HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Konawaena's Liana Hanato-Smith took the ball away from Iolani's Chelsea Unemori.
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Konawaena, Punahou in D-I final
The Wildcats come back to beat Iolani, while the Buffanblu defeat Honokaa
Ranked first, seeded second and playing at 100 percent.
The Konawaena Wildcats, with more respect from pollsters than from the seeding committee, overcame severe foul trouble and a six-point deficit to rally past Iolani 50-41 last night in the semifinals of the Hawaiian Airlines Girls Basketball State Championships.
A tense crowd at Stan Sheriff Center saw Konawaena swingman Jazzmin Awa-Williams pour in 27 points, including 14-for-18 accuracy from the foul line, en route to the win. Konawaena (15-0), the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, returns to the state final for the third time in four years.
The Wildcats last won the state crown in 2004, when Awa-Williams was a freshman. Last night, the left-hander shot 11-for-15 from the line in the final quarter, when Konawaena surged ahead for the first time and used relentless defensive pressure on the Raiders.
"I was really surprised. They were pressing us, we were folding. Then we turned the pressure on them," Awa-Williams said.
Jamie Smith, Iolani's superlative junior forward, amassed 28 points on 10-for-14 shooting from the field. She also shot 8-for-11 from the foul line, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three shots.
Konawaena broke a 35-all tie with a steady stream of free throws in the final 3:28. The Wildcats hit six foul shots in a row during a key stretch.
Two of those came from Mana Hopkins, who had eight points and eight rebounds. Her play in the second half gave the Wildcats an extra boost.
"We talked about the basics," the center said of coach Bobbie Awa's halftime talk. "We weren't boxing out. I was nervous, but we didn't get here playing by ourselves. We got here by playing as a team."
After halftime, Konawaena patiently ran its offense, preserving Awa-Williams' presence after she picked up three first-half fouls.
After Iolani went ahead 31-25, Wildcat guard Kara Hanato-Smith swished a 3-pointer from the top. Moments later, Liana Hanato-Smith stole the ball from Chelsea Unemori and fed Awa-Williams for a layup, bringing Konawaena within 31-30 shortly before the end of the third quarter.
Thirteen seconds into the fourth quarter, Awa-Williams was whistled for a moving screen, her fourth foul.
"Donny said, 'Should we sub her? Should we sub her?' I said, 'Let her go,' " Awa said to assistant coach and husband Donald Awa. "That's a gamble you gotta take. She's a smart player."
She remained in the game and delivered a breakaway layup to give the Wildcats their first lead, 32-31, with 5:32 left.
After Iolani tied the game at 35 on a three-point play by Smith, Konawaena appeared to be in dire straits, with three starters close to fouling out. One of them was Hopkins, who sank two free throws to give the 'Cats the lead for good.
Punahou 47, Honokaa 41
Janelle Nomura scored 18 points and Chelsea Deptula had 16 as the ILH runner-up pulled away in the closing 5 minutes to reach the final.
Nomura, a sophomore guard, swished all six of her free-throw tries in the final minute to put the game out of reach. Deptula added six rebounds for the Buffanblu (11-5), who overcame a 32-point effort by Honokaa senior Keisha Kanekoa.
Kanekoa, a University of Hawaii recruit, also had a game-high 11 rebounds for Honokaa (16-4), the BIIF's second-place team. She managed four steals as well.
An 8-1 run midway through the second half provided the Buffanblu with a cushion. Deptula's pick-and-roll play with Melanie Feldman resulted in a three-point play to give Punahou a 34-26 lead with 6:48 remaining.
A 3-pointer by Jessika Lorenzo, plus a steal by Kawehi Correa for a Kanekoa layup, brought the Dragons back. After Jamaika Lorenzo swished a pair of foul shots, Honokaa was within 36-34 with 5:01 to play. The Dragons got no closer against the deeper, quicker Buffanblu.
Deptula then stole a pass by Kanekoa and converted it for a basket to give the Buffanblu a 38-34 lead with 4:04 left. Despite missing five foul shots, including the front end of three 1-and-1 opportunities, Punahou hustled after offensive boards and loose balls.
Deptula, Feldman and Nomura combined to shoot 5-for-6 at the line and give Punahou a 43-36 lead with 1 minute to go.
Punahou's suffocating defense forced Honokaa into 21 turnovers.
Tressa Torres hustled for 10 rebounds to lead Punahou on the boards.
Division I
Konawaena 50, Iolani 41
| Iolani (12-3) |
15 |
12 |
4 |
10 |
-- |
41
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| Konawaena (16-0) |
14 |
7 |
9 |
20 |
-- |
50 |
IOLANI--Tami Konishi 2, Kyle Ahlo 3, Alana Matayoshi 6, Chanel Hirata 2, Jamie Smith 28, Chelsea Unemori 0, Dayna Jandoc 0, Lauren Brown 0, Raechele Takara 0, Sarah Turgeon 0.
