Nakashima leads Roosevelt past Nanakuli
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Nanakuli High School girls basketball team was missing its best player, Maricris Sierra, last night due to injury.
But Roosevelt's best player, Jodi Nakashima, was in playoff form and scored a game-high 19 points to help the host Rough Riders top the Golden Hawks, 41-35, in the first round of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association tournament.
Roosevelt (8-3) will travel to 'Aiea (10-0) for a 7 p.m. semifinal game Tuesday. Nanakuli's season ends at 7-3.
The Golden Hawks, seeded No. 3 in the OIA Western Division, faced a challenge before last night's game even started. Sierra, their top scorer and senior leader, suffered a yet-to-be diagnosed knee injury after landing awkwardly in the first half of Friday night's 59-25 win over Waialua.
Nanakuli coach Darin Pilialoha said the school's athletic trainer suggested the injury could be related to Sierra's anterior cruciate ligament. Pilialoha said that without Sierra, the Golden Hawks were missing "everything, basically."
"But I will say this — of the girls we did have, they did a hell of a job," Pilialoha said. "Even though we lost, I'm satisfied."
Nanakuli got off to a slow start and trailed 10-5 after one quarter, but in the second quarter, the Golden Hawks ignited their transition game and built a 20-14 lead. Lehua Yap scored five points and Ipo Keopuhiwa added four points during a 15-4 run.
Nakashima, however, promptly nailed a jumper and two free throws to cut Nanakuli's lead to 20-18 at halftime. She had six points in the second quarter after scoring four in the first.
Nakashima began the second half with a putback and another short jumper to give the Rough Riders a 22-20 lead.
"She hits big shots, but she also does all the little things," Roosevelt coach Bobby Keanini said. "She gives us good senior leadership."
Keopuhiwa drained a 3-pointer to put the Golden Hawks back up, 23-22, but Kahea Rodrigues immediately answered with a layup and the Rough Riders never trailed thereafter.
Layups by Megan Fong and Ashley Dutro gave Roosevelt a 30-26 lead heading into the final period.
A jumper by Yap closed Nanakuli to within 32-29 with 4:30 left in the game, but Roosevelt spread the floor and sank nine of 12 free throws to seal the win.
"We weren't hitting our shots from the outside, so we had to drive to the basket," Nakashima said. "And we had to step up on defense and close the lanes. Nanakuli is a scrappy team; they're not going to give up just because they're missing a player."
The Rough Riders, who finished their regular season with wins against Kahuku and Farrington, also showed some toughness.
"We're dead tired, those are three physical teams," Keanini said. "But we can't take anything away from Nanakuli. Darin does a good job with them. They have so much energy, they just keep coming at you. That's how you want your own team to play, so as an opposing coach, you can appreciate that."
Nanakuli (7-3) 5 15 6 9—35
Roosevelt (8-3) 10 8 12 11—41
NANAKULI—Lehua Yap 10, Chelsey Kaimi 2, Kaui Candelario 4, Tasha Willing 0, Ipo Keopuhiwa 7, Kristy Titcomb 2, Diandra Dias 4, Stacey Eli 0, Delandra Costa 0, Bonnie Ramaila 0, Ashley Gasper 6.
ROOSEVELT—Ashley Dutro 7, Lori Nosse 0, Kahea Rodrigues 6, Lehua Lembeck 4, Burgandi Borges 2, Megan Fong 3, Jodi Nakashima 19.
3-point goals—Nanakuli 3 (Yap, Candelario, Keopuhiwa). Roosevelt none.
JV—Mililani 41, McKinley 33
• Kalaheo 68, Radford 28: Brandy Richardson scored 18 points and Natasha Lagapa added 10 as the Mustangs remained undefeated.
Nicole Furtado scored nine points, all on 3-pointers.
Radford (6-4) 8 9 2 9—28
Kalaheo (11-0) 11 18 19 20—68
RADFORD—Maya Blythers 0, Bri Reyes 0, Heather Massey 15, Kiesa Jones 6, Christina Arnold 0, Lia Mickey 0, Jennifer Taylor 2, Typhanie Reese 2, Jasmine Kapesi 3, Mae Foki 0.
KALAHEO—Bre Carson 5, Kalena Hatori 4, Brandy Richardson 18, Brandi Benson 6, Natasha Lagapa 10, Dawnelle Nahinu 4, Heather Gonsalves 10, Nicole Furtado 9, Kira Withy-Allen 0, Brina Fritzsche 2.
3-point goals—Radford 4 (Massey 3, Kapesi 1). Kalaheo 7 (Furtado 3, Lagapa 2, Carson 1, Richardson 1).
JV—Kaimuki 37, Radford 32
• 'Aiea 57, Kalani 28: Aritta Lane scored 20 of her 32 points in the first half as Na Ali'i snapped the Falcons' six-game winning streak.
Kalani's Ashley Takata, who averaged 32.2 points in her previous three outings, scored all seven of her points in the first half.
Kalani (6-5) 6 10 4 8—28
'Aiea (10-0) 14 20 8 15—57
KALANI—Ronelle Dement-Luamamuvae 0, Alisa Lum 0, Kristy Hirahara 3, Ashley Takata 7, Karlie Saiki 0, Amy Matsuura 0, Chenty Bonafacio 6, Lauren Cheng 0, Raylene Camara 6, Kristie Saiki 0, Jodi-Ann Segawa 6, Patricia Kuniyuki 0.
'AIEA—Jasmine Dias 2, Karina Koda 0, Joelle Sugai 0, Tiffany Seiki 1, Kylee Nakamura 6, Nicole Takemoto 1, Noelani Colburn 0, Chanel Takemoto 1, Rubi Carrillo 6, Aritta Lane 32, Minuette Kauiwailani 0, Keesha Aldridge 8.
JV—Pearl City def. Castle, score not reported
• Leilehua 50, Farrington 43: Charlotte Garcia scored eight of her 17 points in the third quarter as the Mules defeated the Governors.
Tina Sanerizi scored 12 points to lead Farrington.
Farrington (7-4) 8 16 5 14—43
Leilehua (9-1) 11 14 13 12—50
FARRINGTON—Revlyn Cabaya 5, Jenny Hamson 3, Xania Cadoy 2, Cherlyn Ligot 10, Holly Yamada 3, Ashley Soon 1, Pae Poasa 1, Shannon Maika 6, Tina Sanerizi 12.
LEILEHUA—Malia Chun-Llanos 7, Heidi Garcia 5, Nachell Scott 3, Pikaki Nutter-Gaudet 7, JB Calbick 3, Precious Hall 2, Charlotte Garcia 17, Melody Hanson 6.
3-point goals—Farrington 1 (Hamson). Leilehua none.
JV—Farrington 57, Leilehua 29
