'Aiea stays unbeaten in OIA West
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Led by the inside dominance of Aritta Lane and the outside wizardry of Kylee Nakamura, the 'Aiea High School girls basketball team held off stubborn Nanakuli last night, 61-47, to remain unbeaten in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
The victory left Na Ali'i (5-0) as the only undefeated team in the division, while the Golden Hawks fell to 5-1.
Aritta Lane of 'Aiea beats Ashley Gasper of Nanakuli to the rebound during first-quarter play. 'Aiea won 61-47 in a battle of OIA unbeatens.
Lane, a 5-foot-11 senior forward who has signed a national letter of intent to play for Fresno State, scored 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds against an undersized Nanakuli front line. Nakamura, a 5-1 senior point guard, finished with a game-high 18 points and also dished out four assists.
After a tight first quarter, Lane and Nakamura helped 'Aiea outscore Nanakuli 14-0 in the first five minutes of the second period to take a 26-10 lead. Nakamura's 3-point bank shot at the halftime buzzer gave 'Aiea a 33-15 advantage.
"I think that gave us a boost," Na Ali'i coach Fran Villarmia-Kahawai said.
'Aiea built a 51-30 lead with five minutes left in the game, but the Golden Hawks came roaring back. A layup by Rosemarie Kelly with 1:14 remaining cut the lead to 54-45. Lane and Nakamura then sank seven of eight free throws to put the game away.
"Nanakuli is a scrappy team," Villarmia-Kahawai said. "You know they're not going to give up."
Senior guard Maricris Sierra led the Golden Hawks with 17 points, including eight in the fourth quarter. But Nanakuli, which does not have anyone taller than 5-9 on its roster, found the going tough near the basket against Lane, 6-1 senior center Keesha Aldridge and 5-10 senior forward Rubi Carrillo.
Aldridge contributed 10 points and four rebounds, and Carrillo added four points and five rebounds. Lane made only three field goals but sank 11-of-16 free-throw attempts.
"We knew we would be out-matched height-wise," Golden Hawks coach Darin Pilialoha said. "What can you say? Those girls are tough."
The same could be said for Nakamura, who made three 3-pointers and was 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. Fellow guard Noelani Colburn also had a strong game, scoring nine points.
"We weren't too worried about the big girls, because we knew they would get their points," Pilialoha said. "But the guards, they hurt us. We didn't do a good job defending them."
Na Ali'i, who beat Leilehua 57-38 in another West showdown on Tuesday, now is in the driver's seat with a week left in a tight division race.
"These were two games where we knew we had to show up and execute," Villarmia-Kahawai said. "Not to say anybody else is a walkover, but both these teams were undefeated. (The players) are supposed to show up for the big games, and I'm glad they did."
Nanakuli (5-1) 10 5 9 23—47
'Aiea (5-0) 12 21 11 17—61
NANAKULI—Lehua Yap 8, Chelsey Kaimi 0, Kaui Candelario 6, Tasha Willing 0, Maricris Sierra 17, Ipo Keopuhiwa 6, Kristy Titcomb 0, Diandra Dias 0, Kristen Hirohara 0, Stacey Eli 0, Delandra Costa , Tiana Stanton 2, Bonnie Ramaila 0, Emelala Keiki 0, Rosemarie Kelly 4, Ashley Gasper 4.
'AIEA—Jasmine Dias 3, Karina Koda 0, Joelle Sugai 0, Kylee Nakamura 18, Nicole Takemoto 0, Noelani Colburn 9, Chanel Takemoto 0, Rubi Carrillo 4, Aritta Lane 17, Minuette Kauiwailani 0, Keesha Aldridge 10.
3-point goals—Nanakuli 2 (Yap 2). 'Aiea 4 (Nakamura 3, Colburn 1).
JV—'Aiea 44, Nanakuli 35
• Leilehua 66, Waialua 17: Malia Chun-Llanos scored 16 points and Charlotte Garcia added 15 as the Mules routed the Bulldogs.
In the fourth quarter, Leilehua outscored Waialua 21-2.
Leilehua (5-1) 17 15 13 21—66
Waialua (0-6) 4 5 6 2—17
LEILEHUA—Malia Chun-Llanos 16, Heidi Garcia 6, Liz Neishell 3, Nachell Scott 4, Karley Peterson 4, Pikaki Nutter-Gaudet 2, Heather Living-McDonald 0, JB Calbick 6, Precious Hall 4, Lez Bantolina 0, Charlotte Garcia 15, Inez Tauvela 2, Melody Hanson 4.
