Iolani clamps down
on Kamehameha
In what was a defensive battle from the outset, the fifth-ranked Iolani Raiders held No. 9 Kamehameha to only 11 first-half points last night en route to a 38-34 win at Kekuhaupio Gym.
With the victory, the Raiders improved to 2-1 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play and 10-4 overall. The Warriors dropped to 0-2 in league play and 5-4 for the season.
"It was just a defensive battle," Iolani coach Glenn Takara said. "In this game, every possession counted. We were just trying to stop Tatri (Lorenzo) and (Analee Viena) Lota. The key for us was just trying to get the ball out of their hands."
Lorenzo led the Warriors with 13 points, including six in the final quarter, but it wasn't enough to overcome the slow start. With the Warriors trailing 26-17 going into the fourth quarter, Kamehameha closed the gap with two one-handed runners by Lota and a layup by Lorenzo, which brought the Warriors to within seven 2 minutes into the final stanza.
But it wasn't until Miki Nakamura hit two jumpers with 30 seconds left that the Warriors got any closer. And by then, it was too late to change the outcome.
"The players who performed the way I wanted them to perform were Johanna Sai and Miki Nakamura," Kamehameha coach Clay Cockett said. "Fearless, they were fearless. That's what I want."
With a 2-3 zone, the Raiders collapsed on the Warriors' guards while keeping out any would-be slashers to the bucket.
"I don't expect us to (always) score in the paint, but I do expect us to be aggressive and attack the basket," Cockett said.
The offensive game plan seemed simple for the Raiders -- feed the ball to their post players, who had an obvious height advantage. With centers Keilyn Fujioka and Jamie Smith at 6-foot and 5-11, forward Alana Wall at 5-11 and Sarah Turgeon at 5-8, the Raiders looked for, and often got, the open player under the basket. The four combined to score 21 points, nine of which came from the free-throw line.
"We had the size advantage and wanted to capitalize on that," Takara said. "We have four (post players) who are interchangeable. Our strength is that we have numbers, and we have four players who all can play. It's definitely to our advantage."
Hennasea-Sue Tokumura led the Raiders with nine points. Smith added seven, while Wall and Fujioka scored six each.
Even when they didn't take the first shot, the Raiders' interior players picked up the many missed shots, as both teams were cold from the field for the majority of the game.
"We need to gather ourselves and believe in ourselves a lot better," Cockett said.
At Kekuhaupio Gym
| Iolani (2-0) | 9 | 8 | 9 | 12 | -- | 38 |
| Kamehameha (0-2) | 7 | 4 | 6 | 17 | -- | 34 |
IOLANI--Kaz Masutani 0, Chelsea Unemori 0, Hennasea-Sue Tokumura 9, Alana Matayoshi 6, Marci Kang 2, Alana Wall 6, Jamie Smith 7, Meilin Akamu 0, Sarah Turgeon 2, Keilyn Fujioka 6.
KAMEHAMEHA--Miki Nakamura 9, Johanna Sai 2, Analee Viena Lota 8, Tiana Abbley 2, Noelani Hoopii 0, Trixy Miller 0, Tatriana Lorenzo 13, Danna Friedemann 0, Thais Lee 0, Leah Godinet 0, Casey Lum 0.
3-point goals--Iolani 0, Kamehameha 2 (Nakamura, Lorenzo).
Sacred Hearts 41, Mid-Pac 31
Samantha Saito scored a game-high 16 points as the Lancers earned their first regular-season victory.
At Sacred Hearts Academy gym
| Mid-Pacific (0-2) | 4 | 7 | 9 | 11 | -- | 31 |
| Sacred Hearts (1-1) | 11 | 8 | 8 | 14 | -- | 41 |
MID-PACIFIC--Keri Nakamura 6, Ciera Aiwohi 0, Yuki Sei 0, Jasmine Viera 4, Meghan Laughlin 3, Kristina Lin 11, Sherice Ajifu 7.
SACRED HEARTS--Samantha Saito 16, Rebecca Debo 5, Karis Moi-Simeona 8, Kiana Rapozo 4, Lola Williams 2, Samantha Valle 3, Cara Smith 3, Maleselina Manupuna 0.
3-point goals -- Mid-Pacific 0, Sacred Hearts 1 (Saito).
Division II varsity girls
Punahou 73, La Pietra 56
Saint Andrew's 55, Word of Life 28
Kamehameha 43, Iolani 35
Saint Francis 54, University 46
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