HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Michelle Shiroma of Aiea dribbled past Kimi Ebina of Mililani last night in an OIA Red West game.
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Aiea bounces back from loss
He said he wasn't happy, but Mike Yen let out a grin.
Tenth-ranked Aiea, which has given its coach reason to smile and frown early in the season, got 11 points each from Natasha Helsham and Jennifer Yuen for a 38-27 win over Mililani last night.
A pensive crowd of 250 at Aiea's gym saw Na Alii improve to 2-1 in Oahu Interscholastic Association Red West play (11-5 overall). Capri Holiona anchored the low post with nine points and stellar defense against the quick Lady Trojans.
"We're out of sync, but it's prom week. Historically, we don't do well during prom week," Yen said.
After upsetting West favorite Radford last week, Aiea lost at Kapolei on Tuesday.
"We had our hardest practice ever," Helsham said of Wednesday's workout. "We ran a lot. We looked so slow against Kapolei."
Yen challenged his team to shut down Mililani.
"The key for us tonight was our defense," he said.
The visiting Lady Trojans struggled against Aiea's man-to-man defense. They shot 23 percent (8-for-35) from the field. Jamie-Lee Kaleiwahea led Mililani (1-3) with 11 points. Chantel Tanuvasa had a team-high seven rebounds. Joleen Realin, Mililani's best penetrator, had nine points, five rebounds and five steals. She shot 3-for-11 from the field.
"They're strong. They have those big girls and they all can run," Realin said.
Mililani coach Scott DeSilva is optimistic.
"We made too many mistakes and had too much confusion. I take the fault for that. The good thing is, it's only the first round and we're still in it," he said.
Down 10 points early, the Trojans made a second-half run. Realin scored five points in a row to bring her team within 23-18 with 2:59 left in the third.
However, Holiona scored down low to spark a 9-0 blitz by Aiea. After she scored underneath off a pass from Emily Tausaga, Aiea led 32-18 early in the fourth quarter.
Aiea spread the floor and worked the clock with 5 minutes to go.
"Tasha called that," Yen said.
Helsham, remembering Aiea's stunning loss at Kapolei, was cautious.
"We were winning. I didn't want us to rush it and let them come back," the sophomore said.
Mililani made one final push, getting within 32-21 after Kaleiwahea hit a 3-pointer with 7:03 remaining, but she fouled out just seconds later.
The Lady Trojans chipped away and pulled within 32-25 with 3:47 to go after Realin hit a foul shot.
However, Aiea closed out the game with a 6-2 run. Yuen sank five free throws in a row as Na Alii put the contest out of reach.
The Lady Trojans shot only 9-for-20 from the free-throw line (45 percent). Defensively, they hustled for 12 steals, but gave the ball away 15 times.
Aiea shot just 31 percent from the field (11-for-36) and 50 percent from the foul line (14-for-28). Na Alii, with strong defense in the low post from Holiona and Tausaga, blocked five shots. Tausaga didn't score, but had three steals, three rebounds and two assists, all in the second half.
"We were able to contain Capri. Tasha got her points, but we had too many turnovers on key possessions," DeSilva said. "We'll learn from every game."
At Aiea H.S. gym
| Mililani (0-4) |
4 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
-- |
27
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| Aiea (3-1) |
6 |
12 |
12 |
8 |
-- |
38 |
MILILANI--Jordan Sakai 0, Chelsea Basilio 2, Kimi Ebina 0, Glenelle Nitta 3, Jamielyn Kaleiwahea 11, Haunani Richardson 2, Chantel Tanuvasa 0, Kourtney Senas 0, Joleen Realin 9, Meilin Akiu 0, Breeanna Locauiau 0, LaNeisha Lewis 0.
AIEA--Tasha Johnson 1, Jennifer Yuen 11, Ashley Primacio 0, Natasha Helsham 11, Natasha Fong 6, Annie Orial 0, Michelle Shiroma 0, Sara Watanabe 0, Nohelani Fonoti 0, Chelsea Albrecht 0, Tierra Tauanuu 0, Emily Tausaga 0, Carol Sio 0, Capri Holiona 9.
