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POSTED: Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The defending champs rely on their go-to scorer, but even Janelle Nomura knows she can count on her teammates in the clutch.

Jenny Ching hit a putback layup as time expired to give top-ranked Punahou a thrilling 41-39 win over No. 6 Mid-Pacific last night at Mills Gym in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular-season opener for both teams.

About 200 saw Punahou eke out the win in no-holds-barred, gritty fashion - suffocating man-to-man defense from baseline to baseline is the renewed mantra in the post-Kuehu twins era. It was also a game Mid-Pac lost at the free-throw line, shooting only 58 percent (14-for-24).

Ching's shot, which tumbled off the back of the rim and through the net, came a moment after Nomura missed a tough runner from the left side of the key over Mid-Pac center Keaton McFadden.

Ching turned out to be in the right place at the right time.

“;Janelle went to the left side and I just crashed the boards. Keaton was the left and I happened to be on the right side,”; said Ching, a 5-foot-8 sophomore who had never hit a game-winning shot before.

Nomura began the play at midcourt with the game tied at 39-all. With 15 seconds to go, the Buffanblu went into a set play, and the 5-4 senior drove past Johnelle Kapua to face McFadden, a 5-11 center. McFadden spent most of the game on the point of MPI's 1-3-1 zone, but switched to the middle for the final seconds. After fouling Nomura earlier in the game, she knew better.

“;I didn't want to foul her, so I let her go,”; McFadden said.

Nomura, who scored a team-high 14 points, was surprised.

“;I was waiting for a foul. I leaned in, but she (backed) off,”; said Nomura, whose shot hit the backboard and caromed straight to Ching. “;Jenny was in perfect position.”;

MPI's other key rebounder, Jenna Savusa, was on the bench down the stretch after fouling out.

Ching finished with eight points for the Buffanblu (6-2 overall), who shot just 31 percent from the field (14-for-45), but came through at the foul line (12-for-17). Punahou committed just eight turnovers, and 13 of their 21 boards were on the offensive end.

Kapua led the Owls with 19 points, including 9-for-10 shooting at the line, and eight rebounds. However, her teammates shot only 5-for-14 from the charity stripe, failing to take advantage of Punahou's physical defense and penchant for fouling. McFadden added eight points, and Savusa grabbed eight boards.

Even this early in the season, it's a bitter pill for MPI (10-2 overall), which lost nearly a year ago (Jan. 22) in overtime at home to Punahou by the same 41-39 score.

“;Last year, it was a lot different,”; Owls coach Byron Cheng said. “;We were ahead in that game. This one, we clawed back and showed a lot of character. This one, I feel, we had.”;

The contest was a collection of bumps, bruises and floor burns from the start. There were five lead changes before halftime as Punahou struggled against MPI's 1-3-1 zone. The new, petite European-made nets on MPI's rims - long strands on top, thickly knitted at the bottom with bouncy tassels - did neither team any favors. Punahou shot 1-for-11 in the opening quarter; Mid-Pac was 1-for-14.

                                                                                                                                                           

Punahou (1-0)		3	12	15	11	-	41
Mid-Pacific (0-1)		3	14	12	10	-	39

PUNAHOU-Rebecca Lau 4, Julianne Nomura 3, Janet Li 0, Anna Merrifield 3, Brittnie Lau 0, Mysha Sataraka 6, Janelle Nomura 14, Jenny Ching 8, Julia Brand 0, Kysa Ludviksen 1, Tressa Torres 2.

MID-PACIFIC-Paige Young 0, Ashley Yamachika 3, Johnelle Kapua 19, Shanon Nishimura 0, Kelli Shibata 3, Jordan Kealoha 2, Taylor Babbitt 0, Keaton McFadden 8, Jenna Savusa 4.

3-point goals-Punahou 1 (Nomura), Mid-Pacific 1 (Shibata).

No. 5 Kamehameha 28, Sacred Hearts 25

The Warriors defense held the Lancers to single-digit scoring in every quarter to pull out the win.

Kuhina Luis led Sacred Hearts with 10 points.

                                                                                                                                           

Sacred Hearts (0-1)	5	8	9	3	-	25
Kamehameha (1-0)	7	6	12	3	-	28

SACRED HEARTS-Kara Vause 0, Rayna Munos 3, Lynsey Overstreet 0, Kamri Lin 8, Morgan Donohue 0, Sara Souza 0, Crystal Mana 0, Vanessa Freitas 0, Lindsey Bareng 0, Raecha-Ann Kauahikaua 4, Theresa O'Connor 0, Kuhina Luis 10, Naihe Paikai 0, Aysia Burnett 0.

