It was a white-and-green blur for 32 minutes last night.

By the time the Konawaena Wildcats were done, they had 25 steals in a 59-31 win over Kapolei and looked every bit the part of a defending champion and No. 1 seed of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships. Lia Galdeira had 17 points, 13 steals and four assists, while point guard Dawnyelle Awa tallied 17 points, seven steals and three assists for the Wildcats, who will meet 'Iolani in today's 5 p.m. semifinal at Blaisdell Arena.

Last night, a crowd of about 500 at McKinley Student Council Gym saw Konawaena use traps out of a halfcourt man-to-man defense to force Kapolei into 32 turnovers.

“;The girls read a lot. We tell them to look for opportunities to trap,”; coach Bobbie Awa said. “;We put more on the girls to think on the court.”;

Galdeira and the coach's daughter, Dawnyelle, led the defensive attack, swarming to any spot on the floor when ballhandlers turned away. Awa, who grew since last year and is 5-9 now, is more assertive now. She shot 7-for-11 from the field, hitting a pair of treys.

“;It's important that we come out strong. As a captain, I gotta be more verbal,”; Awa said.

Galdeira had seven of her 13 steals in the first quarter, when the Wildcats raced to a 16-3 lead. She and Awa ended the quarter with back-to-back steals for layups.

“;We communicate good out there,”; Galdeira said, ice taped around her left shoulder. “;We're taking one game at a time, working our butts off. We're playing our game, not our opponents' game.”;

By the end of the first half, Konawaena had a commanding 38-12 lead. Midway through the third quarter, coach Bobbie Awa emptied her bench, inserting newly-promoted players from the junior varsity team.

Konawaena, 24-1 overall, notched its 44th consecutive win over two seasons against Hawaii teams. Its last loss to a local squad was in the 2008 'Iolani Classic against Punahou.

Thea Hanato-Smith added nine points and forward Anuhea Wall tallied eight points for Konawaena.

Center Leilani Tuani-Fifita and guard Kawehi Hagi led Kapolei (16-9) with seven points each. Hagi added team-highs of seven boards and three steals, while Tuani-Fifita had six steals.

“;I thought they'd press us fullcourt,”; Kapolei coach Jesse Baugh said. “;They pressed us halfcourt, but our girls got rattled and panicked.”;

When Kapolei ran its press break and got the ball down low to Tuani-Fifita, there wasn't a lot the smaller Wildcats could do. Turnovers, though, hurt the 'Canes.

“;We had nothing to lose. We made it this far. We just said, 'Don't quit. Try to be smart,'”; Baugh said.

KAPOLEI — Krystal Jacobs 5, Danniel Tapat , Kaity Wills 4, Rhilee Soriano 0, Tamar Rodrigues , Diamond Carter 6, Kawehi Hagi 7, Jo-Ann Payongayong 0, Vanessa Banogan 2, Leilani Tauani-Fifita 7, Noelle Garland 0, Kawehi Higa 0.
KONAWAENA — Hokulani Liftee 4, Thea Hanato-Smith 9, Makayla Awa 2, Staysha Galigo 2, Emalia Galdeira 13, Aukele Waikiki 0, Anuhea Wall 8, Courtney Kaupu 0, Dawnyelle Awa 17, Misilosa U'ulopa 4, Amanda Varron 0, Matelita Taumoefolau 0, Taylor Awa 0, Chrysa Dacalio 0, Melissa Simon 0.
3-point goals — Kapolei none. Konawaena 2 (D. Awa 2).

No. 2 Lahainaluna 68, No. 7 Roosevelt 46

No first-round play, no problem for the Lunas as they dominated the Rough Riders in the quarterfinals.

Led by Maiki Viela's team-high 23 points, Lahainaluna led by 19 at halftime and coasted to victory.

Milika Taufa had her first double-double of the tournament (17 points, 15 rebounds) for the MIL champs.

Mikela Thoemmes scored a game-high 27 points, but no other Roosevelt player had more than seven.

ROOSEVELT — Breyana Dutro-Solomua 0, Kelcie Namba 5, Charisse Tanabe 0, Shana Kawakami 4, Nicole Ramirez 7, Abcde Furuta-Harada 1, Rachel Gomes 2, Mikela Thoemmes 27, Emalia Schuman 0, Cameo Tamala 0, Anuhea Kanealii 0.
LAHAINALUNA — Kelsea Cabrera 7, Maiki Viela 23, Trina Akima 11, Ana-Marie Lauese 9, Milika Taufa 17, Hiilei Bacalso 0, Akanesi Malamala 1.
3-point goals — Roosevelt 1 (Ramirez). Lahainaluna 6 (Viela 3, Akima, Cabrera, Lauese).

DIVISION II

Molokai 67, Kaiser 56

Two-sport athlete Kalei Adolpho dominated the paint en route to a 24-point, 21-rebound performance as the Farmers beat the Cougars.

Teammate Danna Lynn Hooper-Juario added 20 for the MIL champs, who move into semifinal play.

Playing their second game in as many days, Kaiser was forced to play from behind from the start and couldn't keep the game close.

Micaela Bitanga led the Cougars with 18 points and Mele Adams chipped in with 15 as Kaiser dropped into a fifth-place semifinal game.

KAISER— Micaela Bitanga 18, Kristi Arellano 0, Kiani Kaahaaina 5, Kiana Nakai 6, Krysta Yasui 2, Mele Adams 15, Daryne Vorderbruegge 6, Shelby Pa 2, Courtney Phillips 2. Tiare Haole 0, Celeste Tsutahara 0, Tiana Miyashiro 0, Hailey Ross 0.
MOLOKAI— D. Hooper-Juario 20, Jolenta Duvauchelle 2, Jamie Duvauchelle 5, Puna Kawamae 8, Kalei Adolpho 24, Kaira Kaulia-Makaiwi 0, Kyli Joe Mawae 4, Marissa Sterner 4.
3-point goals — Kaiser 2 (Vorderbruegge 2). Molokai none.

Kaimuki 56, Hawaii Prep 28

Coming off an impressive run to the OIA White title last week, the second-seeded Bulldogs continued their strong play with a rout of Ka Makani.

Kaimuki used a huge first-quarter run, never letting Hawaii Prep into the game.

The Bulldogs were led by Allison Pologa's game-high 19 points, including three long-range bombs.

In the loss, Tayler Wang put up an impressive double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds).

Kaimuki moves into a semifinal today.

HAWAII PREP — Katie Ho 0, Yuki Ainge 0, Leahi Lindsey 9, Desi Seid 0, Nani Lum 0, Tayler Wang 17, Lana Queen 2.
KAIMUKI — Pua Akaka 4, Cannie Aikau 4, Tanya Villanueva 2, Kiana Paez 4, Letisha Fa'asoa 8, Dejah Fa'asoa 11, Leti Mikaele 4, Allison Pologa, 19.
3-point goals — Hawaii Prep 2 (Wang 2). Kaimuki 6 (Pologa 3, D. Fa'asoa 2, L. Fa'asoa).