Mustangs hold down rebuilt Governors

For the second time in as many games, the amazing turnaround at Farrington produced a heartbreaking loss.

Shanadee Canon poured in 26 points, including 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in the final quarter, as sixth-ranked Kalaheo outlasted Farrington 55-52 last night at James Kitamura Fieldhouse.

ILH, OIA games postponed by weather All Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball and basketball games, and Oahu Interscholastic Association baseball games were postponed yesterday due to inclement weather, according to league officials. Make-up games have yet to be determined. Today's ILH baseball and golf events have also been postponed. Star-Bulletin staff

Farrington slipped to 1-4 in Oahu Interscholastic Association East Division play (9-7 overall), but the rejuvenated Lady Governors are showing that they are capable of challenging for the league title. All five players who were sidelined a few weeks ago have been reinstated to the team since last week.

Their return has given the Lady Govs a lift, particularly against the division favorites. Farrington suffered a two-point loss at No. 8 Kahuku on Tuesday, and led several times against Kalaheo.

"We stuck with them. We'll keep playing and keep working at it," coach Jenic Tumaneng said.

Kalaheo improved to 5-0 in OIA East play (9-4 overall) after a see-saw battle that featured 12 lead changes. Kendra Fischer added 14 points.

"Late in the game, we want Shan to have the ball," Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado said. "We battled, and I've said before that every game in the East is gonna be tough. The fact that we're winning the close ones says a lot about our kids."

The Lady Mustangs took the lead for good, 45-43, on Delicia Wilson's 3-point shot with 5:13 left.

"Her biggest asset is the confidence she has with the ball," Furtado said. "Because she's new to the team, she won't always look for her shot. I gotta force feed her to shoot."

Wilson, a transfer from Kahuku, had just five points, but gave her team some valuable minutes at the point.

"Coach Chico kept saying to play with a lot of confidence, to keep shooting," she said.

Farrington struggled to get open looks against Kalaheo's 2-3 zone in the fourth quarter, going more than 3 minutes without a point.

C'ani Kealoha, who scored all 12 of her points in the second half, swished a trey to cut the lead to 49-46 with 1:59 remaining. After Canon hit two foul shots, Kealoha nailed another 3-pointer to bring the Lady Govs within 51-49 with 13.5 seconds left.

Canon, who used a wide stance to make 16 of her 18 attempts from the line, converted two more foul shots with 12.9 seconds left. That gave Kalaheo a 53-49 lead.

Farrington guard Elane Leaupepe added a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left to cut the lead to 53-52. Canon added two more foul shots with two-tenths of a second remaining for the final margin of victory.

Farrington won the battle on the boards 32-24, but 15 turnovers were costly. Kalaheo had only six giveaways as the Lady Govs sat back in a 2-3 zone until the final 3 minutes.

Though the Govs hit six 3-pointers in the second half, including four by Kealoha, they shot 36 percent (8-for-22) behind the arc overall. Bryanna Tatupu-Leopoldo finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Kapio Alatasi tallied a game-high 13 points and seven boards.

Alatasi did not score in the second and fourth quarters, and Kalaheo made their stronger runs during those periods. Several teammates were sidelined by injuries, and center Tatiana Alualu is away on a trip.

"They would've helped us a lot," she said. "We would've had more of a rest."

Canon expects another strong effort from Farrington when the teams meet later in the season at Kalaheo.

"They're good, and they will get better," the junior said. "They have some talented people on their team."

The speedy guard took matters into her own hands in the second quarter, pushing the transition upcourt. After going scoreless in the opening stanza, she had seven points in the second quarter.

"It was important to win this game. We knew it would be tough after winning at Roosevelt, but we can't look too far ahead," Canon said.

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