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POSTED: Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Lama Tito plays big, all right.

The 5-foot-6 senior scored six of her team-high 17 points during a pivotal third-quarter run as No. 8 Kahuku escaped with a 61-56 win over 10th-ranked Kaimuki in girls basketball last night.

A raucous senior-night crowd at the Bulldogs' gym saw its team's unbeaten run end after eight wins in Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference play. Kahuku (13-2) evened the score, beating the team it had lost to in the regular-season opener more than three weeks ago to improve to 7-1 in the league.

“;Coach (David Te'o) just reminded us that we had to calm down and play our game,”; Tito said. “;We weren't playing our game, and we came here to win.”;

Kaimuki (12-5) won the early-season battle 54-48 despite an injury early in the game to leading scorer Olivia Phommachanh. Kahuku played the game without key starters who were off-island playing in volleyball tournaments.

This time, Tito was superb in the second half, battling Kaimuki's twin towers (Leti and Lani Mikaele) to finish with a game-high 13 rebounds.

“;I kept telling myself to box out and get all the rebounds not just for me, but for our team,”; Tito said.

Kahuku, which pressed fullcourt all night, finished with a 47-38 edge on the boards.

Nile Te'o added 15 points and five boards, while Rachel Tailele and Hi'ilei Cummings chipped in eight points each. Kahuku was cold from the field (21-for-63) against Kaimuki's 2-3 matchup zone, but sank 14 of its 21 free-throw tries.

“;We told them it's just another game, but they knew it wasn't,”; coach Te'o said. “;Coach Ramona (Fa'asoa of Kaimuki) has a great team.

Freshman Dejah Fa'asoa led Kaimuki with 19 points and Phommachanh added 18 points, nine rebounds and five steals.

Kahuku answered a 35-28 deficit early in the third quarter with a 13-0 run, sparked by Tito's strong drives to the basket. The visiting Lady Raiders never lost the lead, though Kaimuki pulled within 44-43 late in the third quarter on a free throw by Fa'asoa.

Kaimuki had the bonus for the final 8:34 of the game, but floundered at the foul line. The Bulldogs shot 12-for-16 at the line in the first half, but only 7-for-17 after halftime.

That allowed Kahuku to stay ahead even after point guard Rachel Tailele left the game with an ankle injury with 3:43 remaining, with the Raiders clinging to a 55-50 lead.

JV call-up Tisa Te'o and Jessica Falemalu spelled Tailele from there. The Bulldogs got within 57-55 on Dejah Fa'asoa's 3-pointer from the top, but Hi'ilei Cummings sank two foul shots with 23 seconds left to open the lead to 59-55.

Lani Mikaele hit one of two foul shots with 11 seconds left to trim the margin to three, but Tito put the game away with two swishes from the line with 9.8 seconds left.

Despite the loss, Kaimuki's senior night festivities—a rollicking music-and-dance show by its underclassmen for the outgoing eight seniors—went on without a hitch.

Coach Fa'asoa was a fun emcee during the show, but had a lot on her mind afterward.

“;We didn't do enough on boxing out,”; she said. “;A lot of missed layups, missed putbacks. Hat's off to Kahuku. They hustled and they have good athletes.”;

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Kahuku (7-1)	16	12	16	17	—	61
Kaimuki (8-1)	13	19	11	13	—	56

KAHUKU—Nile Te'o 15, Lama Tito 17, Tisa Te'o 0, Lavinia Latu 3, Malia Tonga 2, Jessica Falemalu 1, Jovan Falemalu 7, Mahina Ernestburg 0, Rachel Tailele 8, Hi'ilei Cummings 8, Vaunelle Hingano 0.

KAIMUKI—Olivia Phommachanh 18, Pua Akaka 1, Tanya Villanueva 0, Dinishah Fa'asoa 0, Justell Arthur 0, Brittney Anglin 0, Letishah Fa'asoa 5, Dejah Fa'asoa 19, Leti Mikaele 6, Ashley Fortson 2, Lani Mikaele 5.

3-point goals—Kahuku 3 (N. Te'o 2, Latu), Kaimuki 3 (De. Fa'asoa, Phommachanh).

Junior varsity—Kahuku 35, Kaimuki 24

 

ILH Division I

No. 2 Punahou 55, Sacred Hearts 24
Twelve Buffanblu players scored in a rout over the Lancers.

Janelle Nomura finished with nine points and Jennifer Ching added eight to lead Punahou.

