Kaimuki coach Mona Fa'asoa added a little twist to her team's series with Kahuku.

The Bulldogs went to a 1-3-1 zone for the first time this season and Kahuku never got hot. Kaimuki, with 20 points from freshman Alison Pologa and 14 by sophomore Dejah Fa'asoa, upended Kahuku 53-47 last night to force a championship matchup. The teams have already played four times this year, splitting them.

Center Leti Mikaele added 10 points for Kaimuki.

Joshy Noga paced Kahuku with 14 points and Jessica Falemalu added 13.

Kahuku (12-2 OIA White) and Kaimuki (11-2) will play again tomorrow for the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Conference title.

A crowd of about 500 at Mililani's gym saw the teams go back and forth from the start, though Kaimuki's new look had the Red Raiders sometimes baffled and klunky.

“;We just practiced it yesterday,”; Coach Fa'asoa said of the 1-3-1 zone. “;We tried to take away their middle, (Hi'ilei) Cummings. We tried to attack her.”;

The tactic worked; Cummings, a normally reliable senior scorer and defender, fouled out after scoring just three points. She spent most of the second half on the bench.

Falemalu hit a 3-pointer and a tough falling-down 15-footer to help her team take a 28-27 lead into halftime.

The Red Raiders applied fullcourt pressure and were happy to run the floor with the Bulldogs, but five turnovers in a 3-minute span derailed momentum in the third quarter.

Still, a drive in the low post for a three-point play by Noga gave Kahuku a 35-32 lead, but Kaimuki patiently chipped away.

After getting the bonus late in the third, the Bulldogs took a 39-38 lead on foul shots by Dejah Fa'asoa with 7:52 remaining.

Noga hit a follow shot for a 40-39 Kahuku lead, but Fa'asoa responded with a drive for two more points on a fastbreak, and the Bulldogs never trailed again. She turned a steal into a short bank shot and her sister, Letishah, connected on free throws to give the 'Dogs a 45-50 lead with 5:22 to go.

“;They'll probably change their offense a little,”; Coach Fa'asoa said. “;But we'll add something new at practice. We've got only eight girls, but they work hard, they really do.”;

Kahuku won the first meeting between the teams in late December, 67-39, at Kaimuki's gym.

Kaimuki then edged the Raiders at their gym, 40-38, on Jan. 11.

Kahuku won a playoff matchup with Kaimuki on Feb. 5, 55-44, at the Bulldogs' gym.