[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]
Balanced Spartans
put ILH on notice
In a league long dominated by two elite programs, the Maryknoll Spartans sent a message yesterday morning.
No, the Spartans haven't ascended to the girls basketball throne in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. They did, however, make a clear statement to the league's dark-horse contenders by stifling St. Francis 58-43 at McCabe Gym.
The win propelled Maryknoll to 2-0 in league play, moving the Spartans into a first-place tie with Kamehameha.
The fuel that powers the Spartans continues to be balanced scoring. Freshman Nicole Fu scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half, while senior Whitney Wong also scored 12. Sela Fisilau, a 6-foot junior, amassed 10 points and 15 rebounds, and senior Jessica Ho tallied nine points.
Monica Chock led Saint Francis with 15 points, including a pair of treys that came after Maryknoll opened a 21-point lead early in the fourth quarter. Danielle Tanaka added nine points, and senior Jasmine Dulan finished with eight. Dulan, a point guard, found little room to work with against Maryknoll's defense.
"Needless to say, she's a tough player," Maryknoll coach Bobby Samson said. "But we didn't key on her. They have too many people who can hurt you."
Chock scored eight points in the final quarter, long after Maryknoll secured a big lead. "If you overlook her, that's a big mistake," Samson said.
The Troubadours dropped to 0-2 in league play, but potential is the key word. Saint Francis went 6-5 through a preseason slate that included many of the state's top teams.
"In the big scheme, we have to learn to play a complete game--32 full minutes," Saint Francis coach Chris Doyle said. "Confidence is the main thing. Talent isn't a problem. We have enough talent."
By intermission, Maryknoll had nine turnovers -- eight in the second quarter -- against Saint Francis' aggressive full-court press. If not for a pair of 3-point bombs by Fu, the halftime margin would have been extremely close. Maryknoll led at the break 26-19.
"Those were timely 3s," Doyle said.
The Troubadours were within 29-23 when Maryknoll exploded. With junior point guard Tammie Andres directing the fast break, the Spartans went on a 13-0 run, as six different players scored. The Troubadours, sensing Maryknoll's momentum, forced up quick shots, missed easy putbacks and committed three key turnovers during a span of five minutes and 54 seconds.
After Ho swished a 3-pointer from the right corner, the Spartans led 42-23 with 1:11 remaining in the third quarter. Saint Francis never recovered, and got no closer than the final margin.
"It was all mental. They were tired, and we were tired. Even a little letdown hurts. Look at the layups we missed, opening the game with missed free throws, forgetting to block out," Doyle said. "We need to be stronger mentally, so that when teams make a run, we can weather the storm like Maryknoll does."
At McCabe Gym
St. Francis (0-2) 11 8 6 18 -- 43 Maryknoll (2-0) 16 10 19 13 -- 58 ST. FRANCIS--Monica Chock 15, Kanani Perry 0, Danielle Tanaka 9, Latasha Griffin 5, Jasmine Dulan 8, Chelsey Powell 2, Tiyana Fao 0, Mel Keliipuleole 2, Siutiti Takai 2.
MARYKNOLL--Tammie Andres 6, Kristie Watanabe 2, Nicole Fu 12, Whitney Wong 12, Jessica Ho 9, Michelle Taketa 1, Bowha Kang 2, Cheryl Lee 4, Sela Fisilau 10.
3-point goals -- St. Francis 4 (Chock 2, Tanaka, Dulan), Maryknoll 6 (Fu 2, Wong 2, Ho, Fisilau).
Punahou 63, Sacred Hearts 41: The defending state champion Buffanblu picked up their first win of the regular season with a rout of the Lancers last evening.
Shanna Dacanay led all scorers with 23 points in the win and Christine Takara added 10.
Punahou jumped out to a 15-8 lead after the first quarter and cruised to a 33-19 halftime lead.
Nicole Lehner scored 14 points for the Lancers and Megan Burton chipped in 13.
At Sacred Hearts Academy gym
Punahou (1-0) 14 21 15 13 -- 63 Sacred Hearts (0-2) 8 11 14 8 -- 41 PUNAHOU--Elizabeth Abe 0, Shanna Dacanay 23, Eryn Chun 3, Ciana Aiwohi 1, Lauren Tompkison 0, Makena Hunt 5, Mahina Macfarlane 4, Tessa Sonobe 4, Sophia Merrifield 2, Chelsea Deptula 6, Christine Takara 10, Whitney Kim 0, Gail Matsushima 5.
SACRED HEARTS--Megan Burton 13, Rebecca Debo 2, Sarah Durant 0, Nohealani Hoopii 0, Cherie Kinoshita 0, Nicole Lehner 14, Maleselina Manupuna 0, Tiare McClellan 0, Karis Moi-Simeona 0, Anna Moore 0, Malia Okamura 6, Chelsea-Rae Puma 0, Samantha Saito 4, Tameika Trujillo 0, Sandy Tsui 2, Lola Williams 0.
Varsity I girls
Tuesday's corrected score
Maryknoll 53, Sacred Hearts 43
Varsity II girls
Punahou 44, Hawaii Baptist 38
Kamehameha 37, University 21
Leading scorers--Pun: Shelly Masuda 12, Karisa Look 11. Kam: Aubrey Kimnec 11.
Junior varsity II girls
University 31, Hawaii Baptist 20
Mid-Pacific 36, Sacred Hearts 25
Friday's result
Lutheran 41, La Pietra 36