[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]
Konawaena's Jazzmin Williams scored two of her 18 points during last night's win over Kamehameha.
Konawaena cruises
in quartersThe Wildcats defeat Kamehameha
64-34 to advance to face Baldwin
in the semis
If there were any doubts whether Konawaena was worthy of the top seed in the Hawaiian Airlines State Girls Basketball Championship, the Wildcats erased them with a commanding 64-34 quarterfinal victory over Kamehameha last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
After losing in the state quarterfinals the last two years, Konawaena moves into the semifinals for the first time and faces fourth-seeded Baldwin today at 6:15 p.m.
HHSAA girls basketball
At Stan Sheriff Center
division iToday
Game 11: Iolani vs. Kamehameha, 11:15 a.m.
12: Kalaheo vs. Lahainaluna, 1 p.m.
13: Konawaena vs. Baldwin, 6:15 p.m.
14: Kahuku vs. Punahou, 8 p.m.Tomorrow
15: Kaiser vs. Honokaa, 12:45 p.m.
16: Winners 11 & 12 (fifth place), 2:30 p.m.
17: Losers 13 & 14 (third place), 4:15 p.m.
18: Winners 13 & 14 (championship), 8 p.m.division ii
Today
Game 1: St. Andrew's vs. St. Joseph, 2:45 p.m.
2: Roosevelt vs. St. Anthony, 4:30 p.m.Tomorrow
3: Losers 1 & 2 (third place), 11 a.m.
4: Winners 1& 2 (championship), 6 p.m.
"This is a big step for us," Konawaena coach Bobbie Awa said. "The past two years we've had trouble getting past the first round, so this was definitely a big win for us."
Kahuku plays Punahou in the second semifinal at 8.
Yesterday's victories by Konawaena and Baldwin created the first all-neighbor-island semifinal in tournament history and guaranteed that a non-Oahu team will reach the state final for the first time since 1997.
Konawaena was awarded the top seed after breezing through the Big Island Interscholastic Federation season, beating its opponents by close to 50 points per game. Still, the Wildcats arrived on Oahu with something to prove.
"It was a respect game for us," Konawaena junior Jessica Hanato said. "Everybody thinks the BIIF is weak and for us as a neighbor-island team to get the No. 1 seed is big. I guess a lot of people said we didn't deserve it. For us it was chance to show that we can compete with the Oahu teams."
The Wildcats used the half-hour break before their game yesterday to acclimate themselves to the Sheriff Center and the extra shooting helped the Wildcats hit 49 percent of their attempts from the field against the Warriors of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.
Freshman Jazzmine Williams hit seven of 10 shots and scored 18 points. Junior Hina Kimitete hit four of six 3-point shots and also had 18 points. Senior center Nancy Hoist controlled the paint to post 12 points and 10 rebounds.
"We wanted to get as many shots in as we could before the game. So that 30 minutes between games really helped us," Awa said.
Konawaena punctuated the first two quarters with 3-pointers to beat the buzzer. Hoist launched a shot from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded to give Konawaena a 16-13 lead at the end of the first period. Williams drained another from the left wing just before halftime to put the Wildcats up 31-19.
Konawaena then scored the first 13 points of the third quarter to turn the game into a rout.
"The last two years we had been up at halftime," Awa said. "We had to talk to the girls at halftime that it's a brand new ballgame and we have to start all over. The past two years we lost it in the second half."
The Wildcats blitzed the Warriors with their transition game, turning missed shots by Kamehameha into layups on the offensive end.
"We were surprised with how fast they are and how quick they are," Kamehameha coach Clay Cockett said.
Kamehameha sophomore guard Tatriana Lorenzo was the lone offensive threat for the Warriors, finishing with 21 points on 10-of-17 shooting. None of the other Kamehameha players scored more than four points.
"Tatriana came to play tonight," Cockett said. "She felt real comfortable out there and she turned it up tonight."
Kamehameha (11-5) 13 6 7 8 -- 34 Konawaena (15-0) 16 15 21 12 -- 64 KAMEHAMEHA--Miki Nakamura 0, India Soo 2, Lori Nakamura 2, Analee Viena-Lota 3, Kauiokeola Todd 2, Noelani Hoopii 0, Jordan Tangonan 0, Tatriana Lorenzo 21, Danna Friedemann 0, Lilia Lee 4, Mounia Nihipali 0, Ipo Pharr 0, Leah Godinet 0.