KONAWAENA--Liana Hanato-Smith 6, Kara Hanato-Smith 5, Jazzmin Awa-Williams 27, Mana Hopkins 8, Marissa Minor 4, Kellie Kitaoka 0, Kayti Bowman 0.
3-point goals--Iolani 1 (Ahlo), Konawaena 3 (L. Hanato-Smith, K. Hanato-Smith, Awa-Williams).
Punahou 50, Honokaa 41
| Punahou (12-5) |
12 |
7 |
12 |
16 |
-- |
47
|
| Honokaa (14-4) |
7 |
10 |
9 |
15 |
-- |
41 |
PUNAHOU--Melanie Feldman 2, Dara Tompkison 0, Erin Moon 0, Chelsea Deptula 16, Devon Yamauchi 0, Rebecca Lau 2, Ilima Macfarlane 1, Ashley Satterwhite 0, Janelle Nomura 18, Taj'a Wong 0, Tressa Torres 6, Tiera Jenson 2.
HONOKAA--Keisha Kanekoa 32, Kawehi Correa 0, Jessika Lorenzo 3, Jamaika Lorenzo 3, Kaylene Kanekoa 2, April Cano 0, Lauren Domingo 0, Nicole Ancheta 0, Juanne Quidang 0, Lauwa'e Ablao 0, Courtney Nickel 1.
3-point goals--Punahou 0, Honokaa 1 (Je. Lorenzo).
Maui 51, Kahuku 35
| Maui (11-5) |
14 |
7 |
13 |
17 |
-- |
51
|
| Kahuku (6-12) |
7 |
13 |
7 |
8 |
-- |
35 |
MAUI--Vanity Tuquero 0, Ariel Gaoiran 12, Lilieni Laloulu-Saleimoa 2, Hotia Vaaimamao 12, Jazmine Corpuz 6, Mia Shimabuku 4, Rochelle Dumlao 0, Cheyla Vega 6, Shakiyla Heslip 4, Annika Howland 5.
KAHUKU--Brittney Fesolai 8, Krystle Manguba-Glover 2, Nicolle Nautu 2, Keisha Moeai 2, Kenra Moe 5, Taeja Afalava 3, Naile Te'o 0, Kelcy Latu 0, LeNora Nauahi 2, Vaimalama Tito 2, Alayna Galeai 5, Tania Latu 4.
3-point goals--Maui 2 (Gaoiran 2), Kahuku 1 (Galeai).
Roosevelt 56, Lahainaluna 53
| Lahainaluna (13-3) |
15 |
9 |
9 |
20 |
-- |
53
|
| Roosevelt (15-2) |
12 |
13 |
15 |
16 |
-- |
56 |
LAHAINALUNA--Tekiri Rickard 2, Rachael Rickard 16, Roxanne Padron 2, Yasnaya Perez 0, Milika Taufa 14, Lovelee Tagudin 0, Trina Akima 0, Anastaceya Arcangel 3, Natalie Austin 0, Jaiana Uyeda 0, Ofa Namoa 16.
ROOSEVELT--Dianna Zane 14, Tiana Sugui 2, Iwalani Rodrigues 20, Shandree Armstead 0, Tasia Kamakawiwoole 7, Kathleen Nakata 0, Jayna Tasaka 4, Tiyana Nakasone 4, Brittni Au 1, Kaui Kuehu 4.
3-point goals--Lahainaluna 1 (Arcangel), Roosevelt 2 (Zane, Tasaka).
Kalani 47, Radford 30
| Radford (14-4) |
5 |
8 |
5 |
12 |
-- |
30
|
| Kalani (14-4) |
11 |
8 |
8 |
20 |
-- |
47 |
RADFORD--Marlena Malepeai 4, Brittini Fuller 0, Kiara Dykes 3, Chelsea Villanueva 2, Ta Nitra Byrd 11, Leslie Lazo 3, Itali Lindsey 0, Bui Baravilala 3, Celina Cruz 2, Disa Brown 0, Marsharen DuPont 2.
KALANI--Allison Neussl 3, Kim Cabuyadao 0, Chelsea Kimura 0, Megan Kamehiro 9, Courtney Gaddis 20, Chloe Martin 3, Kayla Kimura 0, Brandi Yamaguchi 0, Kim Balsai 0, Violet Alama 0, Tia Kobayashi 1, Rhianna Farm 7, Alisha Bonifacio 2, Chaude Bonifacio 0, Jamie Higa 2, Ashlyn Onaga 0.
3-point goals--Radford 1 (Lazo), Kalani 5 (Gaddis 3, Kamehiro, Martin).
