GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Punahou's Shanna Dacanay went up for a shot against Kamehameha last night. The Buffanblu won 48-46 for the ILH title.
Punahou earns
state tourney spotYou could try boiling down all the plots and subplots, but all that mattered in last night's Punahou vs. Kamehameha basketball matchup was which team could get to the oasis and out of the harsh, hard-to-score conditions at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.
For the first 2 1/2 quarters, the two teams gasped and grasped for the fresh taste of victory but couldn't pull away. The Warriors gained some ground late in the third quarter, but the Buffanblu staged an inspired fourth-quarter rally for a 48-46 victory and the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship in front of more than 1,000 fans.
Punahou will be the ILH's seed in next month's state tournament.
"We finally got some people moving, swinging the ball, and getting a lot of touches on each of our possessions and we also made some key stops," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "For a while before that we were stagnant. Real stagnant."
It looked like the defending state champion Warriors (12-2) would pull away for good late in the third. Mounia Nihipali broke a 28-all tie with a basket after taking a long pass from Megan Ching. And that's when freshman Tatriana Lorenzo stepped up. She made three critical steals and scored four points as Kamehameha finished off a quarter-closing 10-2 run for a 36-29 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
The Buffanblu (14-0) responded quickly, as an inspired Elyse Umeda scored seven points early in the final period and dished to Makena Hunt for another basket. When Rachel Kane hit three of four from the line with less than three minutes to go, Punahou had itself a 45-43 edge.
Umeda was also a defensive sparkplug for the Buffanblu, holding the high-scoring Ching to eight points.
"This team is so good that when adversity hits, we can bring it back," Umeda said. "When I hit that shot (to pull her team within one at 41-40) I knew we weren't going to lose."
Kane hit two more free throws from the line and Shanna Dacanay added one for a 48-43 lead before Lorenzo popped in a 3-pointer for the Warriors just before the final buzzer.
"We let it get away from us," Kamehameha coach Clay Cockett said. "All in all, though, I can't be disappointed in the overall effort of our players."
The Buffanblu's Becky Hogue and the Warriors' Nihipali scored six points each in the first quarter as Punahou took a 12-10 lead.
Ching, who was held scoreless in the first quarter, came to life with six early second-quarter points. The Warriors took their first lead of the game, 14-12, as Ching outmuscled Umeda underneath for a hoop after taking a pass from Nihipali.
When Punahou regained a 17-16 edge on Kane's 16-foot jumper, Kamehameha answered with two 10-footers from Lorenzo for a 20-17 edge.
Kane's 3-point swish tied it briefly before the Warriors went up by two, 22-20, at the half on Jeneka Taeoalii's basket from underneath on a feed from Ching.
Umeda credited her teammates for her flurry of points early in the final period.
"The faith my teammates have in me was my motivation," she said. "With that kind of faith on the bench, it's hard not to give it your all."
The Buffanblu beat the Warriors twice this season, but the real test is ahead: next month's state tournament.
"We accomplished our first goal," Taylor said. "But it's not over. Our second goal is in two weeks. We've got work to do, but we'll take a few days of rest first."
Kane and Lorenzo tied for game-high honors with 13 points each.
OIA West
Pearl City 41, Waipahu 32: Marci Lobendahn scored 12 points and the Chargers made 18 of 37 free throws to capture the Western Division title and finish the regular season unbeaten.Waipahu got within three points with two minutes left before Pearl City sealed it at the line.
Pearl City, Aiea, Radford, Campbell, Mililani and Leilehua have secured berths in the OIA tournament, which begins on Thursday.
The four OIA tournament semifinalists advance to next month's state tournament.
At Pearl City H.S. gym
Waipahu (3-7) 10 7 6 9 -- 32 Pearl City (10-0) 10 13 4 14 -- 41 WAIPAHU -- Crystal Baliguat 2, Joanne Manuel 0, Laura Florendo 9, Nicole Keaunui 0, Maryann Baxa 1, Adrianna Olione 6, Tanya Lauifi 2, Talapasia Samuela 0, Miracle Fallauga 0, Maureen Cozo 12.
