Falcons claim OIA
Division II title

The Kaimuki Bulldogs did plenty to give Kalani coach Darold Imanaka a major headache last night.

Still, Imanaka stuck to his game plan and his Lady Falcons withstood a big comeback to pull out a 41-36 win for the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division II championship at humid McKinley Student Council Gymnasium.

"Last year, they knocked on the door. This year, they stepped in," Imanaka said, just a bit woozy from his headache.

Kalani (20-5) earned the OIA's lone berth in the Division II state championships after watching Kaimuki pull within one point midway through the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs' 10-2 run, capped by Mindy Hirokawa's 3-point bomb, brought them within 35-34 with 4:09 remaining.

Kalani, which had already begun its delay game, continued with the spread.

"I had four timeouts to go, and we had our spread with a good free-throw shooting team," Imanaka said.

The first-year head coach's strategy proved correct. Kalani committed only one turnover in the final 4 minutes, and Chelsea Kimura continued to hit key free throws -- four in the final quarter.

Kaimuki pulled within 40-36 on Paige Moi's layup with 56 seconds remaining, but got no closer.

Kacie Gushiken, one of the key ballhandlers in Kalani's delay game, stole a pass by Flora Mesa with 35 seconds left to help seal the win.

Defense and smart ballhandling helped Kalani make up for poor field-goal shooting. The Lady Falcons shot 30 percent from the field (12-for-40), but excelled at the foul line (15-for-20).

Kim Cabuyadao had 10 points and six rebounds, and Mana Camara added 10 points with five boards to lead Kalani, the top seed in the league's D-II playoffs. Megan Kamehiro dished out seven assists.

Mesa, a senior point guard, led Kaimuki (19-6) with nine points, five rebounds and three assists. Moi added eight points and seven caroms, and Hirokawa finished with eight points.

Kaimuki shot 32 percent from the field (14-for-43), including 17 percent (4-for-24) beyond the 3-point arc.

Kalani's attention to detail under the glass paid off. The Lady Falcons corralled 27 rebounds, the same number as Kaimuki.

"Coach said we had to block out the (Ashley and Paige Moi) twins and the other big girl," Kimura said. "I wasn't scared or anything because we beat them before."

The teams split their two regular-season games.

At McKinley H.S. gym

Kaimuki (14-4)	7	8	14	7	--	36
Kalani (16-2)	12	14	7	8	--	41

KAIMUKI--Flora Mesa 9, Mindy Hirokawa 8, Keri Kaneshiro 0, Nicole Sasaki 0, Kanoe Nicola 0, Chelsea Gornichec 0, Rachelle Butler 0, Paige Moi 8, Ashley Moi 2, Chasity Laulusa 4, Keri Nakahashi 5.
KALANI--Chloe Martin 6, Raynani Camara 10, Megan Kamehiro 2, Kim Cabuyadao 10, Yasmina Taketa 2, Chelsea Kimura 6, Nicole Isemoto 4, Kacie Gushiken 1, Liandra Bonifacio 0, Alisha Bonifacio 0, Claude Bonifacio 0.
3-point goals -- Kaimuki 4 (Mesa 2, Hirokawa, Nakahashi), Kalani 2 (Camara, Isemoto).