[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]
Kalaheo squeaks out
win vs. Farrington
Farrington's postgame tears showed last night just how badly the Governors want to make the playoffs, but they came up two points short on the court.
Kalaheo conjured up just enough magic to fight back from a big halftime deficit and beat Farrington 31-29 in an Oahu Interscholastic Association girls basketball game.
As a result, the Mustangs (6-2) are in a much better position to make the postseason. At 4-4, the Govs are all but eliminated in the talent-laden East Division, where only four teams go to the Division I playoffs. Five teams, including Kalaheo, are ahead of Farrington in the standings with only three games left.
"That's why they're bawling their eyes out in there," said Farrington coach Jenic Tumaneng while motioning toward the locker-room door. "Both teams knew how much this game meant, with the playoffs on the line. They're feeling cheated, but I'm trying to tell them that it's not referees' calls that make the difference. It's hard to explain to them that sometimes you get the calls and sometimes you don't get them."
Tumaneng was referring to a foul against Govs standout forward Sunshine Misa-Uli with 4.9 seconds to go and the score knotted 29-all. He said a non-call on a similar play went against Misa-Uli when she was shooting at a crucial juncture in a loss to McKinley.
"She doesn't want to see any zebras right now. She's hurting," he added. "I feel for the kids, especially since they lost two games in similar situations that both went against them."
Kalaheo's Randi Farstad went to the line and made two free throws for the 31-29 victory. The Governors tried to formulate a play for the final few seconds, but never got a shot off.
Farstad said the foul was legitimate.
"I don't fall on my butt for no reason," she said after her game-winning effort.
"The coaches are always telling me to shoot with confidence. I was thinking, 'All I have to do is put them up and they'll go down and we'll win it.' "
At Farrington H.S. gym
Kalaheo (6-2) 3 6 10 12 -- 31 Farrington (4-4) 9 9 7 4 -- 29 KALAHEO--Hoku Kaiu-Downing 2, Shaina Siliga 4, Kandice Kinney 0, Randi Farstad 4, Wesley Whitman 0, Shantel Marumoto 0, Kaila Samson 0, Maila Samson 0, Shanadee Canon 11, Kaliko Kepa 6, Kamala Kau 4.
FARRINGTON--Joanna Montero 8, Rachel Ancheta 0, Audrina Esera 0, Tanya Sale 3, Shirlyn Tamboa 2, Sandy Tauta 2, Marissa Keohohou 0, Hope Pomele 0, Laticia Ioane 0, Kirstyn Va'a 2, Sunshine Misa-Uli 12.
3-point goals--Farrington 2 (Montero 2)
Junior varsity--Kalaheo 48, Farrington 38