Division II
KS-Hawaii 73, McKinley 53
| KS-Hawaii (14-3) |
19 |
23 |
16 |
15 |
-- |
73
|
| McKinley (15-2) |
12 |
15 |
13 |
13 |
-- |
53 |
KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAII--Ashlee Kalauli 9, Kanisha Bello 24, Danielle Chung 0, Sierra Gacayan 12, Kozy Toriano 7, Bryanna DeLima 5, Cassidy Cabel 0, Uilani Poepoe 0, Chassie Luiz 0, Kaci Rosehill 2, Joelle Cabasa 0, Carissima Naki 2, Shanley Apele 0, Tabitha Eseroma 11, Kayla Lacaran-Costales 1.
MCKINLEY--Jackie Tihano 2, Kaitlyn Ikehara 14, Chelsie Sato 17, Jaelynn Lopez 0, Pearly Togiai 8, Maribel Hebron 0, Kylie Sato 10, Sasha Hong 0, Allyson Villanueva 0, Jorina Faletoi 1, Crystal Tafai 1.
3-point goals -- KS-Hawaii 4 (Kalauli 2, Gacayan 2), McKinley 7 (Ikehara 4, C. Sato 2, K. Sato).
Sacred Hearts 53, Campbell 37
| Campbell (14-3) |
5 |
0 |
6 |
26 |
-- |
37
|
| Sacred Hearts (15-0) |
11 |
2 |
14 |
26 |
-- |
53 |
CAMPBELL--Cheyna Tagura 4, Oli Kila 9, Vai Confer 4, Aloha Dias-Kekahuna 9, Jenny Sweeney 6, Ipo Kila 0, Amber Kaulia 2, Valerie Quintana 3.
SACRED HEARTS--Cara Smith 4, Nalani Bayne 12, Raecha-Ann Kauahikaua 12, Samantha Valle 9, Kuhina Luis 4, Ashley Ordenstein 9, Montana Neyra 2, Kapo Lupenui 0, Kamri Lin 0, Noel Soma 0, Rayna Munos 1, Maya Clark 0, Nicole Vierra 0, Charnelle Pires 0.
3-point goals--Campbell 3 (O. Kila, Dias-Kekahuna, Quintana), Sacred Hearts 1 (Ordenstein).
St. Francis 53, La Pietra 39
| St. Francis (12-5) |
6 |
12 |
15 |
20 |
-- |
53
|
| La Pietra (13-7) |
6 |
7 |
8 |
18 |
-- |
39 |
ST. FRANCIS--Shaakira Mitchell 2, Kaui Berinobis 4, Melissa Allen 0, Nicole Perry 5, Danielle Tanaka 12, Azalea Fritz 0, Bryanna Batts 15, Alesa Ramaila 0, Traci Yamamoto 0, Rochelle Nakagawa 2, Cierra Gauvin 0, Kristen Enomoto 0, Jamie Iwashita 0, Janelle Nance 13, Krysten Kawamata 0.
LA PIETRA--Christen Hirai 0, Leah Kaina 12, Chelsea Kiyabu 0, Ashanti Shih 5, Megan Giles 10, Charity Caracol 2, Tihon Nguyen 6, Jasmine Kimura 2, Alexandra Lake 0, Stacey Martin 2.
3-point goals -- St. Francis 0, La Pietra 3 (Nguyen 2, Kaina).
Seabury Hall 48, Waimea 45
| Seabury Hall (13-1) |
12 |
17 |
7 |
12 |
-- |
48
|
| Waimea (8-4) |
15 |
11 |
6 |
13 |
-- |
45 |
SEABURY HALL--Anuhea Rilveria 10, Michelle Mallen 0, Emma Burns 3, Yacine Meyer 10, Korena Burgio 9, Lesley Smith 0, Talia Anama 2, Chelsea Kikuchi 3, Tiana Barbier 11.
WAIMEA--Rasha Banasihan 0, Moani Durant 19, Kierra Barba 2, Tatum Gonsalves 5, Josey Jacinto 0, Ho'onani Dennis 11, Cheri Kua 7, Lorrine Lagoc 0, Mollie Connelly 0, Erin Connelly 0, Akio Grande 1.
3-point goals -- Seabury Hall 5 (Barbier 3, Rilveria, Kikuchi), Waimea 1 (Durant).
Kailua 37, Hawaii Prep 28
| Hawaii Prep (9-7) |
11 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
-- |
28
|
| Kailua (12-6) |
12 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
-- |
37 |
HAWAII PREP--Cecily Kimura 0, Chelsea Himalaya 0, Tamlyn Tsubota 0, Tayler Wang 6, Kela Fitzgerald 20, Cori Wang 2, Maya Chong 0, Kimbi Macy 0.
KAILUA--Kristen Corrales 8, Zsalei Kamaka 4, Netia Pe'a-Ulugaono 0, Ashley Jacobs 21, Kahealani Chang 4, Tawny Kiko 0, Tianna McKeague 0, Jarrish Mauhili-Kaneakua 0.
3-point goals -- Hawaii Prep 0, Kailua 6 (Jacobs 5, Corrales).
