---

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Buffanblu players celebrated after defeating Konawaena 52-50 in double overtime last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

---

Punahou Perseveres

The Buffanblu outlast defending
champ Konawaena in double OT

Shawna-Lei Kuehu scored 18 points to give Punahou a 52-50 double-overtime win over Konawaena for the Hawaiian Airlines Girls Basketball State Championship last night before 3,060 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

It was the first double-overtime title tilt in the tournament's history, and after 2 hours, 48 minutes, Punahou (22-1) won its eighth girls basketball state crown and second championship in three seasons.

"It was too sweet to end with a double-overtime victory," senior point guard Shanna-Lei Dacanay said. "It's the best way to go out."

Jazzmin Awa-Williams led defending state champion Konawaena (23-2) with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Jessica Hanato added nine points and 10 boards, and Hina Kimitete tallied 11 points. The battle between the tournament's top two seeds delivered everything and more than fans expected.

The largest margin of the game was four points, at the game's onset. Punahou outrebounded Konawaena 35-23, with 12 boards by Kuehu, but shot just 39 percent as a team against the Wildcats' 2-3 zone trap. Kona shot 46 percent but was running on fumes by the second overtime.

"We turned the ball over a bit in crunch time," Konawaena coach Bobbie Awa said. "We had many opportunities, but we missed layups and free throws."

Konawaena shot 10-for-19 from the line.

"Punahou played hard. They hit some clutch shots and free throws, but we gave them this win. They scored on our mistakes," Awa said. "We should've put this game away."

---

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Punahou's Shanna-Lei Dacanay drove around Konawaena's Jessica Hanato in the first half of last night's game.

---

After 12 lead changes and missing seven free-throw attempts, Punahou took charge in the second overtime, hitting seven of 10 at the line. Konawaena pulled within 48-47 on Awa-Williams' jumper in the lane with 30 seconds left, but Christine Takara and Sophie Merrifield hit key foul shots to give Punahou a 50-47 lead with 16 seconds to go.

Kimitete had an open look from the right wing, but her 3-point shot missed and Kuehu rebounded. Dacanay, who finished with 11 points, sank two free throws with 8 seconds left to seal the win.

Kimitete swished a 25-footer at the buzzer for the final margin.

"Kona's been here before," Dacanay said of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champions. Punahou, however, got maximum performances from sophomore Ciana Aiwohi and Merrifield, as well as the Kuehu twins, Shawna-Lei and Shaena-Lyn.

"I'm really proud of our young ones," Dacanay said.

Shawna-Lei Kuehu scored quickly at the start on a left-handed drive and a spin move on the post for a 4-0 lead. From that point on, however, Konawaena's 2-3 trapping zone kept the high-scoring freshman under lock and key.

---

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Punahou's Ciana Aiwohi drove against Konawaena's Haunani Liftee during last night's game.

---

The twins picked up their third fouls in the third quarter, but remained in the game. Shawna-Lei Kuehu scored six points, all inside, and Aiwohi's steal for a breakaway layup tied the game at 30 shortly before the third quarter ended.

Shawna-Lei Kuehu gave the Buffanblu the lead, 32-30, with a follow shot to start the fourth quarter. Twice, Konawaena tied the game, but Dacanay swished a pull-up 3-pointer to give Punahou a 37-34 advantage with 4:58 to play.

After Awa-Williams drove for a bucket to bring Konawaena within one, the Buffanblu worked the clock down to 2:05 before Tessa Sonobe drilled a baseline jumper. That gave Punahou a 39-36 lead, but it didn't last.

Awa-Williams knocked in two free throws, and after Dacanay lost her dribble out of bounds, Awa-Williams scored on a tough 10-foot bank shot to give Konawaena a 40-39 lead with 1:09 left.

After a Punahou time out, Aiwohi drove from the right wing, but didn't see Awa-Williams, who stole the ball away. A missed 1-and-1 by Kimitete gave Punahou a final chance with 20 seconds left, but Takara found her path to the basket blocked by Hanato and turned the ball over.

Konawaena grabbed the loose ball, and Punahou fouled Haunani Liftee with 8.9 seconds to play. The junior hit the first foul shot, but missed the second. Shawna-Lei Kuehu rebounded and fed Aiwohi, who drove for a left-handed layup with 2 seconds to go, forcing overtime.

"The turning point was Ciana's layup," Dacanay said. "It gave us momentum and inspired us."

The last title game to go into overtime was Kamehameha's 55-49 win over Iolani in 1993.

