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POSTED: Saturday, January 24, 2009

The stage has been set and the Kaimuki Bulldogs are ready.

With a resounding 58-41 win over Kaiser last night, Kaimuki will put its unbeaten (7-0) record on the line against Kahuku (6-1) on Tuesday.

Kaimuki has the lead in the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference. Along the way, the Bulldogs secured a narrow win at No. 8-ranked Kahuku, which will have a full roster when the teams meet again in three nights.

The Bulldogs were in complete control against the Cougars, who are down to just eight players. Olivia Phommachanh came off the bench to score 20 points, including four zone-busting treys, to lead Kaimuki. Sophomore Letisha Fa'asoa added 10 points and four assists.

Keely Bitanga had 16 points and four assists, and Chelsy Okuma added 11 points and six rebounds to pace Kaiser, which dropped to 4-3.

“;We tried to protect inside, but we didn't know they would shoot the lights out,”; Kaiser coach Simon Bitanga said.

Kaimuki nailed seven treys, including three in a pivotal second quarter.

“;Olivia went off. It's hard to beat them when they're on,”; Bitanga added.

The visiting Cougars took a quick 6-0 lead on 3-point bombs by Okuma and Bitanga, but Kaimuki's mix of 1-3-1 and 2-3 matchup zones shut off the deep threat.

After Phommachanh hit a mid-range jumper, the Bulldogs led 7-6 with 3:19 left in the opening quarter and never trailed again.

Coach Mona Fa'asoa used her bench liberally and wore down the depleted Cougars. Phommachanh got hot from the arc, drilling three treys in the second quarter, as the Bulldogs soared to a 29-14 halftime lead. Kaiser, which shot 4-for-24 from the field in the first half, got no closer than 14 points in the second half.

Kaimuki shot 40 percent from the field (23-for-57), including 7-for-20 from the 3-point arc. The 'Dogs outboarded Kaiser 35-27. The Cougars shot 32 percent for the game (15-for-47) from the field and 35 percent from the foul line (7-for-20).

Kaimuki also got the edge in turnovers, with just 11 to Kaiser's 19.

Phommachanh had struggled with her outside shot since injuring an ankle against Kahuku.

“;Coach wants me to start shooting more and create for the team,”; said Phommachanh, who also had four assists and four steals.

Fa'asoa has plenty of weapons at her disposal, from Phommachanh to her three daughters—senior Dinishah, Letisha and Dejah—and two sisters in the low post, Leti and Lani Mikaele.

“;I'm glad Vee (Phommachanh) is shooting again. I'm having to threaten her to shoot or she'll sit down. When she misses one, she gets hesitant, but we need her to score. It opens up everyone else's game,”; coach Fa'asoa said.

Phommachanh is as eager to play Kahuku as any of the Bulldogs. She played just 1 minute against the Red Raiders before suffering the ankle injury.

“;I know they're all back and they want to take us down,”; she said, referring to the Kahuku players who missed the Kaimuki game to play in off-island volleyball tournaments. “;We want to play our game, not their game.”;

At 7-0, the Bulldogs still have room to grow, coach Fa'asoa said.

“;We need to work on our fouls—to stop reaching—and start moving our feet,”; she said.

It'll be one of the last home games for Kaimuki with the Fa'asoa sisters together. After Kahuku, Anuenue will visit on Thursday, and after that, the Bulldogs are not guaranteed a playoff game at home.

“;We're gonna make it one to remember,”; said Dejan, a freshman. “;I never thought about it before, but we've been playing together all our lives.”;

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Kaiser (4-3)	7	7	10	17	—	41
Kaimuki (8-0)	12	17	16	13	—	58

KAISER—Alaiza Del Andre 3, Lijah Bowerman 4, Chelsy Okuma 11, Keely Bitanga 16, Daryn Vorderbruegge 2, Bailey Miller 2, Shelby Pa 3, Kaitlyn Nakano 0.