                                                                                                                                           

Punahou (6-1)	13	16	12	14	—	55
Sacred Hearts (1-7)	4	4	9	7	—	24

PUNAHOU—Kaylin Okuma 2, Rebecca Lau 3, Julianne Nomura 0, Janet Li 2, Anna Merrifield 2, Brittnie Lau 2, Mysha Sataraka 6, Janelle Nomura 9, Ashley-Anne Feria 6, Jennifer Ching 8, Julia Brand 6, Kysa Ludviksen 5, Tressa Torres 4.

SACRED HEARTS—Kara Vause 1, Rayna Munos 2, Kamri Lin 0, Morgan Donohue 5, Sara Souza 0, Vanessa Freitas 0, Lindsey Bareng 7, Raecha-Ann Kauahikaua 2, Theresa O'Connor 0, Kuhina Luis 7, Naihe Paikai 0.

3-point goals—Punahou 2 (R. Lau, Nomura), Sacred Hearts 2 (Donohue, Bareng).

No. 5 'Iolani 54, No. 7 Mid-Pacific 41
The Raiders built a 10 point halftime lead en route to the easy victory over the visiting Owls.

Lahela Usui scored 14 points for 'Iolani, and teammate Georgette Lopes-Liutolo added 12, going 4-for-4 from behind the arc.

                                                                                                                                           

Mid-Pacific (3-4)	8	7	16	10	—	41
'Iolani (6-2)	14	11	12	17	—	54

MID-PACIFIC—Ashley Yamachika 4, Paige Young 2, Johnnelle Kapua 12, Shanon Nishimura 0, Kelli Shibata 0, Jordan Kealoha 4, Taylor Babbitt 8, Keaton McFadden 2, Jenna Savusa 9.

'IOLANI—Tami Konishi 4, Kylie Maeda 9, Saphyre Rezentes 0, Lori Yamashita 11, Georgette Lopes-Liutolo 12, Kaitlyn Shikada 0, Mahina Haina 2, Lahela Usui 14, Brittany Barnes 2.

3-point goals—Mid-Pacific none, 'Iolani 8 (Lopes-Liutolo 4, Usui 3, Yamashita).

  Division II
Saint Andrew's 57, Word of Life 50

La Pietra 58, Hawaiian Mission 50

Leading scorers—SA: Noelani Kawashima 22, Minna Watanabe 15, Shelley Wong 11. WOL: Phoibe Fetu 12, Rayane Alvarado 12. LaP: Cody Cole 27. HMA: Racquel Gonzalez 17.

  Junior varsity Division I
Punahou Gold 46, Punahou Blue 41

 

OIA Red East

No. 1 Farrington 62, Castle 40
The visiting Governors used a balanced scoring attack to put away the Knights, as Lusina Otineru was the lone player in double figures with 10.

Valerie Lesu and Otineru combined to score 15 points in a pivotal third quarter for Farrington.

Cailee Awa led Castle with 14 points.

                                                                                                                                           

Farrington (7-0)	14	14	19	15	—	62
Castle (0-9)	10	11	6	13	—	40

FARRINGTON—Kahea Ho'ohuli 0, Janell Nance 3, Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo 7, Valerie Lesu 7, Natalie Mata 6, Lusina Otineru 10, Kirsten Liana 8, Macilee Moi 3, Sofia Folaumahina 6, Jasmine Funtanilla 2, Angie Argel 2, Lucky Crichton 0, Precious Maave 0, Aisha Gaea 8.

CASTLE—Brandee Sasaki 6, Cailee Awa 14, Britt Hawn 0, Britt Lane 1, Leisha Liilii 8, Kaity Wills 2, Maycee Moe 0, Joshell Lilio 4, Kree Espinda 3, Ashley Ballesteros 0, Nicole Aberilla 2.

3-point goals—Farrington 1 (Tatupu-Leopoldo), Castle 1 (Awa).

Junior varsity—Farrington 37, Castle 34

McKinley 41, Moanalua 27
Jorina Faletoi and Kylie Sato scored nine points apiece to lead the visiting Tigers past Na Menehune.

McKinley outscored Moanalua 14-5 in the final frame to secure its sixth conference victory.

                                                                                                                                           

McKinley (6-2)	7	14	6	14	—	41
Moanalua (3-4)	3	6	13	5	—	27

MCKINLEY—Emerenciana Rayes 3, Kylie Sato 9, Twanzyna Spencer 3, Ashley Gravley 8, Tatiana Dinson 0, Brenda Walker 2, Hanna Yoo 1, Jorina Faletoi 9, Juwill Starks 0, Allyson Villeanueva , Jaylynn Baoit 0, Jackie Tihano 6.

