Danielle Hill 4-6 0-0 8; Sharlene Carillo 3-8 0-0 6; Ihilani Yama 1-2 0-0 2; Jackie Alapai1-1 0-0 2; Jasmine Stevenson 1-2 0-0 2; Tania Tasic 0-3 1-4 1; Tescily Macguire 0-2 0-0 0; Bristol King 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-40 5-11 41.
WAIAKEA (10-5): Ashley Kualii 8-13 5-7 21; Jobette Nabarro 7-17 3-6 17; Amy Kaaiakamanu 1-4 2-2 4; Stacey Yanagihara 1-6 0-1 3; Genevieve Girdner 1-5 0-0 2; Adrienne Ohashi 1-2 0-0 2; Irvine, Kristine 1-4 0-0 2; Katie Morigaki 0-2 0-0 0; Lena Hamakawa 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-54 10-16 51.
3-point goals--Kapaa 0-1 (King 0-1), Waiakea 1-7 (Yanagihara 1-5, Kualii 0-2).
Rebounds--Kapaa 29 (Stevenson, Hill 6), Waiakea 30 (Girdner 6). Assists--Kapaa 8 (Arinaga 3), Waiakea 5 (Kualii, Ashley 3). Total fouls--Kapaa 20, Waiakea 14. Fouled out--Stevenson.
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