[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Moanalua's Amy Kotani went to the basket in front of Lahainaluna's Tasha Pagdilao last night. Moanalua won 52-40.
Kahuku survives
Kona in 2 OTsThe Red Raiders topple
the Big Island's best and
face Moanalua tonight
When barriers go up in front of Kahuku, the Red Raiders just keep plowing them down.
A day after knocking off defending state champion Kamehameha, Kahuku shook off a slow start and outlasted Konawaena 69-64 in double overtime to move into tonight's semifinals of the Hawaiian Airlines Girls Basketball Championship. The Red Raiders (13-2) play Moanalua at 8 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"It seems like a blur," Kahuku coach Wendy Anae said. "The girls put so much into last night's game that I think it was really hard to get up today. We knew all along Konawaena was good."
But not quite good enough to beat a balanced Kahuku team. The Red Raiders got double-digit scoring performances from three players. Junior Latoya Wily dropped in 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. Guard Monarisa Ale turned in a solid all-around game with 11 points, eight rebounds and five steals.
"We're not satisfied. We know that wasn't our best," Wily said. "We have to step it up a little bit more. Every one of us could do more."
No one did more than Wily, who blocked Konawaena's final shot in the first overtime. The 6-foot center scored the first four points in the second OT to push the Red Raiders ahead 63-59.
Konawaena's Nancy Hoist converted a three-point play to trim the deficit to one at 63-62. A layup by Ale stretched Kahuku's lead to three, but Hoist dropped in an 8-foot jump shot with 1:06 on the clock to bring the Wildcats back within one. That would be the closest Konawaena would get.
Hoist was the Wildcats' only viable offensive option after sophomore Jessica Hanato fouled out of the game with 41 seconds left in the first OT. Hanato scored a game-high 27 points.
"Down the stretch, they hustled more and showed they wanted it more," said Hanato, who was visibly shaken and in tears after the loss. "We could have done better and taken care of the ball and doubled down more on their forwards.
"We played as best as we could. They hit the big free throws at the end that we missed and that made the difference in the game."
Kahuku freshman Artevia Wily (13 points, two steals) converted seven of eight from the free-throw line, including the Red Raiders' final four points to ice the game.
"I'm very proud of our girls," Wildcats coach Bobbie Awa said. "They worked hard to get here. We are here playing for respect because people don't think we can play ball on the Big Island. And we didn't get it (respect) again. The girls know they have to play to win. They're not used to losing."
Losing was the furthest thing from the Wildcats' minds after a fabulous start. Konawaena's suffocating defense in the first quarter limited Kahuku to eight points. The Wildcats took a commanding 22-9 lead in the second quarter after a layup by Hanato.
Konawaena's double-digit lead got Kahuku's attention. The Red Raiders closed out the first half with a 13-6 run to cut the Wildcats' lead to 30-25 at the half.
"We kind of got (the Kamehameha) game into our heads a little bit," Wily said. "We had to pick it up. We got off to a slow start. We need to work on getting off to a quicker start.
"Our thing is rebounds. They were outrebounding us in the first quarter. We needed boards in order to get control of the ball. We weren't playing as a team."
The Red Raiders got their act together in the third quarter. Kahuku's defense pressured Konawaena into nine turnovers after the Wildcats committed just six in the first 16 minutes of the game. Konawaena forced shots and was held to six points in the third quarter.
"They (Kahuku) started to chip away and we were hanging our heads instead of working through it and propping our heads back up," Awa said.
Kahuku (13-2) 8 17 15 15 4 10 -- 69 Konawaena (13-1) 13 17 6 19 4 5 -- 64
KAHUKU -- Camilla Ah-Hoy 9, Tuli Peters 0, Monarisa Ale 11, Lesina Funaki 4, Artevia Wily 13, LeeAnn Soliai 4, Karla Tailele 4, Aisha Ale 4, Latoya Wily 20.KONAWAENA -- Kristin Kitaoka 2, Tiane Estoy 0, Shawna Marie Gomes 6, Shawna Marie Gomes , Elizabeth Chung-Hoon Palau 2, Jennifer Tayamen 0, Jessica Hanato 27, Keala Kaupu 4, Tiare DeAguiar 0, Nancy Hoist 23.
3-point goals: Kahuku 2 (Ah-Hoy 2).