PEARL CITY -- Darcie Hamamoto 0, Jillan Soria 5, Amy Fujihara 3, Kellie Nishikida 4, Christie Ayers 7, Chalice Kaapuni 2, Jamie Iwata 1, Kamill Rego de Dios 5, Tina Questel 1, Marci Lobendahn 12, Lusia Kleinschmidt 1.
3-point goals -- Waipahu 1 (Florendo), Pearl City 1 (Rego de Dios).
Junior varsity -- Waipahu 32, Pearl City 29
Aiea 23, Radford 22: Jamie Rosario went the length of the court and sank a short bank shot with 1.7 seconds left to lift Na Alii past the Rams.
Radford's Jenna Johnson-Endo drilled a 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds left in the fourth to put the Rams up 22-21.
Aiea and Radford finish the regular season at 8-2.
At Radford H.S. gym
Aiea (8-2) 4 8 5 6 -- 23 Radford (8-2) 6 5 2 9 -- 22 AIEA -- Noelani Colburn1 , Jamie Rosario 12, Sherylann Miyashiro 0, Nicky Takemoto 4, Melika Souza 0, Pukai Castillo 1, Kalei Castillo 2, Felisha Liilii 0, Ashley Vidal 0, Shareyn Muneoka 0, Donna Achalas 3.
RADFORD -- Joanne Czumalowski 3, Adrienne Dudley 0, Shantel Romano 4, Ashley Rioux , Marina Watts 0, Kathleen Suwa 0, Tereva Moore , Lia Mickey 1, Michelle Winebush 0, Nakita Viavia 2, Talaya Jones 2, Jenna Johnson-Endo 10.
3-point goals -- Radford 2 (Johnson-Endo 2).
Junior varsity -- Radford 47, Aiea 22
Campbell 50, Mililani 40: Jacqueline Mendes scored 13 points and Jamie Kua added 12 and blocked eight shots as the Sabers beat the Trojans.
At Campbell H.S. gym
Mililani (6-4) 11 10 12 7 -- 40 Campbell (8-2) 14 13 11 12 -- 50 MILILANI -- Christina Korodon 6, Ashleigh Payne 2, Sandy Nakamura 3, Erin Chapman 3, Lorianne Nonies 6, Rebekah McKay 0, Yvonne Morris 10, Suzann Jackson 6, Christy Duvauchelle 4.
CAMPBELL -- Joanne Corpuz 0, Jasmine Lopez 0, Everly San Agustin 0, Jalen Garcia 9, Raynette Whitfield 4, Jamie Kua 12, Jacqueline Mendes 13, RJ Costa 0, Chaunte Jackson 8, Teja Bates 4.
3-point goals -- Mililani 1 (Nakamura), Campbell 1 (Jackson).
Junior varsity -- Mililani 37, Campbell 28
Leilehua 52, Waianae 11: Pikake Nutter-Gaudet and Alexis San Nicolas combined for 21 points and the Mules clinched the final West playoff spot.
Leilehua was one of four teams that began the day at 3-6. Two of the teams lost, and Kapolei won -- leaving the Mules and Hurricanes tied at 4-6.
Leilehua gets the final playoff spot because it beat Kapolei on April 8.
At Leilehua H.S. gym
Waianae (1-9) 2 5 1 3 -- 11 Leilehua (4-6) 14 16 10 12 -- 52 WAIANAE -- Kisha Hampton 1, Yvonne Eli 4, Diana Correa 3, Wendy Peltier 1, Audrey Haugh 2, Monet Sadural 0, Naomi Lino 0, Jasemine Paishon 0.
LEILEHUA -- Priscilla West 7, Melody Bell 0, Laree Rodriguez 3, Chazarae Ramirez 6, Tiana Caravallo 1, Alexis San Nicolas 11, Heidi Hamilton 9, Jesseca Battease 5, Pikake Nutter-Gaudet 10.
3-point goals -- Leilehua 4 (Ramirez 2, Rodrigues, Battease).
Junior varsity -- Leilehua 44, Waianae 23
Kapolei 51, Nanakuli 46: Jerrell Taituave scored 10 of her 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Hurricanes beat the Golden Hawks.
