Joanna Nicolas called it a curse.

The Moanalua guard took matters into her own hands, dispelling Kailua's recent dominance as Na Menehune rolled to a 52-28 win last night in the regular-season opener for both teams.

Nicolas scored 10 points, including a pair of zone-busting 3-point bombs, and dished out five assists for Moanalua, which lost all four of its meetings with Kailua last season.

“;It's kind of like a curse when we played Kailua,”; Nicolas said. “;We wanted to prove this is a season we'll do our best.”;

Coach Kristie Morikawa was glad about the win, but saw some fluctuation in her team.

“;They're learning every game, but we could've done better defensively. We've been preaching intensity for a whole game,”; she said.

Last night was a perfect-storm scenario for Moanalua, which had a tough loss to Waiakea in the final of the First Hawaiian Bank Na Menehune Peek Tournament on Saturday. Waiakea served up a stifling 1-2-2 zone; Moanalua spent a good portion of practice on Monday working on its zone offense.

When Kailua opened with a 1-2-2 zone, Moanalua was ready. Nicolas swished a trey from the right corner, A.J. Verdida hit a foul-line jumper off a pass from Jasmine Funtanilla, and Jaidon Rego's layup off a dish from Jasmine Young-Gusman gave Moanalua a quick 7-0 lead.

Kailua finally scored on a steal and layup by Tauila Afele, but was down 11-2 by then. Moanalua extended the lead to 20-4 early in the second quarter, using a smothering fullcourt man-to-man defense to force turnovers. Kailua amassed 19 giveaways by halftime.

Moanalua opened the lead to 38-12 early in the third quarter and Morikawa, who used her entire lineup in the first half, stuck with a mix of reserves and starters the rest of the way.

Funtanilla, a sophomore forward, had a team-high 12 points for Moanalua (4-2 overall). She also had four of her team's 14 steals.

Afele led Kailua (1-4 overall) with 14 points and seven rebounds.

Moanalua shot 48 percent from the field (22-for-46), but just 38 percent from the free-throw line (6-for-16). Kailua won the battle on the glass 35-24 and corralled 13 offensive boards, but shot just 30 percent from the floor (11-for-37) and finished with 29 turnovers (and just three assists).

“;As a young team, we just want to build a good core,”; Kailua coach Zachary Stephens said.

AT MOANALUA GYM

KAILUA —Anolani Ramos 0, Toni Damo-Agacoili 2, Malia Pearson 0, Jayna Hanawahine 8, Johnna Pedro 1, Teuila Afele 14, Mapuana Taamu 0, Taylor Souza 1, Alysha Franco 0, Tehani Umiamaka 2.

MOANALUA—Britney Calucag 2, Kristy Tamashiro 0, Kiley Lau 4, Joanna Nicolas 10, Jasmine Funtanilla 12, Meleane Smith 0, Jaidon Rego 5, A.J. Verdida 10, Shantaeus Ramos-Dias 3, Kelci Quinabo 2, Jasmine Young-Gusman 4.

3-point goals—Kailua none, Moanalua 2 (Nicolas 2).

Junior varsity—Moanalua 37, Kailua 16

Farrington 75, McKinley 52

No details reported.

Roosevelt 53, Kalani 19

Nicole Ramirez scored a game-high 13 points as the Rough Riders dominated the Falcons.

AT ROOSEVELT GYM

KALANI—Marissa Sumida 0, Kelsie Maslanka 2, Erika Jang 0, Corie Kuia 5, Kiera Iinuma 1, Kristi Delshe 0, Christine Sasano 5, Kiah Fujita 0, Hikaru Kumaji 0, Alyssa Obata 6, Lauren Masaniai 0

ROOSEVELT—Breyana Dutro 1, Kelcie Namba 6, Charisse Tanabe 0, Shana Kawakami 12, Nicole Ramirez 13, Abcde Furuta-Harada 7, Rachel Gomes 0, Mikela Thoemmes 10, Emalia Schuman 0, Cameo Tamala 0, Anuhea Kanealii 4.

3-point goals—Kalani 1 (Sasano). Roosevelt 4 (Ramirez 2, Kawakami, Furuta-Harada 1).

Junior varsity—Roosevelt 49, Kalani 23

OIA RED West

Mililani 61, Radford 31

The Trojans defense held the Rams under double figures for all four quarters to open their season with a win.

