Punahou stays undefeated
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Kamehameha Schools girls basketball team huffed and puffed but could not blow down Punahou's door last night, as the host Buffanblu held on for a 51-48 victory at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Punahou (6-0) now sits alone atop the Interscholastic League of Honolulu standings, while Kamehameha drops to 5-1. It was the Warriors' first ILH loss since Punahou beat them 45-43 on April 30, 1999.
Punahou's Becky Hogue controls the opening tip-off against Kamehameha's Tai Soo in last night's Interscholastic League of Honolulu game at Punahou's Hemmeter Fieldhouse. Punahou won, 51-48.
The Buffanblu never trailed after the first quarter and led 39-28 midway through the third period, but Kamehameha chipped away at the lead and trailed 49-48 with 26 seconds left in the game.
That's when Punahou's All-State guard, Milia Macfarlane, swished two free throws. The Warriors' Megan Ching had a 3-point attempt rattle out with four seconds left, and Kamehameha got another chance with 2.5 seconds remaining after the Buffanblu missed two free throws.
But an attempt from past halfcourt fell way short.
"The game could have gone either way," said Macfarlane, who was held to 10 points and only two field goals. "I have so much respect for Kamehameha, because they have great personnel and they're well-coached. The thing about them is, they give everybody a hard rub. They're our greatest challenge, but that's only going to make us better."
The Warriors certainly did not allow Punahou to pull away. The Buffanblu took a 33-23 lead on Macfarlane's 3-point basket with 1:20 left in the second quarter, but Kamehameha answered with a Beth Nakamura layup and a 3-pointer by Tiffiny Shim to cut that deficit in half going into the locker room.
After Punahou built its biggest lead at 39-28, the Warriors got their transition game into gear and closed to 39-38 before Becky Hogue's layup at the buzzer gave the Buffanblu a 41-38 edge entering the final period.
Even after Punahou went up 47-39 early in the fourth quarter, Kamehameha came roaring back. Ching's two free throws with 2:02 left cut the margin to 49-48.
"They're a very tenacious team, they never give up," said Punahou coach Shelley Kahuanui Fey. "We knew they would drive on us, but we still weren't quite set and they got some easy baskets on us, especially in crunch time."
The Buffanblu also had some clutch performances, especially from Hogue (13 points, six rebounds), Elyse Umeda (11 points) and Caroline Ane (nine points). Sophomore guard Rachel Kane contributed six points and was a menacing force on defense.
"Rachel had about her best game we've seen," Kahuanui Fey said.
Another big factor for Kamehameha was the absence of assistant coach Dennis Agena, who has taken a leave for health reasons related to high blood pressure. Agena is known state-wide for his Kalakaua Foundation basketball clinics, and he is credited with teaching fundamentals to thousands of Hawai'i youth in the past 35 years.
Almost every player on the court last night was coached by Agena at one time or another.
"He's one of my best friends," Macfarlane said.
Kamehameha coach Clay Cockett said Agena's absence is a notable one.
"Just his presence and his experience, what he had to offer, we miss him," Cockett said. "And that's not just our team."
But Kahuanui Fey said Agena's influence was still evident last night.
"It shows in the level of competition from both teams," she said. "It was as if he were here."
Cockett's daughter Nani, a former Kamehameha and University of Hawai'i standout, has stepped in as an assistant coach in Agena's absence.
Kamehameha 13 15 10 10 — 48
Punahou 11 22 8 10 — 51
Kamehameha — Tiffiny Shim 7, India Soo 0, Ashley Ruff 2, Courtney Chai 0, Beth Nakamura 6, Lehua Wood 2, Tai Soo 7, Krystalynn Ontai 3, Megan Kanoa 5, Megan Ching 13, Noelle Russell 3.
Punahou — Rachel Kane 6, Elyse Umeda 11, Darci Murakawa 2, Megan Abbott 0, Dana Arakawa 0, Anuhea Macfarlane 0, Milia Macfarlane 10, Misha Lam 0, Kira Kashiwa 0, Caroline Ane 9, Becky Hogue 13, Nicole Jones 0.
3-point goals — Kamehameha 1 (Shim). Punahou 2 (M. Macfarlane 2).
• • •
MORE BASKETBALL
• 'Iolani 56, Sacred Hearts 43: Monica Tokoro scored 16 points and Trisha Nishimoto added 15 as the visiting Raiders defeated the Lancers in an ILH game.
