Pearl City’s youth
runs Mililani ragged

The numbers don't really reflect it clearly, but the Pearl City Lady Chargers are beginning to find their way.

Mele Laulea dominated in the post, and point guard Crystal Tadeo came through with clutch plays down the stretch as Pearl City outlasted Mililani 40-31 last night at the Chargers gym.

Pearl City, one of the younger teams in the Oahu Interscholastic Association, improved to 2-3 in league play (5-10 overall). The win was a boost for the Chargers' playoff hopes.

"We played a good game. If we played like that against everyone, we'd be all right," Pearl City coach Mike Morton said. "Crystal came through when we needed it. She works very hard and it shows."

Laulea, a senior center, managed 12 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots. She made six of her eight field-goal attempts. Tadeo finished with nine points, as did sophomore Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia, who sank three of five attempts from the beyond the arc and had six caroms.

Laulea and Tiffany Manning controlled the low post, helping Pearl City to a 37-24 edge on the boards.

It was another frustrating battle for Mililani, which has lost a host of close games without injured starter Yvonne Morris.

"We decide to play basketball only in the last 3 minutes of the game every time," Lady Trojans coach Scott DeSilva said.

Mililani trailed by 15 in the third quarter, but used its full-court press to make a comeback over the final 6 minutes. The Lady Trojans pulled within 36-29 after Melissa Lehano sank a layup with 1:01 remaining.

Tadeo then made three of her four free-throw tries over the final 50 seconds to seal the win. The free throws were especially helpful on a night when the Lady Chargers made only four of their 13 tries.

Mililani, another rather inexperienced team, slipped to 0-4 (6-10 overall) in OIA West action. The Lady Trojans' full-court pressure defense was effective, forcing Pearl City into 19 turnovers. They struggled from the field, however, shooting 24 percent on 11-of-45 shooting.

Christina Korodan, a junior forward, led Mililani with 13 points on 6-for-20 shooting. She also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds and blocked two shots.

Freshman Jo Realin added six points, five rebounds and four steals.

"She gets aggressive in the fourth quarter, but we need that from her all game," DeSilva said.

Pearl City zoomed to a 10-0 lead after Pahukoa-Malia sank a pair of treys over Mililani's zone. The Chargers had 12 turnovers by halftime, but led 20-12, thanks to Mililani's shooting woes.

Mililani		3	9	5	14	--	31
Pearl City		10	10	9	11	--	40

MILILANI--Kelsey Woodward 3, Ally Ochoa 0, Melissa Lehano 2, Christina Korodan 13, Ulu Ah Sam 4, Ashley Payne 0, Lori Nonies 0, Ashley Anthony 3, Jo Realin 6, Chelcey Pang 0.
PEARL CITY-- Crystal Tadeo 9, Tiana Bolosan 0, Desiree Luis 0, Veronica Botelho 2, Lindsay Cartwright 3, Chanette Nakama 0, Tazha Passi 1, Jazmin Pahukoa-Malia 9, Tiffany Manning 4, Mele Laulea 12.
3-point goals -- Mililani 2 (Realin, Korodan), Pearl City 5 (Tadeo 2, Pahukoa-Malia 3).
Junior varsity -- Mililani 44, Pearl City 28

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Radford 43, Campbell 25
The Rams remained perfect for the season, claiming their fifth straight victory behind a game-high 20 points from Tereva Moore.
At Radford H.S. gym

Campbell (0-4)	6	8	5	6	--	25
Radford (5-0)	12	9	12	10	--	43

CAMPBELL--Cheyna Tagura 0, Nicole Jackson 2, Latara Tano 3, Everlyn San Agustin 0, Shiann Leong 0, Tiani Sojot 0, Jenna Contemplo 2, Jenny Sweeney 6, Elysia Makaena 0, Cierra Tagura 0, Alexis Pagharion 0, Darlyn Livae 10, Nicole Gardner 2.
RADFORD--Sonya Legaspi 8, Nicole Grebe 2, Celina Cruz 2, Sarah Brown 0, Marlena Malepeai 9, Tereva Moore 20, Chelsea-Ann Villanueva 0, Gabby Rellin 0, Marie Fe Bumanglag 0, Chadney Thompson 2.
3-point goals -- Campbell 1 (Tano), Radford 3 (Moore 2, Legaspi).
Junior varsity -- Radford 23, Campbell 19

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Leilehua 41, Nanakuli 36
Marquesha McVea scored 11 of her game-high 16 points in the first half to help Leilehua offset a 16-5 fourth-quarter run by the Golden Hawks to pull out a five-point victory.
Sasha Montez and Sierra Nakea each scored 10 points to lead Nanakuli.
At Nanakuli H.S. gym

Leilehua (3-1)	13	14	9	5	--	41
Nanakuli (1-3)	8	4	8	16	--	36

LEILEHUA--Laree Rodrigues 7, Mahela Punley 0, Charlene Borromeo 6, Trisha Reitz 2, Brittaney Stafford 4, Lin'keshia Green 0, Marquesha McVea 16, Joray Nacapuy 2, U'i Forgione 4, Ethel Redor 0, Jaslen Collado 0.
NANAKULI--Sasha Montez 10, Kristen Serrano 3, Delisha Kaimi 3, Sheila Argayoso 0, Vernadine Vickers 4, Kina Palaualelo 0, Lahela Kanagasuku 2, Chantel Tuiloma 2, Sierra Nakea 10, Britney Wolf 2, Tiana Tuiloma 0.
Junior varsity -- Nanakuli 41, Leilehua 37

Division II varsity girls

Saint Andrew's 45, Saint Francis 43
Iolani 51, Hanalani 19
Hawaii Baptist 51, La Pietra 39
Punahou 40, University 31
Leading scorers--StA: Cassie Nakasone 17. StF: Jennifer Perry 14. Iol: Kari Oyadamari 16. HBA: Kara Onosaki 18, Jodi Kamemoto 11. LaP: Courtney Gaddis 15. Pun: Arielle Daniels 12, Megan Akamine 10.