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POSTED: Thursday, February 26, 2009

Kamehameha-Hawaii has become a familiar presence in the late rounds of the Division II girls state basketball tournament.

Kaimuki, meanwhile, is treading into new territory.

The Warriors and Bulldogs meet tonight in the tournament semifinals after advancing in contrasting fashion last night at Radford's Jim Alegre Gymnasium.

Kamehameha-Hawaii, seeking a third state championship in five years, fought off a tenacious Kaiser team 58-51 to reach the semifinals for the fourth time since the tournament was established in 2004.

Kaimuki then qualified for its first state tournament semifinal with a 52-33 rout of third-seeded Maryknoll.

Tip-off for tonight's semifinal is set for 7 at Radford.

“;Once you get here, it's just a matter of who's on,”; said Kamehameha-Hawaii coach Kalani Silva. “;That's what we tried to tell them and Kaiser almost zinged us. We're glad to get out of this.”;

Silva, a 1987 Kaiser graduate, matched wits with former Cougars teammate and first-year Kaiser coach Simon Bitanga in a tight battle before the Warriors finally pulled away in the final minute.

KS-Hawaii senior Joelle Cabasa led the Warriors with 16 points, including a banker in the lane that gave KS-Hawaii a 51-49 lead with 2 minutes left after Kaiser battled back to tie.

                                                               

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

 

Kaiser (12-7)	8	11	17	15	-	51
KS-Hawaii (11-1)	8	13	18	19	-	58

KAISER-Alaiza Del Andre 0, Haley Durham 1, Krysta Yasui 2, Lijah Bowerman 4, Chelsy Okuma 10, Keely Bitanga 17, Daryn Vordebruegge 1, Bailey Miller 14, Shelby Pa 2, Kaitlin Nakano 0.

KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAII-Chelsea Poe 8, Joelle Cabasa 16, Kayla Lacaran-Costales 8, Shanley Apele 2, Lilinoe Heaukulani 0, Bobbi Montibon 3, Kimberly Palea 8, Megan Waiki 2, Katelynne Paleka-Kennedy 11.

3-point goals-Kaiser 3 (Bitaga 2, Okuma), Kamehameha-Hawaii 1 (Cabasa).

Kaimuki 52, Maryknoll 33

Guard Olivia Phommachanh led a balanced Kaimuki attack with 15 points. Forward Leti Mikaele added 12 points and 11 rebounds.

                                                               

     

     

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

     

 

Kaimuki (15-4)	9	9	16	18	-	52
Maryknoll (12-1)	5	7	2	19	-	33

KAIMUKI-Olivia Phommachahn 15, Pua Akaka 0, Sasha Tokuda 0, Brooke Borce 0, Tanya Villanueva 0, Dinishah Fa'asoa 9, Justell Arthur 0, Nikki Chipen-Ii 0, Brittney Anglin 0, Letisha Fa'asoa 0, Dejah Fa'asoa 2, Mikki Morihara 0, Keana Paez 0, Leti Mikaele 12, Ashley Fortson 6, Lani Mikaele 8.

MARYKNOLL-Kristen Canencia 3, Shuilina Wu 0, Nicole Lee 0, Kayla Godinet 0, Ashley Agcaoili 12, Corine Gushikuma 1, Melissa Ching 8, Soana Fifita 6, Tiana Kawaihoa-Marquez 3.

3-point goals-Maryknoll 3 (Canencia, Ching, Kawaihoa-Marquez), Kaimuki none.

Also

Division II consolation semifinals

Hawaii Baptist 53, Seabury Hall 44

Hawaii Prep 42, St. Andrew's Priory 29

Leading scorers-HBA: Keline Yoshimura 27, Narissa Fujii 11. SH: Taylor Rudow 13, Sierra Jacob 11. HPA: Tayler Wang 20. StA: Minna Watanabe 17.