Punahou freshman Shawna-Lei Kuehu, who scored a game-high 19 points, put up a shot against the defense of Kamehameha's Analee Viena Lota, left, and Johanna Sai.
Buffanblu break away
The difference between the top and bottom of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu boils down, sometimes, to 3-minute runs.
Punahou dominated a 3-minute span midway through the third quarter to break open a close game and post a hard-earned 47-34 win at Kamehameha last night.
Shawna-Lei Kuehu led the Buffanblu with 19 points, including five points during her team's 11-0 third-quarter blitz. The 5-foot-9 freshman also hustled for 12 rebounds.
Shanna-Lei Dacanay added 10 points for Punahou (17-1), which improved to 8-0 in league play.
A so-so start had the Buffanblu concerned.
"I wanted us to come out with the kind of intensity and fire we've tried to emphasize," Buffanblu coach Mike Taylor said. "Kamehameha had outhustled us for rebounds on offense. We knew they'd come out fired up like they always do."
Kamehameha (6-9) continued to show signs of improvement, though their 1-7 ILH mark won't show it.
"We've been playing a lot more focused," coach Clay Cockett said. "I was pleased with the way we battled these guys."
The Warriors were within three at 19-16 at the start of the second half and stayed within four after Tatriana Lorenzo hit a jump shot off a pass from Miki Nakamura.
Kuehu, who scored most of her points on the low post, then took command with a pair of fast breaks. She went coast-to-coast for a layup, and then led another break, hitting a pull-up 12-foot bank shot.
Sophie Merrifield cut inside for a layup, Dacanay stole an inbounds passed and scored, and Shaena-Lyn Kuehu hustled for a putback as the Buffanblu took a 34-19 lead with 3:10 to go in the third quarter.
Kamehameha got no closer than 10 the rest of the way as Punahou methodically ran its flex and motion offenses against the Warriors' man-to-man defense.
"If we open the game the way we do in the second half of games, great things start to happen. It's a process we're working on," Taylor said, noting close wins over Iolani and Maryknoll. "That extra energy on defense. Our senior girls recognize it, and they're providing great leadership."
The Warriors, meanwhile, are aiming for a strong finish in league play to build momentum for the ILH tournament. The tourney winner will earn the league's second state tournament berth. Punahou, Cockett noted, is in the driver's seat to win the league title.
"I don't know if there's anybody who can stop Shawna, but we did a pretty good job on Shanna," he said. "Nobody's faster than the two of them."
Punahou visits Sacred Hearts on Friday. Kamehameha goes to Mid-Pacific Saturday.
At Kekuhaupio Gym
| Punahou | 10 | 7 | 19 | 11 | -- | 47 |
| Kamehameha | 6 | 10 | 10 | 8 | -- | 34 |
PUNAHOU--Ciana Aiwohi 0, Elizabeth Abe 0, Shanna-Lei Dacanay 10, Stacy Brossy 3, Lauren Tompkison 0, Dara Tompkison 0, Melanie Feldman 0, Shawna-Lei Kuehu 19, Mahina Macfarlane 0, Shaena-Lyn Kuehu 4, Tessa Sonobe 5, Sophie Merrifield 4, Christine Takara 2, Devon Yamauchi 0.
KAMEHAMEHA--Miki Nakamura 6, Johanna Sai 5, Analee Viena Lota 4, Tiana Abbley 0, Noelani Hoopii 0, Trixy Miller 1, Rhianna Farm 0, Tatriana Lorenzo 7, Danna Friedemann 0, Thais Lee 7, Nicole Pharr 0, Leah Godinet 0, Casey Lum 0, Rhani Kaneaiakala 4.
3-point goals: Punahou 1 (Brossy), Kamehameha 0.
No. 4 Iolani 39, Mid-Pacific 30
Alana Wall scored 11 points to lead the Raiders past the Owls.
Meghan Laughlin led the Owls with 10 points.
At Iolani gym
| Mid-Pacific (2-6) | 8 | 4 | 3 | 15 | -- | 30 |
| Iolani (7-1) | 6 | 12 | 10 | 11 | -- | 39 |
MID-PACIFIC--Keri Nakamura 2, Ciera Aiwohi 0, Yuki Sei 1, Jasmine Vieira 5, Meghan Laughlin 10, Kristina Lin 0, Sherice Ajifu 8, Melanie Wu 0, Crisi Nihipali 4.
IOLANI--Kaz Masutani 0, Chelsea Unemori 0, Hennasea-Sue Tokumura 7, Alana Matayoshi 2, Chanel Hirata 3, Marci Kang 5, Alana Wall 11, Jamie Smith 7, Meilin Akamu 0, Sarah Turgeon 0, Keilyn Fujioka 4.
3-point goals--Mid-Pacific 2 (Ajifu, Laughlin), Iolani 2 (Hirata, Tokumura).