KAIMUKI—Olivia Phommachanh 20, Pua Akaka 6, Sasha Tokuda 0, Brooke Borce 0, Tanya Villanueva 2, Dinishah Fa'asoa 4, Justell Arthur 0, Brittney Anglin 2, Letisha Fa'asoa 10, Dejah Fa'asoa 6, Mikki Morihara 0, Leti Mikaele 4, Ashley Fortson 2, Lani Mikaele 2.

3-point goals—Kaiser 4 (Bitanga 2, Okuma, Del Andre), Kaimuki 7 (Phommachanh 4, Akaka 2, L. Fa'asoa).

Junior varsity—Kaiser 47, Kaimuki 20

 

OIA White

Waipahu 46, Waialua 23
The Marauders played as a team to beat the Bulldogs for their first win of the season.

Genivee Velasco led Waipahu with 11 points, scoring four in the second quarter to help her team stretch a two-point advantage to 11 by the half. Geneva Balladares, Shanice Julio and Adrienne Mendiola each had four points in the decisive frame for Waipahu.

                                                                                                                                           

Waialua (1-5)	6	5	4	8	—	23
Waipahu (1-6)	8	14	12	12	—	46

WAIALUA—Deja Lunasco 4, Christel Banis 0, Cassie Hoku Ho 3, Courtney Kildar 6, Gabby Maxwell 2, Alyssiah Hernandez 2, Savannah Ash 6, Angelica Pelekai 0, Shaurice Talaroc 0.

WAIPAHU—Moriah Blackmon 0, Geneva Balladares 7 , Jessica Lozano 6, Amber Javier 8, Genivee Velasco 11, Alyssa Torres 0, Adrienne Mendiola 4, Brendalyn Brub 2, Shanice Julio 6, Dara Iawohi-Dutro 2.

Junior varsity—Waipahu 42, Waialua 27

Kalaheo 68, Anuenue 30
Mele Adams hit two 3-pointers en route to a game-high 18 points to lead the Mustangs over Na Koa.

                                                                                                                                           

Anuenue (0-6)	9	4	11	6	—	30
Kalaheo (5-2)	14	24	13	17	—	68

ANUENUE—Kenui Wahilani 12, Leikula Gottlieb 3, Nalani Kamano 7, Kala Lewis 2, Kapela Kahili 4, Hoonani Wahilani 2, Nanea Kon 0.

KALAHEO—Nicole Cobb 4, Hi'i Olson 9, Kamele Perry 5, Caira Pires 0, Tiffany Harada 15, Mele Adams 18, Kaua Cale 4, Jordy Smith 13.

3-point goals—Anuenue 1 (Kamano), Kalaheo 6 (Adams 2, Cobb, Perry, Olson, Smith).

 

OIA Red East

Kailua 40, Roosevelt 36, OT
Ashley Jacobs drained four 3-pointers and ended with a game-high 16 points as the Surfriders won in overtime against the host Rough Riders.

Roosevelt's Tasia Kamakawiwoole hit one of two free throws with 4.8 seconds remaining in the fourth to cause overtime.

In the extra period, Kailua's Zsalei Kamaka converted all six of her free-throw tries to seal the upset victory.

                                                                                                                                                           

Kailua (2-5)	7	10	8	9	6	—	40
Roosevelt (5-3)	12	6	6	8	4	—	36

KAILUA—Jayna Hanawahine 0, Tawny Kiko 0, Sola Williams 7, Teuila Asele 0, Zsalei Kamaka 10, Ka'u Kohatsu 2, Alysha Franco 0, Anu Ahyun 5, Ashley Jacobs 16, Tia Nazarra 0.

ROOSEVELT—Charisse Tanabe 0, Kelcie Namba 1, Samantha Murakami 0, Kathleen Nakata 0, Nicole Ramirez 12, Abcde Furuta-Harada 2, Rachel Gomes 0, Cierra Kapea 2, Mikela Thoemmes , Joshy Noga 4, Tasia Kamakawiwoole 15.

3-point goals—Kailua 4 (Jacobs 4), Roosevelt 2 (Ramirez 2).

Junior varsity—Roosevelt 46, Kailua 36

  Moanalua 41, Castle 28
Na Menehune outscored the visiting Knights in every quarter to pull out the victory.