WAIALUA—Joanna Alfanta 3, Nicole Awaya 2, Angela Lewis 0, Junelle Garcia 0, Shanay Coloma 2, Clarice Kajiwara 0, Glenelle Matas 0, Michelle Fore 4, Melissa Baker 2, Treasure Chun 4.
3-point goals—Leilehua 2 (Neishell, C. Garcia). Waialua none.
JV—Leilehua 36, Waialua 17
• Wai'anae 46, Waipahu 30: Angiel Lino scored 14 points and Tiare Holbron added 10 as the Seariders defeated the short-handed Marauders.
Wai'anae led only 13-10 at halftime and outscored Waipahu 33-20 in the second half.
Maureen Cozo scored 15 points to lead Waipahu, which only suited up five players.
Waipahu (0-5) 6 4 7 13—30
Wai'anae (1-5) 9 4 13 20—46
WAIPAHU—Jenna Morales 2, Ranalyn Baldovi 4, Rosanna Jardin 2, Nicole Keaunui 7, Maureen Cozo 15.
WAI'ANAE—Kisha Hampton 0, Angie Lino 14, Janeen Lee-Abelaye 3,Yvonne Eli 0, Alison Aldeguer 0, Tiare Holbron 10, Czarina Gasper 0, Tristina Nitta 8, Prisca Keawe 3, Rochelle Kekoa 0, Falon Maugaleoo 8.
3-point goals—Waipahu none. Wai'anae 1 (Lee-Abelaye.
JV—Wai'anae 25, Waipahu 19
• Pearl City 36, Campbell 33: Christy Ayers scored 15 points as the Chargers defeated the Sabers.
Chaunte Jackson scored eight points to lead Campbell.
Pearl City (4-3) 6 16 6 8—36
Campbell (3-5) 13 7 6 7—33
PEARL CITY—Darcie Hamamoto 4, Kimberly Zane 0, Gina Honda 0, Christy Ayers 15, Kelli Yuen 6, Ashley Pagatpatan 2, Amber Pagatpatan 4, Shaila Segawa 0, Kristi Yamura 2, Frances Mabalay 1, Kristin Lai 2, Natasha Fuimaono 0.
CAMPBELL—Renette Fajardo 6, Jasmine Lopez 2, Chaunte Jackson 8, Denise Alonzo 1, Bonnie Holdstock 0, Jamie Kua 9, Amy Elam 2, Vallyn Medeiros 0, Hoku Leiato 3, Rowena Sarandi 2.
3-point goals—Pearl City none. Campbell none.
JV—Campbell 54, Pearl City 48 (OT)
OIA East
• Kalaheo 55, Kailua 24: Brandy Richardson scored 21 points as the Mustangs defeated the Surfriders to remain undefeated in the OIA East.
Kalaheo held Kailua to one point in the first quarter and two in the fourth.
Kalaheo (8-0) 11 14 18 12—55
Kailua (0-7) 1 14 7 2—24
KALAHEO—Bre Carson 0, Stacy Wright 4, Kalena Hatori 3, Brandy Richardson 21, Brandi Benson 6, Natasha Lagapa 2, Dawnelle Nahinu 2, Heather Gonsalves 4, Nicole Furtado 5, Kira Withy-Allen 1, Brina Fritzsche 7.
KAILUA—Taryn Imai 0, Kanani Piimauna 7, Ivena Armand-Baoy 2, Jade Leong 7, Johnalynn Ilae 0, Jaushlyn Mansinon 0, Loke Lastimosa 3, Ruth Pedro 2, Konnie DeCaires 3.
3-point goals—Kalaheo 2 (Furtado, Richardson). Kailua 1 (Piimauna).
JV—Kailua 33, Kalaheo 27
• Kalani 56, Kaiser 44: Ashley Takata scored 27 points to the Falcons over the Cougars.
Kalani led 35-15 after three quarters.
Samantha Ching scored 14 points to lead Kaiser.
Kalani (3-4) 4 13 18 21—56
Kaiser (2-4) 6 7 2 29—44
KALANI—Ronelle Dement-Luamamuva 0, Alisa Lum 0, Kristy Hirahara 0, Ashley Takata 27, Karlie Saiki 0, Amy Matsuura 2, Chenty Bonafacio 9, Lauren Cheng 2, Raylene Camara 8, Kristie Saiki 0, Jodi-Ann Segawa 8.