No. 5 Maryknoll 44, Sacred Hearts 41
Nicole Fu scored 14 points and Cheryl Lee added 12 as the Spartans held off a late rally by the Lancers.
Samantha Saito scored 16 and Rebecca Debo had 15, combining for 31 of Sacred Hearts' 41 points.
At Sacred Hearts gym
| Maryknoll (5-3) | 8 | 14 | 14 | 8 | -- | 44 |
| Sacred Hearts (1-7) | 8 | 11 | 9 | 13 | -- | 41 |
MARYKNOLL--Nicole Fu 14, Kristie Watanabe 4, Jessica Akamine 2, Tammie Andres 4, Kaulana Salangdron 4, Bowha Kang 0, Cheryl Lee 12, Sela Fisilau 4.
SACRED HEARTS--Samantha Saito 16, Rebecca Debo 15, Karis Moi-Simeona 0, Samantha Valle 6, Lola Williams 4, Cara Smith 0.
3-point goals--None
OIA West
Kapolei 37, Radford 33Kayla Kam scored 11 points as the Hurricanes snapped the Rams' 21-game OIA West winning streak.
With the win, the Hurricanes split the season series with Radford and moved within a half-game of the Rams in the West standings.
Down by 13 points entering the fourth quarter, the Radford defense forced turnovers and closed the deficit to two points with 2 minutes remaining.
But the Hurricanes, who scored just three points in the fourth quarter, stalled down the stretch to hang on for the upset.
At Kapolei H.S. gym
| Radford (11-1) | 8 | 8 | 5 | 12 | -- | 33 |
| Kapolei (10-1) | 13 | 5 | 16 | 3 | -- | 37 |
RADFORD--Sonya Legaspi 4, Nicole Grebe 0, Sarah Brown 2, Marlena Malepeai 6, Tereva Moore 12, Chelsea-Ann Villanueva 6, Gabby Rellin 2, Chadney Thompson 1.
KAPOLEI--Whitney Tatomer 0, Berlyn Devera 0, Elizabeth Simanu 3, Charmaine Jackson 9, Jasmine Gipson 1, Kayla Kam 11, Jerrell Taituave 5, Shanna Arthur 0, Lehua Figueroa 2, Tricia Warashina 6.
3-point goals -- Radford 1 (Legaspi), Kapolei 5 (Jackson 2, Warashina 2, Kam).
Leilehua 36, Campbell 30
Brittaney Stafford scored 11 points as the Mules held off a late rally by the Sabers.
Everly San Agustin scored 10 points to lead the Sabers.
At Campbell H.S. gym
| Leilehua (7-4) | 12 | 6 | 10 | 8 | -- | 36 |
| Campbell (1-10) | 10 | 7 | 1 | 12 | -- | 30 |
LEILEHUA--Mahela Punley 2, Charlene Borromeo 4, Trisha Reitz 2, Brittaney Stafford 11, Isis Atualevao 6, Marquesha Mcvea 5, Joray Nacapuy 2, U'i Forgione 4, Ethel Redor 0, Joslen Collado 0.
CAMPBELL--Cheyna Tagura 0, Nicole Jackson 0, Latara Tano 5, Everlyn San Agustin 10, Shiann Leong 0, Tiani Sojot 0, Jenna Contemplo 0, Jasmine Valentin 2, Jenny Sweeney 4, Elysia Makaena 0, Cierra Tagura 0, Darlyn Livae 8, Nicole Gardner 1.
3-point goals -- Leilehua 1 (Stafford), Campbell 1 (Tano).
Junior varsity -- Leilehua 39, Campbell 38
Mililani 48, Nanakuli 35
The Trojans outscored the Hawks 21-5 in the final period after switching to a full-court press.
Joleen Realin scored eight of her game-high 13 points in the final quarter to lead the Trojans' comeback.
At Mililani H.S. gym
| Nanakuli (2-9) | 11 | 7 | 12 | 5 | -- | 35 |
| Mililani (3-8) | 11 | 12 | 4 | 21 | -- | 48 |
NANAKULI--Sasha Montez 8, Kristen Serrano 2, Delisha Kaimi 6, Vernadine Vickers 0, Frances Busano-Leleo 0, Kina Palaualelo 3, Lahela Kanagasuku 0, Chantel Tuiloma 4, Sierra Nakea 12, Britney Wolf 0, Sasha Kanahele 0, Tiana Tuiloma 0.
MILILANI--Kimi Ebina 0, Kelsie Woodward 0, Ally Ochoa 0, Melissa Lehano 0, Christina Korodan 7, Rayna Downey 10, Ulu Ah Sam 7, Lori Nonies 2, Ashley Anthony 5, Joleen Realin 13, Makani Duhaylonsod 0, Chelcey Pang 4, Elsa Apo 0.
3-point goals -- Nanakuli 2 (Montez 2), Mililani 2 (Ah Sam 2).
Junior varsity -- Mililani 44, Nanakuli 33
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