Punahou 69, McKinley 48
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Buffanblu (15-0) needed a half to figure out how to shake the Tigers.
Post Becky Hogue and guards Elyse Umeda and Rachel Kane were the catalysts in leading Punahou to tonight's 6:30 semifinal against Farrington. Hogue scored nine of her 17 points in the first half, while Umeda finished with 10 assists and was a menace all night on defense. Kane, meanwhile, finished with 20 points, including eight in a game-changing third-quarter run.
"We didn't play up to our potential," Kane said. "We started slow. We know Farrington is big, similar to McKinley, so we're going to need to run and work on our overall defense."
With inspired defensive play from forwards Ceslie Ma'afala, Tania Liufau and Amber Lee, McKinley kept it close in the first half.
The Buffanblu led 24-21 at the half and 28-24 early in the third quarter, but went on a 13-5 run to create the separation they needed -- a 41-29 lead -- late in the third. Kane floated home two 3-pointers and a baseline 15-footer in the pivotal rally, and Umeda added a trey.
Bre Carson scored 14 of her team-high 16 points in the second half for McKinley.
The Tigers (11-5) take on Baldwin in a 3:30 p.m. game today for the right to play in tomorrow's fifth-place game.
McKinley (11-5) 10 11 10 17 -- 48 Punahou (15-0) 10 14 22 23 -- 69
MCKINLEY -- Chantal Yadao 7, Rayna Isaki 6, Kauai Quartero 0, Meagan Miyasaka 1, Melody Ababa 4, Bre Carson 16, Ceslie Ma'afala 2, Amber Lee 10, Tania Liufau 2.PUNAHOU -- Rachel Kane 20, Elyse Umeda 7, Shanna Dacanay 6, Eryn Chun 3, Stacy Brossy 0, Makena Hunt 4, Anuhea Macfarlane 1, Tessa Sonobe 2, Kelly Karns 0, Christine Takara 6, Gail Matsushima 3, Becky Hogue 17.
3-point goals: McKinley 7 (Carson 3, Isaki 2, Ababa, Yadao), Punahou 4 (Kane 3, Umeda).
Moanalua 52, Lahainaluna 40
Marleen Leautu proved to be too hard for the Lunas to stop, scoring 16 of her game-high 21 points in the first half to put the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Menehunes (14-0) into tonight's 8 p.m. semifinal against Kahuku.
Leautu did her damage inside off of feeds from Patti Hardimon, Amy Kotani and Kepua Lee, but she also nailed a handful of medium-range jumpers.
"I'm really excited about our team going to the semifinals," said Leautu, who also finished with 17 rebounds and held Lahainaluna's 6-foot-2 post Fatai Halaapiapi to nine points. "All of our hard work has paid off so far. Everyone played great tonight. It was a rough battle. She (Halaapiapi) is a really strong player."
The Menehunes led by just six, 42-36, with a minute left in the third quarter, but pulled away with a 7-3 run for a commanding 49-39 lead with five minutes left.
Fatigue could play a factor in the Menehunes-Red Raiders game tonight. Moanalua used just seven players in the victory, while Kahuku went to double overtime to beat Konawaena one night after an energy-draining victory over defending state champion Kamehameha.
The Lunas (13-4) meet Konawaena at 5 p.m. for the right to play in tomorrow's fifth-place game.
At Stan Sheriff Center
Lahainaluna (13-4) 13 12 11 4 -- 40 Moanalua (14-0) 18 18 9 7 -- 52
LAHAINALUNA -- Tasha Pagdilao 0, Krystle Omlan 6, Kelci Fushikoshi 8, Jessica Maielua 6, Tiara Kukahiko 0, Casey Bartolome 0, Alise Hatch 6, Piilani Uyeda 0, Monika Vehikite 4, Monique Blando 1, Danielle Yakut 0, Lusi Lino 0, Fatai Halaapiapa 9.MOANALUA -- Amy Kotani 9, Ronni Keliihoomalu 8, Sasha Silva 0, Patti Hardimon 5, Joy Matsukawa 0, Kepua Lee 9, Marleen Leautu 21.
3-point goals: Lahainaluna 6 (Omlan 2, Kukahiko 2, Hatch 2), Moanalua 1 (Kotani).
