Kalaheo wins OIA girls basketball title

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

The night belonged to Kalaheo's Brandy Richardson, and there was nothing any force in Hawai'i high school girls basketball could have done to stop her.

'Aiea's Jasmine Dias, left, defends against Kalaheo's Brandy Richardson, who was nearly unstoppable all night, scoring 41 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

"She's a woman among girls," 'Aiea coach Fran Villarmia-Kahawai said. "She should be playing in college right now."

It was the Mustangs' — and Richardson's — fourth consecutive OIA championship.

Kalaheo has beaten 'Aiea in the OIA tournament the past three years.

"We weren't ready to give this up yet," Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado said. " 'Aiea did a good job on the West, but we weren't ready to give it up yet. There was a lot of talk we were going to be dethroned this year, but Richardson said no way."

Richardson did it inside, outside and with players all over her. She made 16-of-28 field-goal attempts, which included 8-for-14 shooting in each half.

"They found me when I was open in the post," Richardson said. "When I was on the wing they found me. My teammates did a great job finding me."

During a five-minute span covering the final 2:15 of the first quarter and the first 2:45 of the second quarter, Richardson scored all 18 of the Mustangs' points.

"I knew I had to step it up." Richardson said. "Coach Chico told me I had to carry the team on my shoulders. I did what I had to do."

The run included making Richardson the first four shots of the second quarter, the final three of which were 3-pointers.

The Mustangs led 4-2 prior to the run and 22-16 after it.

'Aiea's Kylee Nakamura swoops in for two of her team-high 21 points. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Richardson finished the half with 22 points and six rebounds.

Na Ali'i started out in a man-to-man with the 5-foot-11 Aritta Lane defending Richardson. After that didn't work, they put a smaller player on the 5-10 Richardson.

"She hit threes in the first half," Furtado said. "They did some special things — box-and-one with a smaller girl. That was an insult to put a 5-4 girl on her."

Richardson made 5-of-6 field-goal attempts in the third quarter.

The Mustangs' largest lead was 55-33 after a putback by Richardson with six minutes remaining in the game. Na Ali'i cut it to 55-43 with 3:08 to play after a 10-0 run, but that was the closest they could get.

Richardson, who has signed with UC Santa Barbara for next season, is the two-time Hawai'i Player of the Year.

Furtado thinks she will make it a three-peat.

"There is no way anybody cannot watch this game and say that kid is not the best player in the state," Furtado said.

'Aiea's Kylee Nakamura scored 21 points, including three 3-pointers, and Lane added 15.

'AIEA—Jasmine Dias 3, Karina Koda 0, Joelle Sugai 0, Tiffany Seiki 0, Kylee Nakamura 21, Nicole Takemoto 0, Noelani Colburn 5, Chanel Takemoto 0, Rubi Carrillo 0, Aritta Lane 15, Minuette Kauiwailani 0, Keesha Aldridge 7.

KALAHEO—Bre Carson 6, Stacy Wright 0, Kalena Hatori 0, Brandy Richardson 41, Brandi Benson 2, Natasha Lagapa 2, Alberta Lui 0, Dawnelle Nahinu 0, Heather Gonsalves 6, Nicole Furtado 6, Kira Withy-Allen 0, Brina Fritzsche 4.

3-point goals—'Aiea 4 (Nakamura 3, Colburn 1). Kalaheo 5 (Richardson 3, Furtado 2).

• Roosevelt 52, Leilehua 26: Ashlie Dutro scored 13 points, and Megan Fong and Jodi Nakashima each added 11 as the Rough Riders claimed the OIA's third and final state tournament berth.

Leilehua never recovered from a sluggish start.

The Mules made just 1-of-10 field-goal attempts and committed nine turnovers as Roosevelt took a 15-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Leilehua missed its first four shots of the second quarter before Melody Hanson and Charlotte Garcia hit consecutive shots to make it 18-7 1:30 into the second quarter.

A layup by Lehua Lembeck with 23 seconds remaining gave Roosevelt a 27-9 lead at halftime.

Leilehua went on a 13-4 run over the first 5:43 of the third quarter and closed to 31-22. It was the closest the Mules would get.

Roosevelt went on a 21-2 run to take their largest lead of the game at 52-24 with 1:23 remaining.

LEILEHUA—Malia Chun-Llanos 6, Heidi Garcia 5, Liz Neishell 0, Nachell Scott 0, Karley Peterson 0, Pikaki Nutter-Gaudet 0, Maria Quidez 0, Heather Living-McDonald 2, JB Calbick 0, Precious Hall 0, Lez Bantolina 0, Charlotte Garcia 9, Sara Smith 0, Inez Tauvela 0, Melody Hanson 4.

ROOSEVELT—Ashlie Dutro 13, Lori Nosse 3, Yayoi Nishitani 0, Kahea Rodrigues 4, Lehua Lembeck 8, Burgandi Borges 0, Megan Fong 11, Emily Okamura 0, Jodi Nakashima 11, Shannon Yoshiyama 0, Cheri Kahooilihala 0, Loreal Imamura 2.

3-point goals—Leilehua 1 (H. Garcia). Roosevelt 4 (Fong 2, Nakashima, Nosse).

• JV champion: Farrington defeated Kaimuki, 57-41, to win the OIA junior varsity title.