3-point goals -- Mililani 2 (Kaleiwahea 2), Aiea 2 (Helsham, Fong).
Junior varsity-- Mililani 39, Aiea 23
No. 9 Radford 54, Nanakuli 33
Ta Nitra Byrd scored 17 points and Marlena Malepeai added 13 to lead the Rams over the Golden Hawks.
Sasha Montez scored eight points to pace Nanakuli.
At Nanakuli H.S. gym
| Radford (2-1) |
16 |
10 |
17 |
11 |
-- |
54
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| Nanakuli (1-2) |
6 |
6 |
8 |
13 |
-- |
33 |
RADFORD--Leslie Lazo 2, Itali Lindsey 0, Bui Baravilala 0, Celina Cruz 3, Disa Brown 0, Marlena Malepeai 13, Brittini Fuller 9, Kiara Dykes 2, Chelsea-Ann Villanueva 6, Marsharen DuPont 0, Ta Nitra Byrd 19.
NANAKULI--Kamil Keawe 2, Chazmyne Morgan 0, Sasha Montez 8, Sheila Argayoso 0, Amoree Hauhio 6, Britney Wolf 4, Keola Mahelona 6, Lahela Sylva-Kangusuky 2, Delisha Kaimi 0, Violet Mao 5.
3-point goals -- Radford 1 (Fuller), Nanakuli 1 (Montez).
Junior varsity-- Radford 46, Nanakuli 37
OIA RED EAST
No. 6 Roosevelt 43, Kaimuki 32
Iwalani Rodrigues scored a game-high 18 points to lead the Rough Riders past the Bulldogs.
Louise Fiamate scored 13 and Ashley Fortson added 11 for Kaimuki.
At Kaimuki H.S. gym
| Roosevelt (3-0) |
19 |
6 |
4 |
14 |
-- |
43
|
| Kaimuki (0-4) |
4 |
11 |
11 |
6 |
-- |
32 |
ROOSEVELT--Dianna Zane 5, Tiana Sugui 5, Iwalani Rodrigues 18, Kathleen Nakata 0, Jayna Tasaka 0, Shandree Armstead 4, Tiyana Nakasone 7, Tasia Kamakawiwoole 4, Kaui Kuehu 0.
KAIMUKI--Olivia Phommachanh 6, Mindy Hirokawa 2, Janelle Shimabukuro 0, Melanie Maglaya 0, Maria Colon 0, Denisha Fa'asoa 0, Sinead Scovil 0, Ayesha Sheperd 0, Monica Umeda 0, Louise Fiamate 13, Ashley Fortson 11.
3-point goals -- Roosevelt 1 (Nakasone), Kaimuki 2 (Phommachanh 2).
Junior varsity-- Roosevelt 46, Kaimuki 18
OIA WHITE
McKinley 43, Campbell 25
Chelsie Sato scored a game-high 21 points, including three 3-pointers, in the Tigers' rout of the Sabers.
Jenny Sweeney scored 10 points to lead Campbell.
At McKinley H.S. gym
| Campbell (3-1) |
5 |
6 |
10 |
4 |
-- |
25
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| McKinley (3-0) |
13 |
5 |
12 |
13 |
-- |
43 |
CAMPBELL--Cheyna Tagura 2, Saphyre Eltagonde 0, Gabrielle Serrano 0, Valerie Quintana 0, Vai Confer 0, Aloha Dias-Kekahuna 4, Amber Kaulia 4, Shawny Veracruz 0, Oli Kila 2, Ipo Kila 3, Jenny Sweeney 10.
MCKINLEY-- Jackie Tihano 0, Kaitlyn Ikehara 13, Chelsie Sato 21, Jaelynn Lopez 0, Pearly Togiai 4, Joelle Sagapolu 0, Maribel Hebron 0, Kylie Sato 3, Sasha Hong 0, Allyson Villanueva 0, Jorina Faletoi 0, Crystal Tafai 2.
3-point goals -- Campbell 0, McKinley 6 (Sato 3, Ikehara 3).
Junior varsity-- Campbell 48, McKinley 26
BIIF
Hawaii Prep 64, Parker 19