KAMEHAMEHA-Alexis Furtado 5, Sanoe Keliinoi 2, Tia Perreira 0, Zianna Zablan 2, Lindsey Wong 3, Pomaikai Kalakau 4, Kellsie Crowell 2, Makana Borden 6, Kylle Roy 4.

3-point goals-Sacred Hearts 1 (Munos), Kamehameha 1 (Furtado).

ILH Division II

Maryknoll 54, St. Andrew's Priory 45

Tiana Marquez and Ashley Agcaoili scored 12 points each as the Spartans defeated the Pride.

Noelani Kawashima led St. Andrew's Priory with 18 points, including four 3-pointers.

                                                                                                                                           

Maryknoll (1-0)	11	12	16	15	-	54
St. Andrew's (1-2)	18	11	10	6	-	45

MARYKNOLL-Kristen Canencia 9, Kayla Godinet 6, Ashley Agcaoili 12, Ashley Shiroma 0, Melissa Ching 9, Soana Fifita 6, Tiana Marquez 12.

ST. ANDREW'S PRIORY-Kerri Inoshita 0, Rebecca Kleinschmidt 2, Shelley Wong 7, Minna Watanabe 12, Noelani Kawashima 18, Erika McCaskill 6, Tesia Laboy 0.

3-point goals-Maryknoll 4 (Marquez 2, Ching, Canencia), St. Andrew's Priory 8 (Kawashima 4, Watanabe 2, McCaskill 2).

Kamehameha II 56, Word of Life 29

Briauna Bissen scored nine points and Larissa Ogawa added eight as the Warriors crushed the visiting Firebrands.

Word of Life's Rayane Alvarado had a game-high 13 points.

                                                                                                                                           

Word of Life (0-1)	4	6	5	14	-	29
Kamehameha II (1-0)	18	14	18	6	-	56

WORD OF LIFE-Faith Zebra 0, Rayane Alvarado 13, Alexis Villa 0, Lelina Malae-Toro 0, Shelbi Miyashiro 0, Adaiah Hanakahi 3, Phoibe Fetu 8, Channelle Maldonado 5, Paea Naulu 0, Elaine Naulu 0.

KAMEHAMEHA II-Briauna Bissen 9, Kimberly Ubilas 3, Kyndall Moi-Simeona 6, Cheyane Kamai 6, Kelly Opedal 7, Larissa Ogawa 8, Lacy Deniz 3, Neilina Vierra 5, Tehani Tamaye 2, Courtney Bartels 2, Rachel Kaneakua 5.

3-point goals-Word of Life 4 (Alvarado 3, Maldonado), Kamehameha II 2 (Opedal, Deniz).

Punahou II 66, Lanakila Baptist 26

Hilary Nakaya scored 12 points to lead the host Buffanblu past the Warriors.

                                                                                                                                           

Lanakila Baptist (0-1)	6	12	4	4	-	26
Punahou (1-0)	15	19	16	16	-	66

LANAKILA BAPTIST-Erika Ellis 5, Crystal Sonson 10, Jessica Sonson 5, Bliselda Miranda 0, Maikalani Eli 0, Joy Duncan 4, Cheriane Goodknecht 2, Neticia Susuico 0.

PUNAHOU II-Olivia Manayan 0, Ashley Choy 3, Sara Nishikawa 0, Courtney Lelepali 0, Kira Bayley 10, Kayla Murata 7, Natalie Portwood 8, Taylor Maruyama 8, Jessica Lin 6, Michelle Tam 10, Hilary Nakaya 12, Julie Ayabe 2.

3-point goals-Punahou 2 (Choy, Murata).

OIA red east

McKinley 43, Kailua 32

The Tigers outscored the Surfriders 18-8 in the fourth quarter to open with a win.

Tatiana Dinson scored 18 points to lead McKinley and Ashley Jacobs finished with 11 points for Kailua.

                                                                                                                                           

Kailua (0-1)	5	7	12	8	-	32
McKinley (1-0)	8	10	7	18	-	43

KAILUA-Jayna Hanawahine 0, Tawny Kiko 5, Sola Williams 0, Teuila Asele 2, Zsalei Kamaka 8, Ka'u Kohatsu 6, Alysha Franco 0, Anu Ahyun 0, Ashley Jacobs 11, Tia Nazarra 0.

MCKINLEY-Emerenciana Rayes 2, Kylie Sato 0, Twanzyna Spencer 0, Ashley Gravley 0, Tatiana Dinson 18, Brenda Walker 6, Hanna Yoo 4, Jorina Faletoi 8, Juwill Sparks 0, Allyson Villeanueva 0, Jaylynn Baoit 0, Jackie Tihano 5.

