GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Konawaena's Jazzmin Awa-Williams was blocked by Iolani's Keilyn Fujioka yesterday.

’Cats glide by Raiders

Another afternoon in Honolulu was just perfect in every way for the Konawaena Wildcats.

That is, every way except their uniforms. Using borrowed jerseys from the school's boys team, the Konawaena girls rolled over Iolani 42-34 yesterday at the Punahou Wahine Spring Basketball Classic in Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

Jessica Hanato paced the defending state champion Wildcats with 15 points. Sophomore Jazzmin Awa-Williams added 11 points and Haunani Liftee tallied 10. Freshman Mana Hopkins hauled in nine rebounds, and junior Leesa Deniz grabbed eight for Kona (2-0).

"They're working hard on defense," Konawaena coach Bobbie Awa said. Her team started the game in a man-to-man, but switched to a 2-3 zone near the end of the first half. "The man got us in foul trouble. We just gotta play smart and not let the referee have a chance to call a foul."

Hennasea-Sue Tokumura led the Raiders with eight points.

Hanato, who amassed a triple-double in a win over Mid-Pacific on Wednesday, sat for a sizable part of the second and third quarters after picking up her third foul. It didn't matter much, since some of Konawaena's new additions picked up the slack.

Hopkins anchored the middle of the Wildcats' 2-3 zone, and Awa-Williams attacked Iolani's man-to-man defense effectively. The 'Cats led by as many as 20 in the second half before Iolani chipped away.

Alana Wall scored on a layup, and then stole a Konawaena pass for another easy basket as Iolani cut the lead to 39-32 with 1:22 remaining.

However, Williams swished two free throws with 1 minute left to end Iolani's 10-0 run. Hina Kimitete then stole an Iolani pass, and Liftee sank a foul shot to lift Konawaena's lead to 42-32 with 36 seconds remaining.

Kimitete and Liftee each had five steals for Konawaena, which has just nine players this season.

"We're not in shape yet. We're missing free throws and layups," Awa said.

Even with former Star-Bulletin Player of the Year Nancy Hoist gone and playing for Eastern Kentucky University, the Wildcats have shown no slippage.

Konawaena battles tournament host Punahou today at 8 p.m. Iolani squares off with Roosevelt at 6:30 p.m.

McKinley 40, St. Andrew's Priory 38

Kaitlyn Ikehara swished a 23-foot trey with 22 seconds left as the Lady Tigers outlasted the Pride.

Ikehara's bomb from beyond the top of the key gave McKinley the winning two-point margin.

Sophomore Chelsie Sato led McKinley (5-2) with 21 points. Ikehara finished with 11.

Caasi Nakasone led St. Andrew's with 18 points. Saito added nine.

McKinley meets Maryknoll in a 6:30 p.m. game today. St. Andrew's plays Kalaheo at 5 p.m.

Maryknoll 53, Moanalua 30

Nicole Fu scored 16 points and Jessica Akamine tallied 15 as the Spartans toppled the Menehunes. Forward Cheryl Lee added 10 points.

Jade Miller led Moanalua with 13 points. Jamie Ronolo chipped in with 10.

Moanalua takes on Punahou's Division II team at 8 p.m.

Roosevelt 42, Mid-Pacific 35

Tati Beasley scored 10 points and Noelle Kawelo chipped in with nine as the Rough Riders rallied past the resilient Owls.

Kerri Nakamura and Jasmine Vieira tallied 10 points each for MPI.

Mid-Pacific faces Kamehameha-Hawaii today in a 5 p.m. game

Punahou 61, Kalaheo 48

Shawna Kuehu pumped in 23 points and Shanna-Lei Dacanay added 12 as the Buffanblu got back on a winning track.

Kuehu, a 5-foot-10 freshman, missed Wednesday's game against Kamehameha-Hawaii. The Buffanblu lost that game, but Kuehu returned from a case of shin splints and dominated the paint against Kalaheo.

Punahou (4-1) took command early behind eight first-quarter points by Kuehu. The game remained relatively close until Punahou scored the final five points of the half. Dacanay scored off a steal, and again on a baseline drive as the Buffanblu took a 31-20 lead at intermission.

Shanadee Canon led Kalaheo (4-1) with 11 points. Taylor Smith, saddled with three first-half fouls, scored eight of her 10 points after intermission. Keliko Kepa added nine points.

Kamehameha-Hawaii 64, Punahou II 47

Jamie Mattos scored 16 of her 21 points in the second half as the Warriors overwhelmed the D-II Buffanblu. Leilani Galdones added 15 points for KS-Hawaii (4-1).

Arielle Daniels led Punahou with 21 points. Taila Autele chipped in with 12.