[ GIRLS BASKETBALL ]
Kahuku's Aisha Ale tried to take a shot as Kaiser's Sharde Pratt and Kilioe Aliifua defended last night. The Red Raiders won 61-49.
Kahuku comes together
For the second time this season, Kahuku's balance was too much for Kaiser to overcome as the Red Raiders pulled away from the Cougars 61-49 last night at McKinley gym to advance to the Oahu Interscholastic Association girls basketball title game.
The Red Raiders (12-1) had five players score in double digits to earn an OIA final spot where they face McKinley on Friday on the Tigers' home floor.
Kaiser (10-3) plays Kalaheo for third place.
Kahuku had four players score at least 10 points in its 56-49 win over Kaiser on March 25, and spread the wealth again to frustrate the Cougars.
Center Latoya Wily led the Red Raiders with 14 points, but Kahuku got contributions throughout the lineup.
"We win games when we have four or five players score for us," Kahuku coach Wendy Anae said. "We can't just depend on (Wily), because they're going to double-team the post. So we have to look elsewhere."
Camilla Ah-Hoy came off the bench to finish with 12 points and Monarisa Ale scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half. Karla Tailele hit two critical 3-pointers en route to an 11-point night and Aisha Ale got into the act with 10 points.
Neither team led by more than four points through the first three quarters, but a defensive switch by Kahuku helped spark an 8-0 run midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Red Raiders control.
With Kahuku playing man defense in the first half, Kaiser consistently worked the ball inside to center Kilioe Aliifua, who led all scorers with 16 points and forward Sharde Pratt (12 points).
Kahuku's switch to a 2-3 zone in the second half clogged the passing lanes into the post and disrupted the Cougars' attack.
"We practiced (against zones) a lot and I was surprised that we did have a hard time with it. I thought we should have been a little more patient," Kaiser coach Lisa Mann said. "We just got excited, like we were down by 20 at that point.
"We wanted to be patient and move the ball, let the defense break down some and then look inside. But we were trying to look inside immediately, like we had to score quickly."
The teams went into halftime tied at 26, but Kaiser seized the momentum in the third quarter and opened a 39-36 lead on a jumper by Kehau Bangay, who scored 12 points.
Kahuku then went on a 7-0 run as Wily scored on a putback and Tailele hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to give the Red Raiders a 42-39 advantage going into the final period.
"I was just dragging out there," Tailele said. "I just tried to pick it up, I tried to do something, because I knew I hadn't been helping my team."
Kaiser kept the margin to three until Tailele drained another 3-pointer from the top of the key to open an 8-0 run that put the game out of reach.
"She hit some critical 3s when we weren't getting it inside," Anae said. "When it rotated back out she was confident. That was big for us and big for her confidence as well."
The Red Raiders now take aim at winning their first OIA championship since 1994.
"We've been working toward this all season long," Anae said. "This is exactly where we wanted to be."
At McKinley H.S. gym
Kaiser (10-3) 14 12 13 10 -- 49 Kahuku (12-1) 13 13 16 19 -- 61 KAISER--Shera Yamamoto 6, Jaime Nerona 1, Chelsea Kapuniai 0, Sharde Pratt 12, Jolie Yoshino 0, Natasha Aloisio 2, Kehau Bangay 12, Kilioe Aliifua 16.
KAHUKU--Camilla Ah-Hoy 12, Monarisa Ale 12, Tina Soliai 0, Anny Soliai 2, Karla Tailele 11, Aisha Ale 10, Latoya Wily 14.
3-point goals--Kais: 1 (Yamamoto). Kah: 4 (Ah-Hoy 2, Tailele 2).
ILH
Kamehameha 56, St. Francis 39: Kamehameha's India Soo scored a game-high 22 points including four 3-pointers as the Warriors (9-4) eliminated the Troubadours.
Kamehameha will take on Maryknoll tomorrow at 6 p.m. at McCabe Gym for the third and final ILH berth to this year's state tournament.
Tatriana Lorenzo added 10 points for Kamehameha, while Monica Chock tallied 21 for St. Francis.
At McCabe Gym
St. Francis (2-12-0) 4 11 14 10 -- 39 Kamehameha (9-4) 11 12 13 20 -- 56 ST. FRANCIS--Monica Chock 21, Kanani Perry 2, Latasha Griffin 4, Jasmine Dulan 1, Chelsey Powell 9, Abigail Lee 0, Siutiti Takai 2.
KAMEHAMEHA--Miki Nakamura 0, India Soo 22, Lori Nakamura 7, Analee Viena Lota 5, Noelani Hoopii 2, Jordan Tangonan 6, Tatriana Lorenzo 10, Lilia Lee 2, Mounia Nihipali 2.
3-point goals -- St. Francis 3 (Chock 2, Griffin), Kamehameha 4 (Soo).
Maryknoll 36, Mid-Pacific 26: Jessica Akamine scored a game-high 11 points and Cheryl Lee added nine to lead the Spartans over the Owls.
At McCabe gym
Mid-Pacific (5-8) 6 1 6 13 -- 26 Maryknoll (6-7) 8 6 8 14 -- 36 MID-PACIFIC--Sherice Ajifu 6, Danielle Mafua 7, Jasmine Vieira 4, Kristina Lin 4, Kelli Kajiwara 1, Crisi Nihipali 2, Morgen Sullivan 2.
MARYKNOLL--Jessica Akamine 11, Tammie Andres 2, Nicole Fu 4, Whitney Wong 6, Jessica Ho 2, Cheryl Lee 9, Sela Fisilau 2.
3-point goal--Mid-Pacific 1 (Lin).
Priory wins Division II title: Cassie Nakasone scored 17 points and Holly Saito added 16 as St. Andrew's Priory defeated Word of Life 47-28 last night at Iolani to win the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II tournament and earn a berth into next week's inaugural state Division II tourney.
After defeating the Firebrands in overtime last Saturday to force yesterday's playoff, St. Andrew's made some defensive adjustments to key in on Word of Life's Careena Onosai.
"The last game we played behind Careena and she had her way and made strong post moves. We just tried to have someone front her whenever she went into the paint," Priory coach Ross Kinsler said.
St. Andrew's (9-5) also double-teamed Onosai, played a 2-3 zone and had guards Nakasone and Saito push the tempo. Onosai finished with 15 points as the Firebrands finished the season at 8-6.
Kinsler said the win and berth into the state tournament is "a sense of accomplishment.
"Halfway through the season, we sat down and looked at our goals. A majority of our girls wanted to make states."
