Punahou pushes through to second round
Buffanblu smother Govs to advance to the quarterfinals
Punahou put a hurt on Farrington with a 62-37 win in the first round of the Hawaiian Airlines HHSAA State Division I Girls Basketball Tournament last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Honokaa had the defensive effort of the day, holding Moanalua to 25 points in a 33-25 win in the last game of the night. Honokaa will play top-seeded Roosevelt tonight.
Radford earned a spot in the quarterfinals against Iolani with a 44-38 win over Maui while Kalani destroyed Kahuku 64-37.
The Falcons will play second seeded Konawaena tonight.
In the Division II tournament, Kailua dropped Lanai 45-33 to earn a meeting with top-seeded Sacred Hearts and Waimea nipped St. Andrew's 52-50 and will play McKinley.
Kamehameha-Hawaii overcame St. Francis 62-50 while Campbell dropped La Pietra 58-41. The Warriors will play Seabury Hall today while the Sabers take on Hawaii Prep.
Their security blanket can be warm and soothing, but last night, Punahou used it to smother yet another foe.
Tressa Torres scored 14 points and Punahou's old reliable -- a swarming fullcourt press -- smothered Farrington in a 62-37 runaway in the Division I opening round of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Chelsea Deptula had five of her team's 16 steals. Punahou (11-5), the runner-up from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, will face Lahainaluna in a quarterfinal battle today.
"Our goal was to control tempo on both ends of the court. I was just happy we took care of the ball in halfcourt sets against the zone," Buffanblu coach Mike Taylor said.
A pair of first-half runs gave Punahou plenty of cushion. Torres scored four points during a 10-0 blitz by Punahou in the opening quarter.
Farrington pulled within 12-8 before the end of the first, but a 12-2 burst by the Buffanblu, including five points by Chelsea Deptula, put the game out of reach. Melanie Feldman's steal and layup gave Punahou a 24-10 lead midway through the second quarter.
By halftime, Farrington trailed 32-17 and had committed 19 turnovers.
"That on-ball pressure, we don't get that in the OIA, really," Farrington coach Jenic Tumaneng said.
By the second half, Farrington sent guard Janiene Telefoni-Sablan downcourt while Punahou still had the ball on a few possessions -- "picking cherries" -- to try to offset Punahou's rhythm.
"We got within 13, but they hit three straight (shots)," Tumaneng said, impressed by Punahou's reserves.
"Their commitment, doing their job and responsibility," he said. "Punahou knew who our scorers are. They didn't slack down from them."
Farrington's leading scorers during the OIA season were put on ice. C'ani Kealoha managed eight points, three assists and four steals. Elaine "Tuki" Leaupepe was held scoreless.
Valerie Lesu paced Farrington (10-7) with 11 points. The Govs were 0-for-9 from 3-point range and shot 32 percent overall from the field (14-for-43).
Punahou, which shot 50 percent from the field (21-for-42) and 72 percent from the foul line (18-for-25), was ready for Farrington's mix of man and 2-3 zone defenses, but offensive sloppiness was not tolerated.
"Did you see how many turnovers we had? We have a goal to value the ball," said guard Janelle Nomura, who had five points, five rebounds, three assists and four of her team's 23 turnovers.
At Stan Sheriff Center
| Farrington (10-7) |
8 |
9 |
13 |
7 |
-- |
37
|
| Punahou (10-5) |
12 |
20 |
17 |
13 |
-- |
62 |
FARRINGTON--C'ani Kealoha 8, Jorrell Telefoni-Sablan 8, Elaine Leaupepe 0, Valerie Lesu 11, Jericha Onosai 0, Honour Stone 0, Janiene Telefoni-Sablan 2, Macilee Moi 0, Deja Bryce 2, Angela Gasio 6, Polohiva Folaumahina 0.
PUNAHOU--Melanie Feldman 8, Dara Tompkison 6, Erin Moon 2, Chelsea Deptula 9, Devon Yamauchi 4, Rebecca Lau 2, Ilima Macfarlane 6, Ashley Satterwhite 0, Janelle Nomura 5, Anna Merrifield 3, Taj'a Wong 1, Kysa Ludviksen 2, Tressa Torres 14, Tiera Jenson 0.
