FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Punahou's Shawna-Lei Kuehu and Maryknoll's Sela Fisilau scrambled for the ball during the first quarter yesterday.

Buffanblu quiet Spartans

Shawna-Lei Kuehu scored 11 of her game-high 24 points in the final 9 minutes as Punahou rallied to a 56-49 win over Maryknoll last night at McCabe Gym.

A raucous Maryknoll homecoming crowd was silenced as Punahou rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit. Kuehu, a 5-foot-9 freshman, hauled down 12 rebounds and also had five steals to help the Buffanblu. Shanna-Lei Dacanay tallied 16 points as Punahou (16-1) improved to 7-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

"We worked so hard in practice," Kuehu said. "And it shows in the game."

Jessica Akamine led Maryknoll with 15 points and Tammie Andres added 10. Maryknoll (13-4) dropped to 4-3 in league play, including two tough losses to the No. 1-ranked team in the Star-Bulletin Top 10, Punahou.

"We thought we were gonna beat them, but the turnovers brought us down," Maryknoll senior Cheryl Lee said. "There's little things we have to fix."

The Spartans shot 54 percent from the field (21 of 39), but committed 14 turnovers against Punahou's relentless fullcourt press.

"That's a potential four-point swing on every turnover," Maryknoll coach Bobby Samson said. "Our girls came out and they knew what to do. I'm really proud of them. But give Punahou all the credit in the world."

Punahou shot 44 percent from the floor (20 of 45), getting three big treys from Dacanay.

The Buffanblu had more depth and more gusto in the final 9 minutes. Stacy Brossy sank a trey just before the end of the third quarter, and Kuehu scored the first six points of the fourth to tie the game at 45-all.

Punahou's bench was assessed a technical foul for standing after Kuehu's tying basket, but the Buffanblu had momentum. Dacanay worked a pick-and-roll with Kuehu, who was double-teamed. Dacanay's 3-pointer from the top tied the game again at 48-all.

"We tried it a couple of times earlier," Dacanay said. "But Sela (Maryknoll's Fisilau) dropped back and I shot."

Mike Taylor switched his team out of man defense and into a 1-3-1 zone, and Maryknoll went scoreless for the next 2 minutes. Dacanay ran the pick-and-roll again, and her bounce pass found Kuehu for an easy layup and a 50-48 Punahou lead with 2:14 remaining.

"The bounce pass, that's how the pick-and-roll is supposed to work," Dacanay said.

Conditioning played a big part in the final minutes. Punahou's deep bench and Maryknoll's fatigue played crucial roles.

"We defended the pick-and-roll in the beginning, but when you're tired, the first thing that goes is your mind," Samson said.

Nicole Fu's free throw cut the lead to 1 with 1:37 left, but the Spartans got no closer. Kuehu swished one free throw and Brossy hit two more as Punahou took a 53-49 lead with 25 seconds left. Shaena-Lyn Kuehu, Shawna-Lei's twin sister, then intercepted a long pass for a jump ball, and the Buffanblu regained possession with 20 seconds left and closed out the win.

"We know that we can come back no matter how much we're down," Kuehu said.

At McCabe Gym

Punahou (7-0)	8	15	15	18	--	56
Maryknoll (4-3)	15	13	17	4	--	49

PUNAHOU--Ciana Aiwohi 0, Elizabeth Abe 0, Shanna-Lei Dacanay 16, Stacy Brossy 5, Shawna-Lyn Kuehu 24, Shaena-Lyn Kuehu 4, Tessa Sonobe 5, Sophie Merrifield 0, Christine Takara 2.
MARYKNOLL--Nicole Fu 9, Kristie Watanabe 0, Jessica Akamine 15, Tammie Andres 10, Bowha Kang 2, Cheryl Lee 6, Sela Fisilau 7.
3-point goals -- Punahou 4 (Dacanay 3, Brossy), Maryknoll 1 (Fu).

ILH

Division II varsity girls
Saint Andrew's 58, Kamehameha 35
Punahou 47, Hawaii Baptist 46
University 37, Christian Academy 29
La Pietra 44, Word of Life 20
Saint Francis 57, Hanalani 30
Leading scorers--StA: Caasi Nakasone 26, Holly Saito 19. Kam: Shannon Spencer 16, Bobbie Lee Kawamoto 12. Pun: Arielle Daniels 20. HBA: Rayna Kitaguchi 13, Jodi Kamemoto 12, Kara Onosaki 10. UHS: Desiree Memea 12. CA: Ashley Medcalf 14. LaP: Megan Berardy 12. StF: Siutiti Takai 20.
Junior varsity girls
Kamehameha-White 47, Iolani 42

Lanai girls basketball folds

The Pine Lasses of Lanai gave it their all, but the basketball season is prematurely over.

Lanai announced its withdrawal for the remainder of the Maui Interscholastic League season in an e-mail sent to the league yesterday.

The e-mail from Lanai athletic director David McHugh explained: "Effective today, April 21, 2005, Lanai High Girls Basketball team can no longer continue/complete their season due to inadequate numbers and safety concerns relevant to the sport of basketball. Lanai High (apologizes) to the affected people; fellow schools, the MIL and LHES teachers/parents."

The program faced a crisis following a trip to Oahu in mid-March for a basketball tournament. Head coach Russell Zablan, his assistant coach and all but two players were suspended from the program for an alleged drinking incident.

After deliberation, the school decided to have another round of tryouts and enter the MIL season with a new coach.

The Pine Lasses were 2-3 in league play.