After losing their first game of the season Saturday, they were young women scorned.

The Waiakea Warriors took out their wrath on Moanalua, running and gunning to a 57-43 win over Na Menehune last night in the opening round of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championships at Jim Alegre Gymnasium.

Kamie Imai led the way for Waiakea (24-1 overall) with 21 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, seven steals and four blocks. The senior point guard had 17 points and four steals in the first half as the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champions established the tone.

The Warriors lost to Konawaena, the top seed in the tourney, in the BIIF final on Saturday.

“;After last week against Kona, we stepped it up,”; Imai said. “;We're taking it one game at a time.”;

Coach Grant Kauhi's squad will take on third-seeded Punahou tonight at Jim Alegre Gym.

“;They don't know how we play, so it's going to be a good game,”; Imai promised. “;I'm excited to play them.”;

Joanna Nicolas (14 points) and Jasmine Funtanilla (13) led Moanalua (14-11 overall), the third-place team from the Oahu Interscholastic Association.

Moanalua played without senior captain A.J. Verdida, who was diagnosed with a possible stress fracture in an ankle on game day. Without one of their leading scorers and ballhandlers, Na Menehune had some trouble handling Waiakea's fullcourt, full-throttle defensive pressure. Na Menehune finished with 27 turnovers.

“;You know, we were worried about not having enough senior leadership,”; Moanalua coach Kristie Morikawa said. “;She's a four-year player, a captain. It hurt us at guard, having another leader to control the tempo and get back on defense.”;

The fast-breaking Warriors pressed from the start and pushed the ball on every possession, drawing Moanalua into an uptempo pace. Imai, a deft ballhandler with excellent court vision, hit five of her first six shots as the Warriors raced to an 18-10 lead.

Moanalua got within 18-15 on a halfcourt bank shot by Nicolas to end the first quarter. From there, it was Waiakea's game. Freshman Sefulu Faavae (10 points) had three of her seven steals in the second quarter. She scored off a feed from Imai for a three-point play and Jamielynn Moe drained the second of her three treys as Waiakea opened a 30-18 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Warriors dropped the press after halftime, but stayed in their 1-2-2 zone and pestered Moanalua. A quick baseline jumper by Kiley Lau brought Na Menehune within 30-23 to open the second half, but they couldn't close the gap despite a 34-26 edge on the boards.

MOANALUA — Kristy Tamashiro 0, Kija Staggers 0, Kiley Lau 4, Joanna Nicolas 14, Jasmine Funtanilla 13, Meleane Smith 8, Jaidon Rego 2, Shauntaeus Ramos-Dias 2, Sienna Antolin 0, Kelci Quinabo 0, Samara Hoe 0.
WAIAKEA — Jamielynn Moe 13, Sefulu Faavae 10, Kamie Imai 21, Tricia Amuimuia 2, Alyssa Ferreira 6, Melise Nekoba 0, Kaylyn Otsubo 0, Ciera Pacheco 2, Daven-Marie Namohala-Roloos 3.
3-point goals — Moanalua 3 (Nicolas 3). Waiakea 3 (Moe 3).

Roosevelt 62, Mililani 49

Nicole Ramirez scored 16 of her game-high 18 points in the first half as the OIA runner-up Rough Riders advanced.

The Rough Riders will face second-seeded Lahainaluna tonight at Radford.

Shana Kawakami added 15 points, including three first-half treys over Mililani's 2-3 zone.

Kawakami's bombs helped Roosevelt (18-5) open a 28-15 lead midway through the second quarter.

Mikela Thoemmes added 14 points and 12 boards, and Kelcie Namba had 13 points and seven assists.

Mililani (14-9 overall) got 10 points each from Amber Ogata and Darcey Goulsby.

Mililani felt the loss of senior Courtney Senas, who was not with the team due to the death of her father, Chad.

“;We really missed Courtney,”; coach Patrick Basilio said. “;That really brought the team's spirit down, but they played for her and really tried.”;

MILILANI — Kellie Sakai 4, Moriah Blackmon 2, Tiff Lagua 0, Kayla Wright 0, Sam Yuki 4, Amber Ogata 10, Cory Ramos 0, Abi Mckoy 4, Darcey Goulsby 10, Courtney Senas 0, Nayla Long 0, Khyla Alcantra 5, Pomai Grube-Hose 4, Kaylee Torres 0.
ROOSEVELT — Breyana Dutro-Solomua 0, Kelcie Namba 13, Charisse Tanabe 0, Shana Kawakami 15, Nicole Ramirez 18, Abcde Furuta-Harada 2, Rachel Gomes 0, Mikela Thoemmes 14, Emalia Schuman 0, Cameo Tamala 0, Anuhea Kanealii 0.
3-point goals — Mililani 3 (Ogata 2, Torres). Roosevelt 7 (Kawakami 3, Ramirez, Namba).