KONAWAENA--Kristen Kitaoka 2, Tiane Estoy 0, Loren Gomes 0, Haunani Liftee 0, Hina Kimitete 18, Elizabeth Chung-Hoon Palau 6, Jazzmine Williams 18, Jessica Hanato 8, Keala Kaupu 0, Leilani Abaya 0, Nancy Hoist 12.
3-point goals--Kam: 1 (Lorenzo). Kona: 6 (Kimitete 4, Williams, Hoist).Punahou 41, Kalaheo 28: The defending state champion Buffanblu completed a sweep by the seeded teams and set up a rematch of last year's state final by running past the Mustangs in an often ragged finale to the quarterfinal round.
Punahou shook off the cobwebs following a two-week break since winning the ILH title and opened up a 10-2 edge in the first quarter. The Buffanblu then broke the game open by scoring the first 10 points of the final period.
"The main thing was we just got back into the groove, I was pleased with the effort," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "We played a good defensive game and pushed our lead up in the third and fourth quarter."
Despite giving up some size to the Mustangs inside, Punahou was able to outrebound Kalaheo 43-32.
Kalaheo freshman Shanadee Canon put a scare into the Buffanblu by scoring nine straight points to bring the Mustangs within 11 at 38-27 with 3:25 left. But the Mustangs wouldn't score again until there were 13 seconds left.
Punahou will next face a Kahuku team looking to avenge its 56-52 loss to the Buffanblu in last season's championship game.
"They're another big team and they're really playing well," Taylor said. "They're really hungry. We're going to come after them, play hard, play aggressive and leave it out on the court."
Kalaheo (11-5) 2 12 4 10 -- 28 Punahou (12-2) 10 13 5 13 -- 41 KALAHEO--Hoku Kaiu-Denning 0, Shaina Siliga 3, Kandice Kinney 0, Randi Farstad 0, Welsey Whitman 0, Shantel Marumoto 4, Kaila Samson 0, Shanadee Canon 14, Brianne Villarosa 0, Taylor Smith 3, Kaiena Huihui 0, Kaliko Kepa 4, Kamala Kau 0.
PUNAHOU--Elizabeth Abe 0, Shanna-Lei Dacanay 9, Eryn Chun 2, Ciana Aiwohi 0, Lauren Tompkison 0, Makena Hunt 0, Mahina Macfarlane 2, Tessa Sonobe 6, Sophia Merrifield 9, Chelsea Deptula 3, Christine Takara 5, Whitney Kim 0, Gail Matsushima 5.
3-point goals--Pun: 1 (Dacanay).Baldwin 48, Iolani 26: The Maui Interscholastic League champion Bears held the Raiders scoreless for the final 10:13 of the first half, outscoring the Raiders 15-0 in that span, and Baldwin advanced to the semifinals for just the second time in school history.
Senior guard Kami Kapaku, better known as a standout soccer player, deftly operated the Bears offense and finished with 18 points, three assists and three steals.
"She's the key," Baldwin coach Angel Kalehuawehe said. "You can have the big people, but you need the guard to get the ball to the big people."
But it was the Bears' defense that sparked the win. Baldwin shut out the Raiders in the second quarter to propel the Bears to a 28-8 halftime lead.
Iolani hit three of 18 field-goal attempts (16.7 percent) in the first half and was 0-for-8 in the second quarter. The Bears shot 50 percent from the field in the game, led by Kapaku and Jenna Mailou, who scored 10 points.
"Defense brought us here, so that was our main key," Kapaku said. "Our goal was 35 and we held them down."
Iolani (11-3) 8 0 11 7 -- 26 Baldwin (14-1) 18 10 9 11 -- 48 IOLANI--Kaz Masutani 3, Chelsea Unemori 0, Hennasea-Sue Tokumura 4, Alana Matayoshi 0, Ginger Gravelle 9, Marci Kang 0, Alana Wall 3, Meilin Akamu 5, Ashley Reinig 0, Sarah Turgon 0, Keilyn Fujioka 2, Chelsea Wong 0.
BALDWIN--Kami Kapaku 18, Rachel Leano 0, Kai Sarmiento 5, Heidi Namauu 4, Ashley Perkins 0, Dayne Carvalho 4, Nichole Inciong 4, Kaira Kaya 0, Heather Namauu 0, Rosalani Gogue 0, Jenna Mailou 10, Nicole Alconcel 5.
3-point goals--Iol: 3 (Masutani, Gravelle, Akamu). Bald: 5 (Kapaku 3, Sarmiento, Alconcel).Kahuku 66, Lahainaluna 40: The second-seeded Red Raiders never trailed against the Lunas and advanced to the semifinals for the third straight year.