Brittney Aiwohi scored 12 points and Samanta Alapa added 10 to lead Sacred Hearts.
'Iolani 13 16 16 11 — 56
Sacred Hearts 10 9 10 14 — 43
'IOLANI — Trisha Nishimoto 15, Lana Young 2, Fabriann Gin 6, Jackie Sasaki 0, Janna Young 0, Ginger Gravelle 13, Monica Tokoro 16, Raeceen Woolford 2, Elysaa Street 2, Emma Prince-Wilson 0.
SACRED HEARTS — Kelly Figueira 2, Tina Boncales 0, Cherise Madriaga 0, Katie Rutland 0, Brittney Aiwohi 12, NIcole Raiola 8, Kimberlee Young 0, Pua Reis 3, Jenilee Dowda 6, Samanta Alapa 10, Lani Faumuina 2.
3-point goals — 'Iolani 1 (Gravelle). Sacred Hearts 3 (Aiwohi 2, Raiola 1).
• University 44, Maryknoll 41: Diane Okubo made two free throws for a 44-41 lead as the Junior Bows held off the Spartans in an ILH game at McCabe Gym.
University made 3 of 6 free throw attempts in the final minute. Kamaile Durrett scored 15 points and Okubo added 14 for UHS. Michelle Baduria scored 14 and Shanon Riley 12 to lead Maryknoll.
Maryknoll 12 7 13 9 — 41
University 9 6 16 13 — 44
Maryknoll — Pauline Chan 0, Elizabeth Kam 2, Michelle Baduria 14, Diana Samson 5, Shannon Riley 12, Jenna Castillo 0, Jessica Ho 0, Whitney Wong 0, Stacey Doran 2, Carla Donlin 6, Kanai Medeiros 0, Shalei Bissen-Kealohi 0.
UNIVERSITY — Litiana Vakasausau 4, Jessica Shimizu 0, Iwalani Yamaguchi 0, Shalei Lumpkin 0, Ka'ula Atisanoe 8, Jeanal Souza 1, Kamaile Durrett 15, Janeen Waialae 2, Karlee Ka'ili'ehu 0, Diane Okubo 14, Tiara Hong 0, Trisha Chang 0.
3-point goals — Maryknoll 1 (Riley). University 1 (Okubo).
Division II
Kamehameha 48, Lutheran 40. High Scorers: Kam — Elizabeth Kaiama 12. Luth — Melissa Chan 13
St. Andrew's 40, Redemption 23. High Scorers: Red — Ashlee Rapp 12
'Iolani 47, University 25. High Scorers: Iol — Kristen Kutara 15, Amy Taniguchi 10. UHS — Tara Hiramatsu 13.
Punahou 49, La Pietra 39. High Scorers: Pun — Janelle Shin 10. LaP — Arielle Jessel 18.
Junior varsity
St. Francis 46, La Pietra 32
• • •
BASEBALL
• Mid-Pacific 9, St. Louis 2: Ricky Bauer allowed two runs on four hits and struck out two batters giving the Owls a win over the Saints. Mid-Pacific's four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning were all unearned.
St. LOUIS (4-3) 000 002 0 — 2 4 3
Mid-pacific (6-2) 100 431 X — 9 8 1
Sean Kauweloa, Kaimi Meade (2), Brandon League (5) and Nick Tudisco. Ricky Bauer and Matt Inouye. WP — Bauer. LP — Kauweloa
Leading hitters: St. Louis — Milton Grado 2-3, double. Mid-Pacific — Dane Marcouiller 2 RBIs; Clint Copulos 2-3, Ryan Basco 2 runs; Ryan Leong 2 runs.
• Maryknoll 7, Kamehameha 2: Cody Seminara pitched six scoreless innings allowing two hits and striking out three as the Spartans routed the Warriors. Kevin Sunada had a two-run single and Branden Higa had an RBI triple to spark a four-run first inning for the Spartans.
Kamehameha (4-4) 000 000 2 — 2 3 2
Maryknoll (2-6) 411 100 X — 7 7 3
Zack McAngus, Kainoa Yoshida (4) and Danny Nitahara. Cody Seminara, Riley Maeda (7) and Brandon Coshima. WP — Seminara. LP — McAngus.
Leading hitters: Kamehameha — Bronson Sardinha 2-3. Maryknoll — Kevin Sunada 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Branden Higa triple.
• 'Iolani-Damien: Yesterday's ILH game between the Raiders and the Monarchs at Joey DeSa field was not reported.
