The Owls were hootin' up a storm, at least on the bleachers of Punahou's Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

That's what happens with a milestone win. Mid-Pacific got a 12-point, 14-rebound effort from senior Jenna Savusa for a 34-31 overtime victory over Punahou last night.

It was the Interscholastic League of Honolulu regular-season opener for Mid-Pacific (9-2 overall). Punahou dropped to 1-1 in league play (4-5 overall).

Nobody on the MPI bench could remember the last time the Owls beat the Buffs in girls basketball.

“;I don't think we ever have,”; first-year head coach Wes Masuda said.

Punahou swept MPI in three games last season, including a 41-39 squeaker in the season opener. Two seasons ago, Punahou won all three games as well, including another 41-39 nail-biter.

“;I'm ecstatic right now. It's something we've never done before,”; said Keaton McFadden, one of several fourth-year varsity hoopsters.

“;We pulled it together,”; Savusa said.

Savusa was a force on both ends, avoiding the foul trouble that derailed many of her games last season. She and McFadden kept MPI almost even with Punahou on the boards (37-34), and the two posts were especially vital in overtime.

Senior guard Jordan Kealoha and Savusa scored the Owls' first two baskets of the extra period, but Punahou freshman Khaliyah Thompson answered with a 15-footer and a drive for two more. She hit a free throw to give the Buffanblu a 31-30 lead with 1:45 left, but McFadden drove from the left elbow for a go-ahead basket with 1:27 to go.

Punahou never scored again. Mysha Sataraka missed a tough bank shot, and after Kealoha missed the front of a 1-and-1 with 19 ticks left, Thompson missed a shot in traffic in the low post and McFadden corralled her ninth rebound.

Savusa scored on a layup with 2 seconds left for the final margin.

Thompson led Punahou with nine points. Hailey-Ann Maeda had 13 rebounds in her varsity debut.

At Hemmeter Fieldhouse

MID-PACIFIC — Kirstie Sugimoto 2, Paige Young 0, Ashley Yamachika 2, Mahina Docktor 2, Kiana Robertson 0, Kelli Shibata 0, Shanon Nishimura 2, Jordan Kealoha 5, Taylor Babbitt 2, Keaton McFadden 7, Jenna Savusa 12.
PUNAHOU — Kaylin Okuma 2, Khaliyah Thompson 9, Turner Wong 0, Brittnie Lau 0, Demi Suzuki 0, Mysha Sataraka 6, Julia Brand 1, Ashley-Anne Feria 0, Jennifer Ching 3, Kysa Ludviksen 4, Hailey-Ann Maeda 6.
3-point goals—Mid-Pacific 1 (Kealoha), Punahou none.