3-point goals-Kailua 1 (Jacobs), McKinley 1 (Tihano).

Junior varsity-Kailua 40, McKinley 19

Roosevelt 50, Castle 21

Mikela Thoemmes scored a game-high 19 points as the Rough Riders dominated the Knights.

Roosevelt shut out the Knights 17-0 in the third quarter, with Thoemmes and Joshy Noga scoring eight points each.

                                                                                                                                                           

Castle (0-1)		5	9	0	7	-	21
Roosevelt (1-0)		7	11	17	15	-	50

CASTLE-Brandee Sasaki 0, Cailee Awa 11, Britt Hawn 0, Britt Lane 0, Leisha Li'ili'i 4, Kaity Wills 0, Mayce Moe 0, Ashley Ballestenos 0, Joshelle Lilio 6, Kree Espinda 0.

ROOSEVELT-Charisse Tanabe 0, Kelcie Namba 4, Samantha Murakami 0, Kathleen Nakata 5, Nicole Ramirez 3, Abcde Furuta-Harada 3, Rachel Gomes 0, Mikela Thoemmes 19, Joshy Noga 12, Cierra Kapea 0, Tasia Kamakawiwoole 4.

3-point goals-Castle 1 (Awa), Roosevelt 3 (Nakata, Namba, Ramirez).

Junior varsity-Roosevelt 34, Castle 18 .

No. 2 Farrington 95, Kalani 71

Lusina Otineru scored a game-high 18 points as the Governors blitzed the visiting Falcons.

Ashlyn Onaga and Jamie Higa led Kalani with 17 points apiece.

                                                                                                                                                           

Kalani (0-1)		20	14	21	16	-	71
Farrington (1-0)		25	22	26	22	-	95

KALANI-Ashlyn Onaga 17, Jamie Higa 17, Kelsie Maslanka 5, Corie Kuia 6, Kiera Iinuma 5, Cris Sasano 10, Kristi Belshe 3, Leina Faleolo 6, Hikaru Kumagai 2, Lorenna Misaalefua 0, Loretta Misaalefua 0, Tiare Maafala 0, Tiffany Liao 0, Joyce Lam 0.

FARRINGTON- Janell Nance 7, Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo 15, Natalie Mata 14, Lusina Otineru 18, Kirsten Liana 11, Jasmine Funtanilla 6, Angie Argel 2, Lucky Crichton 6, Precious Maave 7, Aisha Gaea 9.

3-point goals-Kalani 6 (Kuia 2, Higa 2, Maslanka, Iinuma), Farrington 3 (Mata, Tatupu-Leopoldo, Maave).

Junior varsity-Farrington 43, Kalani 32.

OIA red west

Also

Pearl City 51, Mililani 47

OIA white

Kaimuki 35, Leilehua 21

Olivia Phommachanh scored nine points and Letisha Faasoa added eight as the visiting Bulldogs beat the Mules.

                                                                                                                                           

Kaimuki (1-0)	8	8	12	7	-	35
Leilehua (0-1)	0	10	6	5	-	21

KAIMUKI-Olivia Phommachanh 9, Pua Akaka 1, Sasha Tokuda 2, Dinishah Faasoa 2, Brittney Anglin 1, Letisha Faasoa 8, Dejah Faasoa 5, Leti Mikaele 2, Ashley Fortson 1, Lani Mikaele 4.

LEILEHUA-Patricia Lindo 5, Michelle Fletcher 6, Mariyah Tamaalemalo 2, Toe Motu 4, Alondra Hooks 4.

3-point goals-Kaimuki 3 (Phommachanh, Anglin, D. Faasoa), Leilehua 1 (Lindo).

Junior varsity-Leilehua 27, Kaimuki 14

Boys Tournament

'Iolani 51, Menlo-Atherton 40

Trevyn Tulonghari scored 10 points to lead 'Iolani past visiting Menlo-Atherton (Calif.) to capture the Na Menehune Classic Championship at Moanalua.

Tulonghari joins Raiders teammates Pablo Warner and Kainoa Chu on the all-tournament team.

Na Menehune Classic

Varsity boys at Moanalua

Third-place game

Moanalua 40, Kaimuki 37

Consolation championship

Campbell 53, Punahou II 50

Consolation scores

Word of Life 55, Iolani II 53

Damien 61, Kauai 41

McKinley 58, Aiea 54

Maryknoll 48, University 33

Irvine (Calif.) 61, Baldwin 45