Lehua Yap poured in 31 points for Nanakuli, which blew a six-point lead in the fourth.
At Nanakuli H.S. gym
Kapolei (4-6) 13 8 9 21 -- 51 Nanakuli (3-7) 9 11 17 9 -- 46 KAPOLEI -- Tasha Faumuina 7, Kayla Kam 6, Charlyn Kauachi 3, Jerrell Taituave 12, Shanna Arthur 4, Shauntay Leautu 5, Tanya Menino 9, Pam Mellinger 5.
NANAKULI -- Jasmine Carvalho 2, Kristen Serrano 2, Vernadine Vickers 1, Lehua Yap 31, Sierra Nakea 2, Chantel Tuiloma 3, Victoria Mao 5.
3-point goals -- Kapolei 2 (Faumuina, Leautu), Nanakuli 4 (Yap 3, Mao).
Junior varsity -- Kapolei 45, Nanakuli 44
OIA East
Kahuku 49, Kaimuki 33: The Red Raiders won to end the Bulldogs' season, and send Kaiser to the playoffs.Even if Kaiser (5-4) closes with a loss to McKinley today, it will still finish with a better record than Kaimuki (4-6).
At Kahuku H.S. gym
Kaimuki (4-6) 9 9 9 6 -- 33 Kahuku (9-1) 7 13 16 13 -- 49 KAIMUKI -- Flora Mesa 1, Sashi Capps-Doll 3, Katherine Martin 3, Dalia Solia 16, Diana Malavong 1, Tyleen Tausaga 1, Amanda Leopoldo 2, Alana Burgess 2, Man Ying Ching 4.
KAHUKU -- Camilla Ah-Hoy 4, Mona Ale 9, Lesina Funaki 2, Artevia Wily 2, Anny Soliai 4, Karla Tailele 7, Aisha Ale 9, Melissa Aumua 2, Latoya Wily 10.
3-point goals -- Kaimuki 3 (Capps-Doll, Martin, Solia), Kahuku 1 (Tailele).
Junior varsity -- Kahuku 49, Kaimuki 35
At Hemmeter Fieldhouse
Kamehameha (12-1) 10 12 14 10 -- 46 Punahou (13-0) 12 8 9 19 -- 48 KAMEHAMEHA -- Jeneka Taeoalii 9, Wendy Kashiwabara 2, Tatriana Lorenzo 13, Lehua Wood 2, Mounia Nihipali 8, Megan Kanoa 4, Megan Ching 8.
PUNAHOU -- Rachel Kane 13, Elyse Umeda 10, Shanna Dacanay 5, Makena Hunt 4, Christine Takara 4, Becky Hogue 12.
3-point goals -- Kamehameha 1 (Lorenzo), Punahou 3 (Kane 2, Umeda).
Farrington 56, Kalaheo 52: Laosamoa Misa-Uli and Revelyn Cabaya combined for 30 points as the Governors beat the Mustangs.
Moanalua, Kahuku, McKinley, Farrington, Kalaheo and Kaiser will represent the East in the OIA tournament.
At Kalaheo H.S. gym
Farrington (7-3) 15 15 13 13 -- 56 Kalaheo (6-4) 12 14 13 13 -- 52 FARRINGTON -- Revelyn Cabaya 14, Ellaine Bihag 0, Joanne Fernandez 0, Sandy Tauta 14, Racquel Rivera 0, Paepaetele Poasa 3, Tanya Alualu 0, Meleane Mateaki 9, Laosamoa Misa-Uli 16.
KALAHEO -- Shalei Soueira 0, Shaina Siliga 14, Jade Simmons 0, Shantel Marumoto 4, Brandi Benson 9, Malia Samson 2, Stephanie Hobbs 0, Kaiena Huihui 4, Kaliko Kepa 7, Kamala Kau 0, Taylor Smith 12.
3-point goals -- Farrington 3 (Cabaya 2, Mateaki), Kalaheo 2 (Siliga 2).
Junior varsity -- Farrington 73, Kalaheo 70
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