High Schools
Punahou overwhelms 'Iolani, 57-35
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Punahou School girls basketball team flexed its muscles and shifted into high gear last night, blitzing past host 'Iolani 57-35 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu action.
The Buffanblu (10-0) rode the wave of a big transition game in the second quarter to take a 30-16 halftime lead over the Raiders, who dropped to 6-4. 'Iolani could not get closer than a nine points in the second half.
Sophomore center Becky Hogue led Punahou with 19 points, and all-state senior guard Milia Macfarlane added 12 points and three assists.
'Iolani guard Monica Tokoro, the ILH's leading scorer at 18 points per game, was slowed by a sprained left ankle and finished with eight points.
"She was only about 60 percent, but she wanted to play," Raiders coach Glen Takara said. "And when she wants to play, it's hard to keep her out."
With Punahou's strong all-around performance, it may not have mattered much. The Buffanblu controlled the boards on both ends, stuffed 'Iolani's inside offense and scored from near and far.
The Raiders closed to 34-25 midway through the third quarter, but Hogue scored eight points in the final period and Macfarlane's 3-pointer with 6:30 left stretched the lead to 47-31.
"They had a good game plan, what they did was perfect," Takara said. "They pounded it in on us, they played good defense and ran the transition well. And they're very deep, they have a good bench. We only go about seven deep."
The Raiders stayed even (11-11) with Punahou in the first quarter, but the Buffanblu pulled away in the second quarter by creating steals with backcourt pressure and converting them into breakaway baskets.
"Monica plays the point on our defense, too, so that's where it hurt us," Takara said.
Macfarlane did not score her first basket until hitting a 3-pointer with 1:16 left in the half. But the Buffanblu got points from other sources.
In addition to Hogue and Macfarlane, Punahou got big production from guard Elyse Umeda (nine points, four steals) and forward Caroline Ane (seven points, five rebounds, two blocks).
"'Iolani has quick guards, but our guards are just as quick," Hogue said. "I think we have a little more depth than they do, and we're bigger."
Buffanblu coach Shelley Kahuanui Fey said Ane also was nursing a sprained ankle, although she didn't show it.
"She twisted it (Wednesday), but it wasn't too bad," Fey said. "She's been hitting that baseline jumper consistently for us."
Tokoro, who sprained her ankle early against Kamehameha on Saturday and did not play in a win against Mid-Pacific on Tuesday, was thought to be doubtful for last night's game. But the Buffanblu were not surprised to see her on the court at tip-off.
"We know what kind of player she is, we expected her to be here," Hogue said. "She's an incredible player, and we expected nothing less from her."
Fey agreed.
"She's a competitor," Fey said. "We've seen that in playing against her the past four years. We knew that if there were any chance at all for her to play, she would be in there."
Tokoro scored six points in the first half but was limited to two free throws in the final two quarters. Trisha Nishimoto led 'Iolani with nine points, all in the third quarter.
Punahou (10-0) 11 19 12 15—57
'Iolani (6-4) 11 5 13 6—35
PUNAHOU—Rachel Kane 4, Elyse Umeda 9, Darci Murakawa 0, Megan Abbott 0, Dana Arakawa 0, Anuhea Macfarlane 2, Milia Macfarlane 12, Misha Lam 2, Kelly Karns 2, Caroline Ane 7, Kira Kashiwa 0, Niki Jones 0, Becky Hogue 19.
'IOLANI—Trisha Nishimoto 9, Jenn Nagamine 0, Lana Young 0, Fabriann Gin 6, Jackie Sasaki 4, Janna Young 0, Ginger Gravelle 3, Monica Tokoro 8, Raeceen Woolford 0, Elyssa Street 5, Emma Prince-Wilson 0.
3-point goals—Punahou 2 (M. Macfarlane). 'Iolani 1 (Nishimoto).
Kamehameha 47, Maryknoll 31: Megan Ching scored 18 points to lead the Warriors past the Spartans last night in an ILH game at Damien Gym.
Tai Soo added 12 points and Ashley Ruff 10 for Kamehameha (7-1), which trailed 12-8 after one quarter, then took the lead for good, outscoring the Spartans, 17-3, in the second period.
Elizabeth Kam scored eight points to lead Maryknoll.
Kamehameha (7-1) 8 17 6 16—47
Maryknoll (1-8) 12 3 6 10—31
KAMEHAMEHA—Napua Naumu 0, Tiffiny Shim 0, India Soo 3, Ashley Ruff 10, Courtney Chai 0, Beth Nakamura 0, Ashley DeSilva 0, Jeneka Taeoalii 0, Lehua Wood 2, Tai Soo 12, Mounia Nihipali 0, Krystalynn Ontai 0, Megan Kanoa 0, Megan Ching 18, Noelle Russell 2.
MARYKNOLL—Pauline Chan 1, Elizabeth Kam 8, Kanani Medeiros 0, Shalei Bissen-Kealohi 0, Michelle Baduria 6, Diana Samson 2, Shannon Riley 3, Jenna Castillo 0, Jessica Ho 2, Whitney Doran 0, Stacey Wong 3, Carla Donlin 6.
3-point goals—Kamehameha 1 (I. Soo).
Division II
Punahou 46, Kamehameha 45. High scorers: Kam—Tara Ell 12. Pun—Janelle Shin 14.
Junior Varsity
St. Francis 36, Lanakila Baptist 8.
University 44, Maryknoll 39
ILH BASEBALL
Pac-Five 7, Maryknoll 3: The Wolfpack were out-hit 8-4, but took advantage of seven Spartan errors in claiming an ILH victory at Joey DeSa field.
Pac-Five scored four runs in the first, two in the second and one in the third in support of Jon Kato, who pitched the seven-inning distance.
Brandon Goshima, Greg Aquino and Brandon Higa had two hits each for Maryknoll.
Maryknoll (3-10) 020 010 0—3 8 7
Pac-five (4-8) 421 000 x—7 4 2
Kevin Sunada and Brandon Goshima. Jon Kato and Koley Shinagawa
Leading hitters: Maryknoll—Goshima 2-4; Greg Aquino 2-3; Brandon Higa 2-2.
JUNIOR VARSITY
St. Louis 12, Damien 0 (Mike Grado, five-inning no hitter).
