Veteran leadership and poise won out over youthful athletic ability last night as Moanalua remained undefeated in Oahu Interscholastic Association basketball by beating Kahuku 49-44. Moanalua wins
battle of unbeatensBy Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comA crowd of about 800 fans packed the Moanalua gym to see which East Division front-runner would remain standing. The Menehunes improved to 8-0 and the Red Raiders dropped to 7-1. Each team has two games remaining in the regular season.
With tenacious defense at the start of the fourth quarter, the senior-driven Menehunes went on a crucial 11-2 run to take a 42-36 lead and wipe out a three-point deficit.
"The coaches told us at the end of the third quarter that we worked so hard in the first half and that's why we got to where we were," said Moanalua swingman Patti Hardimon, who finished with a game-high 16 points. "We always pick it up in the fourth quarter, that's our quarter."
Steals by Hardimon and Kepua Lee, along with Marleen Leautu's stuff of a short shot by Kahuku inside threat Latoya Wily, set the pace for the Menehunes in the pivotal early part of the fourth. Christina Sierra helped out with a 3-pointer.
The final-period thrust was a welcome change for Moanalua, which was outplayed by Kahuku at both ends of the floor in the third. The Red Raiders, led by Aisha Ale's five points, outscored the Menehunes 13-7 in the period to earn a 34-31 edge.
"Kahuku is a physical team," Moanalua coach Roy Dias said. "So we needed to at least push back. Our experience really helped. Kahuku is a very, very young team, and I can't imagine what they're going to be like in a few years.
"Our girls worked hard on defense and they understood what we needed to do. After we took a lead, there was no sense bombing away for 3s. We executed against a very tough team."
Hardimon's ballhandling for the Menehunes in crunch time was also a big factor. She ran the stall successfully two out of three times. On the other occasion, the Red Raiders' Karla Tailele converted a steal into a layup to cut the Moanalua lead to 42-38.
Ronni Keliihoomalu's inside basket on a pass from Sierra that just made it over a Kahuku defender gave the Menehunes a comfortable 44-38 cushion with under two minutes left. Moanalua went 5-for-7 from the line after that to seal it.
"We weren't in sync," Kahuku coach Wendy Anae said. "We didn't take care of the basketball and made mistakes. We'll go back to practice, work hard and try to put it together."
The Menehunes led 24-21 at the half, thanks to an 8-0 closing run spearheaded by Hardimon's five points.
Keliihoomalu also finished in double figures for Moanalua with 11 points. She and Sierra each scored six in the important final period.
Ale had a team-high 11 points for the Red Raiders. Wily and teammate Mona Ale finished with 10 each.
"I'm upset with myself," Wily said. "I feel like I didn't help my team as much as I should have. I hate losing. That's the way I was raised. But I guess it might be a good thing tonight to motivate us to come back harder. We weren't all on our games, especially mentally."
Hardimon, who accepted a four-year scholarship to play volleyball for Chaminade on Wednesday, was one of four Menehunes seniors honored after the game during senior night. Leautu, Sierra and a tearful Amy Kotani are the others who will graduate this spring.
At Moanalua H.S. gym
Kahuku (7-1) 11 10 13 10 -- 44 Moanalua (8-0) 11 12 8 18 -- 49 KAHUKU -- Camilla Ah-Hoy 5, Chazel Fiso 0, Mona Ale 10, Lesina Funaki 0, Anny Soliai 0, Artevia Wily 4, Karla Tailele 4, Aisha Ale 11, Melissa Aumua 0, Terina Oto 0, Musie Olevao 0, Latoya Wily 10.
MOANALUA -- Christina Sierra 6, Amy Kotani 3, Sherri Reyes 0, Ronni Keliihoomalu 9, Sasha Silva 3, Patti Hardimon 16, Joy Matsukawa 3, Kepua Lee 9, Marleen Leautu 0.
3-point goals -- Kahuku 1 (Ah-Hoy), Moanalua 4 (Sierra, Kotani, Hardimon, Matsukawa).
Junior varsity -- Kahuku 51, Moanalua 46
McKinley 37, Farrington 34
Amber Lee scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the second half as the Tigers beat the host Governors.
Bre Carson scored seven of her 10 points in the second quarter. McKinley scored all five of its fourth-quarter points on free throws. The Tigers were 9-for-14 from the line in the game.
Farrington was just 11-for-21 from the line.
At Farrington H.S. gym
McKinley (6-2) 7 16 9 5 -- 37 Farrington (5-3) 5 14 11 4 -- 34 MCKINLEY -- Chantel Yadao 2, Rayna Isaki 6, Meagan Miyasaka 0, Melody Ababa 0, Bre Carson 10, Sharlee Kitaoka 0, Ceslie Maafala 0, Amber Lee 16, Tania Liufau 2, Kelli Fukymoto 1, Janine Corpuz 0, Nalani Correia 0.
FARRINGTON -- Revelyn Cabaya 0, Ellaine Bihag 2, Joanne Fernandez 0, Sandy Tauta 0, Paepaetele Poasa 7, Tanya Alualu 0, Meleane Mateaki 6, Laosamoa Misa-Uli 19.
3-point goals -- McKinley (Isaki 2, Caroson 2), Farrington (Mateaki).
Junior varsity -- Farrington 50, McKinley 40
Kailua 44, Roosevelt 40
At Kailua H.S. gym
Roosevelt (2-7) 10 7 10 13 -- 40 Kailua (2-7) 12 11 12 9 -- 44 ROOSEVELT -- Justina Yanuria 11, Chelsie Kadota 7, Capi Uyechi 0, Larisa Nakasone 7, Dana Kiyuna 2, Natalie Iwasahi 0, Nicole Yoshimoto 8, Erin Tagomori 0, Lahilahi Simeona 0, Nicole Okada 5, Tasha Aloisio 0, Monile Bell 0.
KAILUA -- Jaushlyn Mansinon 9, Loke Lastimosa 9, Pohai Hovey 0, Kamaile Hughes 2, Tiatti Satele 13, Kori Maekawa 2, Kalina Kama 0, Tiffany Lee 7, Danielle Young 2.
3-point goals -- Roosevelt 4 (Yanuria 2, Kadota, Nakasone), Kailua 2 (Lee, Mansinon).
Junior varsity -- Roosevelt 51, Kailua 15
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