Lady Raiders hold
off Menehunes
for state berth

All things considered, the Lady Raiders of Kahuku are just happy to be in the state tournament.

With forward Aisha Ale still hobbling with a knee injury, Kahuku fought off Moanalua 44-33 last night at Kapolei. Kahuku (18-3) advanced to the semifinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association girls basketball tournament.

Kahuku will face Farrington at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Lady Raiders' gym. Farrington advanced with a win over Kapolei.

Moanalua was within 37-33 after point guard Jamie Ronolo sank a free throw with 2:48 remaining. However, Tina Soliai scored on a layup off a steal, and after another Menehune turnover, Camilla Ah-Hoy scored on a fast break to give Kahuku a 41-33 lead with 1:56 left. That gave Kahuku all the cushion it needed.

"Moanalua played very well. They were very patient and our press didn't rattle them," Kahuku coach Wendy Anae said. Kahuku had defeated the Menehunes by margins of 23 and 34 points during the regular season.

Moanalua mixed a slow tempo with solid ballhandling to stay in the game nearly the entire game. The Menehunes also shot 5-for-9 from 3-point range to stay close.

"I'm proud. Our girls were disciplined enough to execute the game plan," coach Rick Gonsalves said. "But we wanted to sneak in with this one."

The Lady Raiders qualified for the state tournament despite 16 turnovers against Moanalua's 3-2 zone defense.

"I feel like we were slow-footed, but we still executed," Anae said. "We weren't flashing to the ball well, but adjusted to it."

Part of that adjustment came when Ale entered the game midway through the first and second quarters. Because she missed practice time due to the injury, she didn't start until the second half.

"Aisha's so good at finding seams," Anae noted.

Ale, a 5-foot-9 senior, led Kahuku with 11 points on 5-for-6 accuracy. She entered the game with a minute left in the first quarter.

"My team needed communication. We needed to get going," Ale said.

She also pulled down seven rebounds to give her team a 35-19 edge on the glass.

"Give Kahuku credit. They're a very good team," Gonsalves said. "They passed up some open looks. I was surprised."

At Kapolei H.S. gym

Moanalua (3-11)	8	9	9	7	--	33
Kahuku (12-1)	8	14	9	13	--	44

MOANALUA--Terina Blue 13, Ronni Keliihoomalu 6, Traci Yoshikawa 2, Jade Miller 3, Britni Ronolo 4, Jamie Ronolo 5.
KAHUKU--Delicia Wilson 0, Ane Vea 5, Camilla Ah-Hoy 9, Artevia Wily 6, Tina Soliai 6, Christine Meredith 4, Aisha Ale 11, Noel Au 2, Kamaile Hughes 0, Luseane Kauvaka 0, Lily Natu 0, Kaimi Ah Puck 1, Salote Livai 0, Leann Mapu 0.
3-point goals -- Moanalua 5 (Blue 3, Keliihoomalu, Miller), Kahuku 1 (Ah-Hoy).

Farrington 37, Kapolei 27

Kapio Alatasi led Farrington (15-8) with 12 points.

Charmaine Jackson scored eight to pace Kapolei (11-16), which will face Moanalua on Tuesday.

The host Hurricanes, seeded No. 1 out of the West, took a major blow in the opening moments when center Jerrell Taituave suffered a knee injury.

Taituave got tangled up with a Farrington player under the basket after pulling down a rebound. Her right knee buckled and she fell to the floor. The 6-foot senior left the game with 6:23 to go in the first quarter and did not return.

Even with Taituave off the floor, Farrington wasn't able to break the game open. A free-throw line jumper by Elizabeth Simanu brought Kapolei within 27-25 with 5 minutes remaining. Turnovers, however, hurt the Hurricanes, who never got closer.

"I feel that if our team picks it up, I know they can do it without me," said Taituave, who was on crutches after the game. "It's all a mental thing."

At Kapolei H.S. gym

Farrington (7-7)	8	7	10	12	--	37
Kapolei (11-2)	3	9	6	9	--	27

FARRINGTON--Malia Segundo 0, C'ani Kealoha 7, Sandy Valdez 0, Tanya Sale 6, Shirlynn Tambua 2, Kalani Alatasi 2, Joanna Montero 0, Kapio Alatasi 12, Kirstyn Vaa 0, Bryanna Tatupu-Leopoldo 8.
KAPOLEI--Whitney Tatomer 0, Berlyn Devera 0, Elizabeth Simanu 7, Charmaine Jackson 8, Jasmine Gipson 1, Kayla Kam 6, Jerrell Taituave 0, Shanna Arthur 2, Lehua Figueroa 0, Tricia Warashina 3.
3-point goals -- Farrington 0, Kapolei 0.