Kahuku bolted to a 15-5 lead in the first quarter and went on a 17-3 run in the second to take control. The Red Raiders moved the ball effectively against Lahainaluna's 2-3 zone defense before working the ball inside to center Latoya Wily, who led all scorers with 19 points.
"We've been practicing against the zone," Kahuku coach Wendy Anae said. "A lot of teams zone us. We just felt like we needed to focus on what we needed to do."
Kahuku shot 45.6 percent from the field and used their height advantage to outrebound the Lunas 44-20.
Red Raiders guard Karla Tailele hit six of eight shots, including two 3-pointers, to finish with 16 points. Aisha Ale was 5-for-7 from the field and also scored 16.
Lahainaluna struggled to get open looks inside and was led by Alise Hatch, who hit three 3-pointers and posted 13 points. Kahuku held the Lunas to 23.8 percent from the field and came up with 11 steals.
Lahainaluna (12-5) 7 12 13 8 -- 40 Kahuku (14-1) 17 21 15 13 -- 66 LAHAINALUNA--Tasha Pagdillao 0, Krystal Omlan 4, Kelci Fushikoshi 3, Jessica Maielua 5, Paige Curimao 0, Casey Bartolome 2, Tekiri Rickard 0, Piilani Uyeda 0, Monika Vehikite 9, Monique Blando 3, Alise Hatch 13, Danielle Yakut 0, Cheryl Ann Pali 1.
KAHUKU--Camilla Ah-Hoy 2, Delicia Wilson 0, Ane Vea 0, Mona Ale 3, Tina Soliai 2, Anny Soliai 0, Karla Tailele 16, Lote Livai 0, Aisha Ale 16, Noell Au 2, Lucy Kauvaka 2, Nancy Vave 2, Latoya Wily 21, Kaimi Ah Puck 0.
3-point goals--Lah: 5 (Hatch 3, Maielua, Omlan). Kah: 3 (Tailele 2, M. Ale 1).
Consolation
Kaiser 52, McKinley 49
The Cougars survived a record-breaking shooting performance by the Tigers to advance to the consolation final.McKinley set a tournament record with 11 3-pointers and cut a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to one with 18.5 seconds left. But Kaiser's Jaime Nerona hit two free throws with 9.9 seconds remaining and McKinley's desperation attempt fell short.
McKinley's two-game total of 17 3-pointers was one shy of the tournament's four-game record.
Kaiser (12-4) 16 12 6 18 -- 52 McKinley (10-6) 12 9 9 19 -- 49 KAISER--Shera Yamamoto 11, Jaime Nerona 6, Chelsea Kapuniai 0, Sharde Pratt 13, Jolie Yoshino 0, Natasha Aloisio 3, Kehau Bangay 10, Kilioe Aliifua 9.
MCKINLEY--Bre Carson 13, Chantal Yadao 9, Janine Corpuz 0, Chelsie Sato 14, Christine Ching 3, Meagan Miyasaka 5, Melody Ababa 4, Rachelle Kamimoto 0, Linda Fowler 1.
3-point goals--Kais: 1 (Yamamoto). McK: 11 (Carson 3, Yadao 3, Sato 3, Ching 1, Miyasaka 1).Honokaa 48, Kauai 36
Kari Heers hit five of eight shots from the field and finished with a game-high 13 points to lead the Dragons past the Red Raiders.Jerrika Lorenzo added 12 for Honokaa, which plays Kaiser tomorrow at 12:45 p.m.
The Dragons led throughout and held a 37-27 advantage after three quarters. Kauai cut the lead to five midway through the final period thanks to 3-pointers by Starlene Kelekoma and Holly Iloreta.
Kauai (8-3) 9 9 9 9 -- 36 Honokaa (13-3) 11 12 14 11 -- 48 KAUAI--Stephanie Kashiwabara 2, Rachael Taira 5, Starlene Kelekoma 12, Ashley Silva 0, Allison Jackson 0, Valerie Aficial 0, Sheri Gebauer 2, Holly Iloreta 9, Farren Higley 4, Lindsay Sugihara 2.
HONOKAA--Kari Heers 13, Alyssa Souza 2, Jerrika Lorenzo 12, Keisha Kanekoa 6, Charven Rodrigues 8, Noelani Cariaga 0, Megan Gibo 0, Lurline Lorenzo 2, Jaliese DeMello 1, Jessika Lorenzo 0, Joliese DeMello 4.
3-point goals--Kau: 2 (Kelekoma, Iloreta). Hon: 2 (Heers, Kanekoa).