Farrington 50, Baldwin 43
The Governors (12-4) moved on to tonight's semifinal with a fourth-quarter comeback fueled by Laosamoa Misa-Uli.
The prolific forward tied the game at 40 with a basket off the glass with three minutes left, and after the Bears took a 41-40 edge, Misa-Uli put Farrington up for good by converting a three-point play.
Farrington went 6 of 6 from the line to seal the win, with two each from Revelyn Cabaya, Meleane Mateaki and Shirlynn Tambua.
"We kept pushing and pushing even though we were behind," Misa-Uli said. "Anyone could have taken it, but we wanted it more. Our goal was to make the final four. We've worked hard for this."
Misa-Uli scored 15 of her 21 points in the second half. She and Mateaki had 13 rebounds apiece.
Baldwin (13-3), which had a seven-point cushion at the half, was fueled by Kami Kapaku, who scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half, and Jenna Mailou, who grabbed eight rebounds.
Farrington (12-4) 10 7 15 18 -- 50 Baldwin (13-3) 8 16 7 12 -- 43
FARRINGTON -- Revelyn Cabaya 5, Ellaine Bihag 0, Gretchen Santos 0, Joanne Fernandez 0, Jo Ann Montiero 0, Shirlynn Tambua 1, Sandy Tauta 5, Paepaetele Poasa 2, Tanya Alualu 0, Meleane Mateaki 16, Laosamoa Misa-Uli 21.BALDWIN -- Kami Kapaku 15, Crystal Manuel 3, Kapua Atay 5, Kai Sarmiento 2, Isabeau Wai'au 11, Jenna Mailou 6, Heidi Namauu 1.
3-point goals: Farrington 2 (Mateaki 2).
Kealakehe 61, Waimea 38
The Waveriders (11-4) broke open a close game in the second quarter and pulled away.
Kahaunani Kahananui scored 16 of her game-high 20 points in the first half for Kealakehe, while Neesh-Ann Kimitete delivered 12 of her 17 points in the second half.
Virginia Aguilar led the Menehunes (9-5) with 10 points and 11 boards.
Waimea (9-5) 10 10 7 11 -- 38 Kealakehe (11-4) 11 20 10 20 -- 61
WAIMEA -- Chantelle Briones 5, Ashley Mier 4, Lorraine Lagoc 6, Tiana Samio 3, Mallorie Hepa 2, Charise Ponce 0, Janna Soto 0, Jessica Jacinto 0, Joanna Jacinto 0, Jenalyn Andres 0, Ashlee Vea 0, Virginia Aguilar 10.KEALAKEHE -- Leila Kang 1, Jennifer Ching 0, Neesh-Ann Kimitete 17, Ashlee Moncier 2, Nalani Hee 0, Kahaunani Kahananui 20, Nikita Nakamoto 0, Saundra Cariaga 5, Candice DeSilva 11, Raynell Shim 4, Ashley Moi 1, Paige Moi 0.
3-point goals: Waimea 2 (Briones, Mier), Kealakehe 3 (DeSilva 3).
Star-Bulletin reporter Nick Abramo contributed to this report.
State girls basketball
At Stan Sheriff Center
TUESDAY
Game 1: Farrington 50, Waimea 25
Game 2: McKinley 69, Kealakehe 52
Game 3: Lahainaluna 53, Maryknoll 43
Game 4: Kahuku 59, Kamehameha 54
YESTERDAY
Game 5: Kealakehe 61, Waimea 38
Game 6: Farrington 50, Baldwin 43
Game 7: Kahuku 69, Konawaena 64 (2OT)
Game 8: Moanalua 52, Lahainaluna 40
Game 9: Punahou 69, McKinley 48
TODAY
Game 10: Maryknoll vs. Kamehameha, 2 p.m.
Game 11: Baldwin vs. McKinley, 3:30 p.m.
Game 12: Konawaena vs. Lahainaluna, 5 p.m.
Game 13: Farrington vs. Punahou, 6:30 p.m.
Game 14: Kahuku vs. Moanalua, 8 p.m.
TOMORROW
Consolation: Kealakehe vs. Game 10 winner, 3 p.m.
Fifth place: Winners of Games 11 & 12, 4:30 p.m.
Third place: Losers of Games 13 & 14, 6 p.m.
First place: Winners of games 13 & 14, 8 p.m.