KAISER—Sarah Black 0, Shera Yamamoto 7, Nanea Kamauoha 5, Jennifer Suiso 0, Heather Dick 2, Karen Poon 10, Samantha Ching 14, Julia Paulo 2, Brooke Masutani 3, Jasmine Yoshino 0, Lahela Rodrigues 1, Lia Pereira 0, Leight Raymond 0.
3-point goals—Kalani none. Kaiser 3 (Poon 2, Yamamoto 1).
JV—Kaiser 41, Kalani 27
• McKinley 51, Kaimuki 29: Amber Lee scored 14 points and Chyloh Rodrigues added 10, including two 3-pointers, as the Tigers defeated the Bulldogs.
Rachel Santiago scored eight points to lead Kaimuki.
Mckinley (5-3) 13 13 16 9—51
KaimukI (2-5) 4 8 9 8—29
McKINLEY—Chantelle Yadao 4, Rayna Isaki 6, Kristy Fukamoto 0, Paget Kaihapea 2, Megan Miasaka 2, Lisa Barroga 2, Chyloh Rodrigues 10, Tatina Huckso 0, Marie Farina 2, Briana Ioane 2, Ceslie Maafala 7, Amber Lee 14, Margot Miasaka 0.
Kaimuki—Kelly Matsunaga 0, Stephanie Omori 0, Amanda Leopoldo 2, Rachel Santiago 8, Chyenna Souza 2, Dalia Solia 6, Tyleen Tausaga 7, Jessica Arakawa 0, Katherine Martin 2, Noelani Tamanaha 1, Lynette La'a 1.
3-point goals—McKinley 2 (Rodrigues 2). Kaimuki none.
JV—Kaimuki 40, McKinley 31
• Kahuku 44, Moanalua 40: Mereani Lewenilovo scored 10 points as the Red Raiders rallied to defeat the Menehune.
Kahuku outscored Moanalua 13-7 in the fourth quarter.
Amy Kotani scored 16 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead Moanalua.
Moanalua (3-3) 12 10 11 7—40
Kahuku (4-4) 10 11 10 13—44
MOANALUA—Erin Chow 2, Amy Kotani 16, Sherice Ajifu 0, Christina Sierra 3, Samantha Davis 6, Jessica Moran 0, Kelly Kim 0, Marleen Leautu 0, Patti Hardimon 13.
KAHUKU—Mereani Lewenilovo 10, Alberta Fotu 0, Lindsey Williams 2, Lesina Funaki 4, Michelle Peters 2, Jackie Peters 0, Karla Tailele 6, Mona Nihipali 5, Natasha Kai 7, Krisha Kai 2, Latoya Wily 4, Tanya Alo 2.
3-point goals—Moanalua 4 (Kotani 3, Sierra 1). Kahuku 1 (N. Kai).
JV—Kahuku 35, Moanalua 33
• FARRINGTON 53, CASTLE 45: Cherlyn Ligot scored 14 of her 22 points in the third quarter and Jenny Hamson added 10 as the Governors defeated the Knights to remain in second place in the OIA East.
Dionne Kaneshiro scored 10 points to lead Castle.
Castle (1-5) 9 16 9 11—45
Farrington (6-1) 11 10 16 16—53
CASTLE—Tyra Martin 2, Megan Wong 4, Shayna Medeiros 11, Mari Kitagawa 5, Dionne Kaneshiro 10, Shantel Tilton 2, Johnna Padeken 0, Venabel Agullana 4, Nicole Uperesa 7.
FARRINGTON—Revlyn Cabaya 4, Jenny Hamson 10, Xania Cadoy 5, Cherlyn Ligot 22, Holly Yamada 6, Ashley Soon 0, Liza Domingo 1, Pae Poasa 2, Shannon Maika 2, Tina Sanerizi 1, Leslie Kinningham 0, Lusi Uli.
3-point goals—Castle 3 (Medeiros, Kaneshiro 2). Farrington 1 (Hamson).
JV—Farrington 70, Castle 38
JV scores
Radford 33, Kapolei 23
Correction: Paget Kahapea is a member of the McKinley basketball team. Her named was misspelled in the scoring summary of McKinley's 51-29 victory over Kaimuki in a previous version of this story.