---

DIVISION I

All-tournament team
Selected by media
Most Outstanding Player: Keisha Kanekoa, Honokaa

Shanna-Lei Dacanay, Punahou. Shawna-Lei Kuehu, Punahou. Jazzmin Awa-Williams, Konawaena. Jessica Hanato, Konawaena. Kari Heers, Honokaa

Punahou 52, Konawaena 50, 2OT

Wildcats (23-2)
	fg	fga	ft	fta	min	reb	a	tp
Hanato-Smith	0	0	0	0	0+	0	0	0
Deniz	0	0	2	4	28	1	2	2
Liftee	0	6	2	4	37	2	1	2
Kimitete	4	11	0	1	40	0	1	11
Awa-Williams	10	13	6	10	40	11	1	26
Hanato	4	11	0	0	40	10	1	9
Hopkins	0	1	0	0	15	1	0	0
TEAM						2
Totals	18	42	10	19	200	27	6	50
Buffanblu (22-1)
	fg	fga	ft	fta	min	reb	a	tp
Aiwohi	2	7	0	2	29	3	0	4
Dacanay	4	18	2	2	40	2	2	11
Brossy	0	3	0	0	5	2	0	0
Kuehu, Shawna-Lei	9	12	0	3	31	15	2	18
Macfarlane	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Kuehu, Shaena-Lyn	2	3	0	0	15	5	1	4
Sonobe	2	3	0	0	17	0	2	4
Merrifield	1	7	4	7	23	7	1	6
Takara	2	6	1	3	39	4	1	5
TEAM						3
Totals	22	59	7	17	200	41	9	52

Key -- fg: field goals made; fga: field goals attempted; ft: free throws made; fta: free throws attempted; min: minutes played; reb: rebounds; a: assists; tp: total points.

Konawaena	9	12	9	11	4	5	--	50
Punahou	8	10	12	11	4	7	--	52

3-point goals -- Konawaena 4-14 (Kimitete 3-8, Hanato 1-2, Liftee 0-4), Punahou 1-9 (Dacanay 1-5, Aiwohi 0-2, Brossy 0-2). Personal fouls -- Konawaena 21, Punahou 16. Fouled out -- Deniz, Liftee. Technical fouls -- none.
Steals -- Konawaena 11 (Awa-Williams 3, Hanato 3, Deniz 2, Kimitete 2, Liftee), Punahou 8 (Shawna-Lei Kuehu 3, Aiwohi 2, Shaena-Lyn Kuehu, Merrifield, Takara). Blocked shots -- Konawaena 2 (Awa-Williams, Hanato), Punahou 0. Turnovers -- Konawaena 17 (Hanato 6, Kimitete 3, Awa-Williams 3, Hopkins 3, Deniz 2), Punahou 19 (Aiwohi 5, Sonobe 3, Merrifield 3, Takara 3, Shawna-Lei Kuehu 2, Dacanay, Brossy, TEAM). Officials -- Sueoka, Yoshida, Barr. A -- 3,060.

Honokaa 59, Kahuku 48

Kahuku (21-5)	15	11	12	10	--	48
Honokaa (22-6)	13	14	15	17	--	59

KAHUKU--Camilla Ah-Hoy 7, Delicia Wilson 0, Ane Vea 2, Leeann Mapu 3, Artevia Wily 11, Kaimi Ah Puck 0, Christina Soliai 5, Christine Meredith 2, Aisha Ale 10, Noelle Au 0, Kamaile Hughes 8.
HONOKAA--Kari Heers 21, Joliese DeMello 1, Alyssa Souza 0, Jerrika Lorenzo 2, Keisha Kanekoa 21, Jessika Lorenzo 1, Chelsey Souza 0, Wila Lavea 13, Tehani AhLoy 0, Whitney Acdal 0, Jamaika Lorenzo 0, Amber Siu-Freitas 0.
3-point goals -- Kahuku 2 (Ah-Hoy, Mapu), Honokaa 3 (Kanekoa 2, Heers).

Iolani 63, Lahainaluna 33

Iolani (21-7)	16	17	13	17	--	63
Lahainaluna (18-4)	12	6	7	8	--	33

IOLANI--Kaz Masutani 3, Chelsea Unemori 5, Hennasea-Sue Tokumura 6, Alana Matayoshi 2, Chanel Hirata 8, Marci Kang 0, Alana Wall 6, Jamie Smith 17, Meilin Akamu 6, Sarah Turgeon 4, Keilyn Fujioka 6.
LAHAINALUNA--Tasha Pagdilao 5, Tekira Rickard 0, Kelci Fushikoshi 12, Jessica Maielua 2, Tahni Domingo 0, Yasnaya Perez 1, Casey Bartolome 0, Lovelee Tagudin 0, Piilani Uyeda 0, Monique Blando 2, Jaiana Uyeda 0, Natalie Austin 0, Alise Hatch 6, Mapu Pali 5.
3-point goals -- Iolani 7 (Tokumura 2, Hirata 2, Akamu 2, Unemori), Lahainaluna 3 (Hatch 2, Pagdilao).

Kaiser 65, Farrington 61

Farrington (16-12)	14	15	16	16	--	61
Kaiser (19-9)	14	17	16	18	--	65

FARRINGTON--Malia Segundo 0, C'ani Kealoha 4, Janiene Sablan 0, Sandy Valdez 0, Tanya Sale 16, Shirlynn Tambua 4, Taulagi Alatasi 8, Joanna Montero 5, Kapio Alatasi 10, Elane Leaupepe 8, Dejanira Bryce 4, Kirstynn Vaa 2, Bryanna Tatupu-Leopoldo 0.
KAISER--Nicole Lehner 24, Jaime Nerona 5, Kehau Bangay 6, Sharde Pratt 21, Jolie Yoshino 0, Renee Shitanishi 0, Kelsey Beck 0, Kilioe Aliifua 9.
3-point goals -- Farrington 0, Kaiser 1 (Nerona).