FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Marci Kang of Iolani went up for a shot against Kamehameha's Joanna Sai.

Iolani keeps pace

In what has become a two-team race for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular-season title, No. 4 Iolani matched top-ranked Punahou's big win Thursday night with a solid victory of its own last night.

Hennasea-Sue Tokumura scored 13 points, including three 3-pointers in the second quarter, and added five assists as the Raiders overcame an early 10-point deficit to defeat Kamehameha 51-40 last night at Iolani.

It was the third straight win for the Raiders (6-1), who were well aware going in that they needed a win to remain within a game of the Buffanblu for the league lead.

"We still have what we wanted all season," Iolani coach Glenn Takara said. "Our fate is still in our own hands, so now it's just a matter of the girls going to get it."

Kamehameha, suffering through one of its worst seasons in recent memory at 1-6, was the more focused of the two teams at the beginning, scoring the first eight points. The Warriors held a 14-6 lead after one quarter.

"We didn't take them lightly, but they came out the more aggressive team," Takara said. "They took away our inside game early."

But the Raiders warmed up in the second quarter when they connected on five 3-pointers, their only 3s of the night. Tokumura nailed three and Chanel Hirata added two as Iolani tied the score at 26 heading into halftime.

The Raiders were dominant inside in the second half, as 5-11 freshman center Jamie Smith scored seven of her nine points in the third quarter, with both field goals coming on assists from Marci Kang.

"We weren't getting our inside game going early, but it started to open up more in the second half," Smith said. "My teammates did a great job of getting me the ball."

Smith also added 10 rebounds but fouled out midway through the fourth quarter. However, it was Alana Wall's turn to dominate the post, as she scored Iolani's first eight points in the quarter to push the Iolani lead to 13.

"I think we opened the inside in the second half by hitting a few shots late in the first half," Takara said. "It took time getting it in, but we continued to look for it."

Senior Thais Lee led the Warriors with 13 points, all of which came in the first half, as the Raiders defense clamped down on Kamehameha, allowing just 14 second-half points.

"We just didn't play that good defense early," Smith said. "Coach told us at halftime that we knew what we had to do defensively and once we came out and stepped it up, things began to open up."

The Raiders have games against Mid-Pacific and Maryknoll next week before their season finale at home against Punahou on May 3, which will likely be for the ILH championship.

At Iolani School gym

Kamehameha (1-6)	14	12	4	10	--	40
Iolani (6-1)	6	20	13	12	--	51

KAMEHAMEHA--Miki Nakamura 0, Johanna Sai 4, Analee Viena Lota 9, Tatriana Lorenzo 8, Danna Friedemann 3, Thais Lee 13, Rhani Kaneaiakala 3.
IOLANI--Hennasea-Sue Tokumura 13, Alana Matayoshi 4, Chanel Hirata 6, Marci Kang 4, Alana Wall 12, Jamie Smith 9, Keilyn Fujioka 3.
3-point goals -- Kamehameha 2 (Viena Lota, Friedemann), Iolani 5 (Tokumura 3, Hirata 2).

MORE ILH BASKETBALL
Mid-Pacific 46, Sacred Hearts 34

Senior Sherice Ajifu scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Owls past the Lancers. Ajifu also collected six assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Jasmine Vieira added 12 points for the Owls. Samantha Saito and Cara Smith scored 12 and 11 points respectively for the Lancers.

At Mid-Pacific Institute gym

Sacred Hearts (1-6)	7	9	4	14	--	34
Mid-Pacific (2-5)	14	8	12	12	--	46

SACRED HEARTS--Samantha Saito 12, Jessica Lindsay 1, Rebecca Debo 4, Stephanie Horn 0, Samantha Valle 6, Kylie Pasol 0, Lola Williams 0, Cara Smith 11.
MID-PACIFIC--Keri Nakamura 3, Ciera Aiwohi 0, Yuki Sei 0, Jasmine Vieira 12, Meghan Laughlin 8, Kristina Lin 0, Sherice Ajifu 23, Marysia Wu 0, Melanie Wu 0.
3-point goals -- Sacred Hearts 3 (Valle 2, Saito), Mid-Pacific 6 (Ajifu 5, Nakamura).

Junior varsity girls
Iolani 70, Sacred Hearts 31
La Pietra 56, St. Andrew's 21

MIL

Varsity girls
Molokai 42, Kaahumanu Hou 4

ILH BASEBALL
No. 1 Punahou 2 No. 6 Mid Pacific 1

Bucky Aona rapped out two hits and scored a run as the Buffanblu defeated the Owls. Kasey Ko added two hits for the Buffanblu.

At Aloha Stadium

Punahou (12-1-1)	000	020	0	--	2	9	1
Mid-Pacific (9-5)	000	100	0	--	1	4	1

Jared Pate and Michael Chock. Jared Hara, Jayson Kramer (3), Konan Young (6) and Kip Masuda. W--Pate. L--Kramer.
Leading hitters--Pun: Landon Nakata 2b; Bucky Aona 2-3, RBI, run; Kasey Ko 2-3.

No. 3 Kamehameha 7, Iolani 2

David Parrow only allowed two runs as the Warriors defeated the Raiders. Ryson Mauricio had two hits and three RBIs for Kamehameha.

At Aloha Stadium

Kamehameha (12-2)	220	003	0	--	7	6	3
Iolani (6-7)	000	110	0	--	2	2	1

David Parrow and Stuart Kam. B.J. Takushi, Ian Mopas (2), Robson Bunda (6), Jon Okada (7) and Riley Yamamoto, Jarvis Nohara (6). W--Parrow. L--Takushi.
Leading hitters--Kam: Ryson Mauricio 2-3, 3 RBIs, 2 runs; Nick Freitas 2-3, RBI; Makana Kitamura 2b. Iol: Wally Marciel 2-3.