Kamehameha's girls hand Punahou first defeat, 47-40
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls basketball championship is again up for grabs, following Kamehameha's 47-40 victory over previously unbeaten Punahou last night at Kekuhaupi'o Gym.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Both teams are 11-1, with two games left in the regular season. Kamehameha's win means there likely will be a playoff for the ILH title, at a site and time to be determined.
Kamehameha's Megan Kanoa wasn't about to allow Punahou's Megan Abbott to get off this shot attempt during the first half. Kanoa was called for a foul.
Punahou beat Kamehameha, 58-36, in their first-round meeting April 4.
"We were a lot more prepared this time," said Kamehameha senior Ashley Ruff, who scored 11 points last night. "We were really pumped up, we wanted it more."
That was evident from the first period, when the Warriors jumped to a 13-4 lead in the first six minutes. Punahou staged a second-quarter rally and took a brief lead before Kamehameha got a steal and layup from Amber Carter to take a 24-23 advantage into the locker room.
The Warriors stretched the lead to 34-26 midway through the third period, and the closest the Buffanblu could get after that was 40-38 with 1:42 remaining in the game.
Kamehameha made 7 of 11 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
"Give credit to (the Warriors)," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "They played tough."
A major difference from three weeks ago was the presence of Kamehameha junior guard Lehua Wood, who missed the first-round meeting with an injured ankle.
Last night, Wood blanketed Buffanblu guard Rachel Kane from baseline to baseline. Kane scored 15 points in the first meeting but was held to one field goal and eight points last night.
"I thought the biggest difference was our defensive intensity, and Lehua is a big part of our defense," Warriors coach Clay Cockett said. "Rachel had to work hard for her shots."
Ruff also played a big role defensively, fronting Punahou center Becky Hogue and scrambling for three key defensive rebounds in the final minutes.
Ruff, at 5 feet 6fl inches, was at a big size disadvantage against the 6-foot Hogue. But Hogue was held to 10 points on four field goals.
"Ruff is a fighter," Cockett said. "She thrives on competition. She knows what it takes to fight through in the big games."
The next big game could come as soon as May 2, one of the dates the ILH has set aside for a playoff.
Punahou (11-1) 9 14 7 10—40
Kamehameha (11-1) 15 9 14 9—47
Punahou—Rachel Kane 8, Shanna-Lei Dacanay 6, Megan Abbott 2, Janelle Shin 2, Kelly Karns 7, Christine Takara 5, Becky Hogue 10. 14 10-18 40.
Kamehameha—India Soo 2, Ashley Ruff 11, Ho'o Hee 2, Kekai Crabbe 0, Amber Carter 8, Lehua Wood 1, Mounia Nihipali 6, Megan Kanoa 2, Megan Ching 15. 17 10-14 47.
3-point goals—Punahou 2 (Kane, Dacanay). Kamehameha 3 (Carter 2, Ching).