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

3-point goals—McKinley 4 (Tihano 2, Sato, Spencer), Moanalua 4 (Dela Cruz 2, Hardy, Calucag).

  Kailua 53, Kalani 42
Ashley Jacobs scored nine of her game-high 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Surfriders over the visiting Falcons.

Kailua controlled the pace and held the run-and-gun Falcons in check, with Jacobs hitting for 11 in the second.

Kalani rallied in the fourth, but Jacobs helped ice the game with a 3-pointer from the right wing and two free throws.

                                                                                                                                           

Kalani (3-5)	8	9	10	15	—	42
Kailua (3-5)	9	12	13	19	—	53

KALANI—Ashlyn Onaga 7, Jamie Higa 11, Kelsie Maslanka 0, Corie Kuin 7, Kiera Iinuma 0, Cristine Sasano 0, Kristi Belshe 0, Leina Faleolo 0, Lorenna Misaalefua 0, Tiare Maafala 2, Tiffany Liao 0, Joyce Lam 0, Hikaru Kumagai 2, Violet Alama 13.

KAILUA—Jayna Hanawahine 1, Tawny Kiko 4, Sola Williams 7, Teuila Asele 2, Zsalei Kamaka 8, Ka'u Kohatsu 2, Alysha Franco 0, Anu Ahyun 7, Ashley Jacobs 22, Tia Nazarra 0.

3-point goals—Kalani 4 (Higa 2, Kuin, Onaga), Kailua 3 (Jacobs 2, Williams).

Junior varsity—Kailua 36, Kalani 35, OT

 

OIA Red West

Mililani 56, Waianae 36
The visiting Trojans went on 10-0 runs to start the first and third quarters in a win over the winless Seariders.

Sophie Chang paced Mililani with 13 points.

Genevieve Cuesta sank three 3-pointers and led Waianae with 15 points.

  t MILILANI—Chelsea Basilio 4, Tiff Lagua 3, Kellise De La Cruz 0, Samantha Yuki 4, Jordan Sakai 6, Amber Ogata 6, Celina Garces 6, Abby McKoy 2, Darcey Goulsby 7, Sophie Chang 13, Cory Ramos 1, Khyla Alcantra 0, Pomai Grube-Hose 2, Andi Felise 2.

WAIANAE—Alisa Tupuola 0, Alesa Ramaila 4, Emma Atiga 2, Maili Enos-Branigan 0, Beverly Madrid 3, Genevieve Cuesta 15, Evalani Yoshimura 7, Shantel Bucker 5, Emma Tanoi 0.

3-point goals—Mililani 7 (Ogata 2, Garces 2, Chang 2, Lagua), Waianae 5 (Cuesta 3, Madrid, Yoshimura).

Junior varsity—Mililani 39, Waianae 32

  Aiea 43, Pearl City 41
Natasha Helsham and Carl Sio scored 16 points apiece as visiting Na Alii narrowly escaped with the win.

Helsham added nine rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and eight steals, helping Aiea improve to 7-1.

Jordan Ahakuelo scored 16 points for Pearl City.

                                                                                                                                           

Pearl City (4-4)	7	12	13	9	—	41
Aiea (7-1)	10	8	10	15	—	43

PEARL CITY—Abigail Bala 0, Charmagne Monis 4, Ashley Goto 0, Shanise Gabriel-Yomes 2, Victoria Victor 0, Glacen Florita 2, Sasha Kamalii 0, Jordan Ahakuelo 16, Alana Kaili 5, Keshia Manning 5, Leina Basques 7, Emme Cabrejos 0.

AIEA—Ashlei Liilii 0, Celeste Fong 2, Natasha Helsham 16, Natasha Fong 2, Briana Brooks 0, Crystal Tagudin 2, Rayna Strom-Okimoto 1, Maria Holtzman 0, Shayla Kuehu 2, Carol Sio 16, Emily Tausaga 2.

3-point goals—Pearl City none, Aiea none.

Junior varsity—Pearl City 42, Aiea 19

  Radford 35, Kapolei 31
Bui Baravilala scored seven of her game-high 15 points in first quarter to lead the Rams over the host Hurricanes.

Danniel Tapat scored five of her team-high 12 points in the third quarter as Kapolei rallied to tie the game at 26, but Baravilala answered with six points in the fourth to help the Rams seal the win.

                                                                                                                                           

Radford (3-6)	15	5	6	9	—	35
Kapolei (4-4)	10	6	10	5	—	31

RADFORD—Melanie Alofaituli 0, Kaeli Patton 0, Alana Gionet 0, Antionette Carradine 0, Marissa Stavros 4, Bui Baravilala 15, Ja'Kira Leggett 0, Rachel Kapesi 0, Lily Sevao 2, Disa Brown 5, Pierra Brown 2, Mama Fiaseu 3, Rachel Kapesi 4.

