‘Lucky’ Iolani beats Punahou

Numbers can explain how Iolani rose to the No. 1 ranking in the state this season.

They don't explain how defending state champion Punahou squandered opportunities in a 29-20 loss to the Raiders yesterday.

Punahou committed only 10 turnovers and limited Iolani to a season low in points, both nice ingredients for a winning recipe. The Buffanblu forced 19 turnovers and limited the Raiders to just 8-for-21 shooting from the field (38 percent).

However, Iolani won by ruling the boards (26-19) and stifling Punahou's offense. Punahou shot only 9-for-42 from the field (21 percent).

"It's just one of those days. We made great plays, got the ball to the hole, but we couldn't hit enough shots," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "Iolani is loaded at every position."

A pensive crowd at Hemmeter Fieldhouse saw Iolani retain first place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls basketball race. The Raiders improved to 4-0 in league play (16-0 overall), while second-ranked Punahou dropped to 3-1 (14-1 overall).

Sophomore forward Jamie Smith led Iolani with nine points and 10 rebounds. She shot 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. As a team, the Raiders were 12-for-14 from the line. Punahou took only six foul shots and made two.

Senior point guard Hennasea-Sue Tokumura and Smith combined to make six of Iolani's eight foul shots in the final quarter of a relentless, defensive struggle.

"We work on free throws a lot. We run for our misses," Tokumura said. "Free throws are free points."

Punahou center Shawna-Lei Kuehu finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, but found the going tough under the basket. Kuehu shot only 5-for-18 against Iolani's posse of low-post towers, missing a number of normally easy layups.

"I'm bummed. It drives me crazy -- the layups I missed were right there," Kuehu said. "But it gives me more incentive for the next time we play."

The Raiders felt fortunate.

"We just got lucky. She missed some gimmies," Iolani coach Glenn Takara said.

Punahou, which trailed for most of the way, pulled within 19-17 on Mahina Macfarlane's layup shortly before the end of the third quarter.

Iolani led by as many as seven before Punahou's fullcourt traps took a toll. Punahou was down 21-19 after a driving bucket by Kuehu, but Iolani patiently ran its flex offense and forced the Buffanblu's man defense to work.

"I told them to calm down and handle the press. We were a little too cautious," Takara said.

Punahou blew two chances to tie the game. Shaena-Lyn Kuehu missed a layup on a drive, and Shawna-Lei Kuehu was short on a layup after a steal. Chanel Hirata then hit a baseline jumper and Tokumura sank a foul shot to give the Raiders a 24-19 lead with 1:54 remaining.

"We stuck together when they made a run," Smith said.

Shaena-Lyn Kuehu sank a free throw to bring the Buffanblu within four with 1:29 left, but Iolani finished out the game with five free throws by Smith and Tokumura.

Shawna-Lei Kuehu's afternoon grew longer when she missed a pair of foul shots with 43 seconds left.

"As long as we played hard, next time, we'll make our shots," she promised.

"Our kids played real hard, and that's what I'm proud of," said Taylor, who emceed the postgame senior tribute. Punahou's remaining games are all on the road.