3-point goals--Punahou 2 (Tompkison, Macfarlane).
Radford 44, Maui 38
Bui Baravilala scored nine of her 11 points during a pivotal third-quarter run as the Lady Rams outlasted the Sabers.
"Radford came out to prove their defense was worthy like during the (regular) season," Maui coach Gilbert Silva said. "We lost our patience and we didn't hit our putbacks like they did. What really hurt us was their offensive rebounding."
At Stan Sheriff Center
| Maui (13-8) |
7 |
15 |
6 |
10 |
-- |
38
|
| Radford (13-2) |
10 |
8 |
16 |
10 |
-- |
44 |
MAUI--Vanity Tuquero 4, Ariel Gaoiran 5, Lilieni Laloulu-Saleimoa 5, Hotia Vaaimamao 12, Jazmine Corpuz 2, Mia Shimabuku 2, Rochelle Dumlao 0, Cheyla Vega 6, Shakiyla Heslip 2, Annika Howland 0.
RADFORD--Leslie Lazo 0, Marlena Malepeai 3, Brittini Fuller 9, Chelsea Villanueva 6, Ta Nitra Byrd 15, Itali Lindsey 0, Bui Baravilala 11, Disa Brown 0, Kiara Dykes 0, Marsharen DuPont 0.
3-point goals--Maui 1 (Gaoiran), Radford 1 (Fuller).
Kalani 64, Kahuku 37
Courtney Gaddis hit all eight of her free-throw attempts and finished with 14 points to lead Kalani. Reserve guard Chloe Martin added 12 points, including three treys, and Kacie Gushiken added 10 points.
The Lady Falcons broke open a close game in the third quarter to advance into the quarterfinals.
At Stan Sheriff Center
| Kahuku (5-11) |
5 |
10 |
12 |
10 |
-- |
37
|
| Kalani (13-3) |
14 |
9 |
25 |
16 |
-- |
64 |
KAHUKU--Taeja Afalava 11, Brittney Fesolai 5, Nicolle Nautu 4, Alayna Galeai 9, Kenra Moe 2, Kelcy Latu 1, Krystle Manguba-Glover 0, LeNora Nauahi 0, Vaimalama Tito 0, Naile Te'o 0, Keisha Moeai 5.
KALANI--Kim Cabuyadao 0, Megan Kamehiro 8, Kacie Gushiken 10, Rhianna Farm 6, Courtney Gaddis 14, Chloe Martin 12, Brandi Yamaguchi 1, Kim Balsai 0, Violet Alama 4, Allison Neussl 2, Chelsea Kimura 0, Tia Kobayashi 2, Alisha Bonifacio 0, Chaude Bonifacio 2, Jamie Higa 3, Ashlyn Onaga 0.
3-point goals--Kahuku 1 (Fesolai), Kalani 3 (Martin 3).
Honokaa 33, Moanalua 25
Keisha Kanekoa overcame a slow start to score six points, dish five assists and grab 12 rebounds as the BIIF runner-up Dragons advanced.
| Moanalua (6-11) |
4 |
3 |
5 |
13 |
-- |
25
|
| Honokaa (15-3) |
6 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
-- |
33 |
MOANALUA--Brianna Lagat-Ramos 2, Deena Dela Cruz 2, Michelle Hardy 0, Jamie Ronolo 13, Britni Ronolo 8, Janelle Uncangco 0, Indah Widyakusuma 0, Tahirah Gibson 0.
HONOKAA--Keisha Kanekoa 6, Kawehi Correa 4, Jessika Lorenzo 8, Jamaika Lorenzo 6, Kaylene Kanekoa 2, Shyenne Dela Rosa 0, April Cano 5, Lauren Domingo 0, Nicole Ancheta 2, Maku Torres 0, Lauwa'e Ablao 0, Courtney Nickel 0.
3-point goals--Honokaa 1 (Cano).