Courtney Senas led Mililani with 10 points.

AT MILILANI GYM

RADFORD—Faith Calimlim 0, Imani Windush 0, Alana Gionet 3, E'lexues Evans 2, Lily Sevao 4, Marena Leao 3, Tyler Whitener 0, Pierra Dewitt 4, Rachel Kapesi 8, Marissa Starros 0, Tania Muna 0, Samantha Poe 0, Kawai Page 0, Chelsea Dingoe 7, Sanoe Tuitele 0.

MILILANI —Kellie Sakai 3, Moriah Blackmon 2, Tiff Lagua 4, Sam Yuki 6, Nikki Craig 2, Amber Ogata 10, Cory Ramos 3, Abi Mckoy 2, Darcey Goulsby 7, Courtney Senas 10, Kawehi Pilakowski 2, Amberlee Maluenda 0, Khyla Alcantra 3, Pomai Grube-Hose 7.

3-point goals—Radford none. Mililani 2 (Ogata 2).

Junior varsity—Mililani 42, Radford 22

Kapolei 55, Aiea 34

The Hurricanes' Kaity Wills scored a game-high 12 points in a victory over host Na Alii. Aiea trailed by six points at the half, but a 21-point third quarter helped Kapolei secure the win. Diamond Carter added 10 points for the Hurricanes in the season opener, while Celeste Fong and Kaui Kuehu scored nine points apiece for Aiea.

AT AIEA GYM

KAPOLEI—Krystal Jacobs 8, Danniel Tapat 7, Kaity Wills 12, Rhilee Soriano 0, Tamar Rodrigues 0, Diamond Carter 10, Kawehi Hagi 8, Jo-Ann Payongayong 4, Vanessa Banogan 1, Leilani Tauani-Fifita 5.

AIEA —Ashlei Liilii 2, Celeste Fong 9, Maccyn Samisoni 2, Kaala Leopoldo 4, Savannah Albinio-Cudal 6, Amithysse Moore 0, Mele Samisoni 0, Temukisa Lautalo 0, Kaui Kuehu 9, Tiara Fetui 2.

3-point goals—Kapolei 3( Wills 2, Tapat), Aiea 1(Kuehu).

Junior varsity—Aiea 37, Kapolei 34

Pearl City 41, Campbell 26

No details reported.

OIA White

Kaimuki 48, Kalaheo 38

Dejah Fa'asoa scored 13 points and Leti Mikaele added 10 as the Bulldogs defeated the Mustangs.

Kourtni Thomas led Kalaheo with 14 points in the loss.

AT KAIMUKI GYM

KALAHEO—Kamele Perry 9, Tiffany Harada 2, Chelsea Dyer 6, Aysia Burnett 0, Kourtni Thomas 14, Kaua Cale 5, Jordy Smith 2.

KAIMUKI —Pua Akaka 4, Tanya Villanueva 4, Nikki Chaipen-Ji 6, Kiana Taez 2, Letisha Faasoa 9, Dejah Faasoa 13, Leti Mikaele 10.

3-point goals—Kalaheo 3 (Thomas 2, Dyer), Kaimuki 5 (L. Faasoa 2, Pua, Villanueva, D. Faasoa).

Junior varsity—Kaimuki 43, Kalaheo 13

Waipahu 49, Waialua 41

The Marauders held the Bulldogs to two points in the second quarter and Savannah Ash scored 24 points in the win.

Trisha Malala led Waialua with 14 points.

AT WAIPAHU GYM

WAIALUA—Althia Dicion 10, Cara Balidoy 3, Savannah Ash 24, Alyssia Hernandez 2, Cristalyn Moniz 2, Ashley Ford-Ferguson 0, Shaurice Talaroc 0.

WAIPAHU —Jenie Savadra 0, Trisha Malala 14, Jessica Lozano 5, Ana Batan 4, Genivee Valasco 12, Adriene Mendiola 0, Tammy Ziliamau 0, Kaiulani Abasial 0, Cherece Byer 2, Dara Aiwohi-Dupro 4, Zyer Vailuu 0, Catrina Masaniai 8.

3-point goals—Waialua 2 (Balidoy, Ash). Waipahu 1 (Lozano).

Junior varsity—Waipahu 53, Waialua 27