KAPOLEI—Krystal Jacobs 0, Danniel Tapat 12, Victoria Afoa 0, Sarah Awana 0, Rhilee Soriano 2, Alysse Bishop 4, Kawehi Hagi 6, Cherece Beyer 2, Shaina Ducosin 0, Kayla Fuataga 3, Nicole Fuataga 2.

3-point goals—Radford 1 (D. Brown), Kapolei 2 (Tapat 2).

Junior varsity—Kapolei 47, Radford 21

 

OIA White

Kaiser 67, Kalaheo 62
Chelsy Okuma scored a game-high 22 points for the Cougars, who also collected 17 points from Bailey Miller.

The Mustangs stayed close, with Caira Pires and Kourtni Thomas contributing 17 and 16 points, respectively.

                                                                                                                                           

Kalaheo(5-3)	12	9	15	26	—	62
Kaiser (5-3)	10	17	13	27	—	67

KALAHEO—Nicole Cobb 6, Hiilei Olsen 0, Kamele Perry 5, Caira Pires 17, Tiffany Harada 0, Mele Adams 10, Kourtni Thomas 16, Kaua Cale 8, Jordy Smith 0.

KAISER—Krysta Yasui 5, Alaiza Del Andre 0, Hailey Durham 0, Lijah Boyverman 6, Chelsy Okuma 22, Keely Bitanga 10, Kaitlyn Nakano 0, Daryn Vorderbruegge 1, Bailey Miller 17, Shelby Pa 6.

3-point goals—Kalaheo 5 (Pires 2, Perry, Adams, Thomas), Kaiser 8 (Okuma 3, Miller 3, Bitanga, Yasui).

Junior varsity—Kaiser 50, Kalaheo 34

  Also
Nanakuli 42, Waialua 11

 

ILH Boys Division I

No. 4 Punahou 53, Mid-Pacific 44
The Owls could not recover from an anemic first half, falling to the Buffanblu at home.

Kainoa Gaddis led Punahou with 11 points, and Robby Toma and Taylor Crabb added 10 apiece.

Marcus Holyfield led all scorers with 23.

                                                                                                                                           

Punahou (3-2)	14	12	8	19	—	53
Mid-Pacific (2-4)	5	9	11	19	—	44

PUNAHOU—Dalton Hilliard 3, Robby Toma 10, Taylor Crabb 10, Henry Cassiday 8, Kimo Makaula 6, Matthew Feldman 5, Kainoa Gaddis 11.

MID-PACIFIC—Jonathan Taniguchi 4, CJ Woolsey 2, Cameron Roberts 9, Sampson Won 4, Marcus Holyfield 23, Brenton Bierne 2.

3-point goals—Punahou 5 (Toma 3, Crabb, Feldman), Mid-Pacific 3 (Roberts 2, Holyfield).

  No. 8 Saint Louis 73, Maryknoll 49
The Crusaders sprinted to a 10-point first-quarter lead and never looked back in a win against the Spartans at Mid-Pacific's gym.

Micah McClinton and Dean Viena led Saint Louis with 16 points apiece.

Maryknoll's Tyler Terai led all scorers with 23 points.

                                                                                                                                           

Maryknoll (0-6)	9	13	9	18	—	49
Saint Louis (3-2)	19	17	16	21	—	73

MARYKNOLL—Masashi Uematsu 2, Tyler Terai 23, Craig Shoji 3, Jordan Victorino 5, David Nosal 8, Kekia'i Cashman-Fernandez 2, Dillon Keany 3, Kent Kawahara 2, Davis Holt 1.

SAINT LOUIS—Lucas Gonsalves 6, Joey Bryant 5, Micah McClinton 16, Dean Viena 16, Mika Wong 4, Jordan Ilagan 11, Acen Cabral 3, Mike Tuiloma 6, Starr-Sua-Passi 4, Jaris Popaca-Falefa 2.

3-point goals—Maryknoll 4 (Terai, Shoji, Victorino, Keany), Saint Louis 1 (Bryant).

  Division II
Hawaii Baptist 45, Saint Louis 27
Kamehameha 47, ASSETS 25
'Iolani 62, Academy of the Pacific 35
Leading scorers—HBA: Kyle Barretta 10, Ellison Iseri 10. StL: Tyler Akahori 11. Iol: Kevin Serai 12. AOP: Dan Stanfield 8.

Junior varsity Division II
Hanalani 34, Word of Life 33