Hoku Dela Cruz dropped a game-high 13 points and A.J. Verdida added 10.

                                                                                                                                           

Castle (0-8)	4	8	12	4	—	28
Moanalua (3-3)	5	10	13	13	—	41

CASTLE—Brandee Sasaki 0, Cailee Awa 9, Britt Hawn 7, Britt Lane 0, Leisha Liilii 4, Kaity Wills 0, Maycee Moe 4, Joshell Lilio 2, Kree Espinda 2, Ashley Ballesteros 0.

MOANALUA—Brittany Caiucag 1, Brianna Dacoscos 0, Kiley Lau 4, Joanna Nicolas 2, Michelle Hardy 4, Amanda Selvey 2, Meleane Smith 0, Jaidon Rego 2, Hoku Dela Cruz 13, A.J. Verdida 10, Justine Aguas 3.

3-point goals—Castle 1 (Britt Hawn), Moanalua 1 (Hoku Dela Cruz).

 

OIA Red West

Pearl City 40, Radford 38
Jordan Ahakuelo scored six of her game-high 14 points in the fourth quarter as the visiting Chargers edged the Rams.

Radford led after the first quarter, as the Rams' Antionette Carradine sank six of her 10 points.

After the Chargers stormed back in the second quarter, Radford's Bui Baravilala put up five points in the third, as the teams went back and forth before entering the fourth quarter tied at 26.

                                                                                                                                           

Pearl City (4-3)	6	10	10	14	—	40
Radford (2-6)	10	2	14	12	—	38

PEARL CITY—Charmagne Monis 5, Chanise Gabriel-Yomes 0, Glacen Florita 5, Sasha Kamalii 0, Jordan Ahakuelo 14, Kiaeani Tassi 2, Alana Kaili 2, Keshia Manning 10, Leina Basques 2, Tearaina Meyer 0.

RADFORD—Melanie Alofaituli 5, Alana Gionet 0, Antionette Carradine 10, Marissa Stavros 0, Bui Baravilala 9, Lily Sevao 2, Disa Brown 4, Pierra Brown 2, Mama Fiaseu 6.

3-point goals—Pearl City 1 (Monis), Radford 1 (Alofaituli).

Junior varsity—Pearl City 43, Radford 15

  Kapolei 57, Waianae 43
Nicole Fuataga finished with 16 points and Kawehi Hagi added 15 to lead the visiting Hurricanes past the winless Seariders.

Kapolei outscored Waianae 16-2 in the third quarter when Fuataga scored eight of her 16 points.

Shantel Bucker paced the Seariders with a game-high 18 points.

                                                                                                                                           

Kapolei (4-3)	15	10	16	16	—	57
Waianae (0-7)	9	12	2	20	—	43

KAPOLEI—Krystal Jacobs 2, Danniel Tapat 6, Victoria Afoa 2, Sarah Awana 0, Rhilee Soriano 2, Alysse Bishop 7, Kawehi Hagi 15, Cherece Beyer 0, Shaina Ducosin 2, Kayla Fuataga 5, Nicole Fuataga 16.

WAIANAE—Alisa Tupuola 0, Alesa Ramaila 1, Emma Atiga 2, Maili Enos-Branigan 0, Beverly Madrid 17, Genevieve Cuesta 1, Evalani Yoshimura 3, Shantel Bucker 18, Emma Tanoi 1.

3-point goals—Kapolei 3 (Tapat, Bishop, Hagi), Waianae 4 (Madrid 3, Yoshimura).

Junior varsity—Kapolei 39, Waianae 14

 

BIIF

Kamehameha-Hawaii 68, Pahoa 23
Leading scorers—KSH: Joelle Cabasa 18, Kim Palea 13, Kayla Lacaran-Costales 10. Pah: Delorainne Buay 10.

 

ILH Division II

Lanakila Baptist 36, Christian Academy 30
Hawaii Baptist 55, Lanakila Baptist 35
Leading scorers—LB: Jessica Sonson 10. CA: Megan Winters 11.