Pearl City girls share West lead
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
For the youthful Pearl City High School girls basketball team, the future is now.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
The Chargers, with only two seniors on their roster, improved to 8-1 and moved into a tie for first place in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division last night with a 41-36 home victory over Leilehua.
Leilehua's Heidi Garcia fouls Pearl City's Jillan Soria during the fourth quarter of an O'ahu Interscholastic Association basketball game.
Campbell, which defeated 'Aiea 29-20 last night, is the other West team at 8-1.
Mainly because of its youth, Pearl City was not predicted to be in this position when the season started a month ago, which was fine with Chargers coach Mike Morton.
"That's what I wanted," Morton said. "We didn't get a lot of attention, but I knew in my heart we could come up big and contend."
Last night, Pearl City took control in the first period and never lost the lead, although the Mules (7-2) threatened several times.
The Chargers built a 35-27 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but Leilehua closed to 36-34 on Heidi Garcia's 3-point basket with 1:20 remaining. Christie Ayers and Jillan Soria then sank five of seven free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the win.
Garcia scored a game-high 19 points for Leilehua, while Ayers had 12 points to lead Pearl City.
"They were hungry, they made the plays when they had to," Leilehua coach Elroy Dumlao said of the Chargers. "Pearl City was underrated, but I always knew they had something. They're disciplined and they play good defense, and if you do that, you're going to succeed. That's a credit to Mike."
Morton credited his players for holding off several rallies by the Mules. After the Chargers went up 13-7 at the end of the first period, Leilehua closed to 13-12. When Pearl City took a 23-16 lead late in the third quarter, the Mules rallied to trail 25-22 entering the fourth.
And though the Chargers took a 33-24 lead with 4:48 remaining, the outcome was not decided until an intentional foul with four seconds left.
Morton said his players have shown resilience all season.
"The girls responded well," Morton said. "I didn't know what to expect with such a young team, but they showed a lot of maturity. We go nine or 10 players deep, and I preach 'team' all the time. That's how they've practiced."
Sophomore Marci Lobendahn, who scored 11 points last night, said the Chargers don't want to wait a year or two for a championship.
"We all want it this year," Lobendahn said. "We have the fire to be No. 1."
Leilehua (7-2) 7 9 6 14—36
Pearl City (8-1) 13 4 8 16—41
Leilehua—Priscilla West 0, Jacqueline Kelly 0, Heidi Garcia 19, Nachelle Scott 4, Maria Quidez 0, Jessica Battease 0, Pikake Nutter-Gaudet 4, Liz Neishell 2, Sara Smith 0, Inez Tauvela 5, Alexis San-Nicholas 2. Totals 16 2-4 36.
Pearl City—Darcie Hamamoto 0, Jillan Soria 6, Amy Fujihara 0, Joni Yoon 0, Christie Ayers 12, Chalice Kaapuni 4, Kellie Yuen 8, Jamie Iwata 0, Kristin Lai 0, Tatum Higdon 0, Frances Mabalay 0, Tina Questel 0, Marci Lobendahn 11, Lusia Kleinschmidt 0. Totals 11 19-32 41.
3-point goals—Leilehua 2 (Garcia 2).
JV—Pearl City 34, Leilehua 9
Reported by Janelle Tokunaga
• CAMPBELL 29, 'AIEA 20: Hoku Leiato scored a game-high nine points for Campbell and the Sabers held Na Ali'i to six points through the first three quarters.
'Aiea (6-3) 2 4 0 14—20
Campbell (8-1) 9 4 6 10—29
'Aiea—Jasmine Dias 7, Karina Koda 0, Marissa Komomua 0, Nicole Takemoto 0, Noe Colburn 0, Chanelle Takemoto 2, Abigail Lee 4, Myleka Hanna 0, Maile Kauhola 0, Minuette Kaiuwailani 2, Jaime Rosario 0, Tiffany Seiki 5, Sherylann Miyashiro 0. Totals 8 2-2 20.
Campbell—Jasmine Lopez 4, Veniceia Morris 0, RJ Costa 0, Jalen Garcia 4, Christina Meekins 0, Jamie Kua 4, Jacqueline Mendes 0, Kim Edwards 0, Chaunte Jackson 4, Denise McRae 0, Denise Alonzo 4, Hoku Leiato 9. Totals 13 2-3 29.
3-point goals—'Aiea 2 (Dias, Seiki). Campbell 1 (Leiato).
JV—Campbell 35, 'Aiea 16
Reported by Pat Macadangdang
• Radford 44, Waialua 25: Heather Massey scored 12 points to pace the victorious Rams.
Glenelle Matas led Waialua with 16.
Waialua (1-8) 5 4 5 11—25
Radford (6-3) 12 10 18 4—44
Waialua—Ashley Yoshizu 2, Abegail Aceret 2, Melissa Baker 3, Glenelle Matas 16, Shanay Coloma 2. Totals 9 6-16 25.
Radford—Joanne Czumalowski 2, Chantel Romano 5, Jenna Johnson-Endo 4, Marina Watts 0, Jennifer Taylor 3, Missy Cordero 5, Heather Massey 12, Lia Mickey 3, Michelle Winebush 1, Nateita Viavia 5, Talaya Jones 2, Bree Reyes 2. Totals 17 8-16 44.
3-point goals—Waialua 1 (Glenelle Matas). Radford 2 (Cordero, Massey).
JV—Radford 30, Waialua 22
Reported by David Lane
• Wai'anae 34, Nanakuli 28: Tiare Holbron scored 11 points to lead the Seariders in victory.
Lehua Yap scored 16 for Nanakuli.
Wai'anae (5-4) 8 5 6 15—34
Nanakuli (3-7) 5 11 8 4—28
Wai'anae—Kisha Hampton 4, Yvonne Eli 0, Tiare Holbron 11, Tristina Nitta 5, Angeline Lino 5, Chelsey Park 0, Wailana Darden 0, Czarina Gasper 4, Tabitha Randles 0, Janeen Lee-Abelaye 5, Rachel Kekoa 0. Totals 11 11-19 34.
Nanakuli—Chalcedony Silva 0, Chelsey Kaimi 1, Lindsey Ako 0, Cheryl Willing 0, Jasmine Carvalho 2, KC Hoohuli 0, Lehua Yap 16, Chanel Ching 0, Ashley Gasper 5, Stacelyn Eli 0, Malia Hirahara 0, Teila Watson 2, Marsy Holi-Arrington 2. Totals 9 9-19 28.
3-point goals—Wai'anae 1 (Lee-Abelaye). Nanakuli 1 (Yap).
JV—Wai'anae 43, Nanakuli 37
Reported by Desire Mariani
• Mililani 34, Waipahu 32: Darci Watanabe scored 12 points to lead the Trojans.
Waipahu (3-6) 8 7 8 9—32
Mililani (3-6) 7 11 4 12—34
Waipahu—Crystal Baliguat 2, Ranalyn Baldovi 1, Rosanna Jardin 1, Jenna Rosario 6, Nicole Keaunui 2, Tiana Ortogero 3, Adrianne Olione 2, Talapasia Samuela 10, Maryann Baxo 5. Totals 12 7-14 32.
Mililani—Darci Watanabe 12, Sandy Santiago 8, Adrienne Kasaoka 3, Lori Nonies 0, Erin Chapman 2, Jody Saquilon 1, Yvonne Morris 2, Suzy Jackson 1, Talia Tupua 5. Totals 12 10-21 34.
3-point goals—Waipahu 1 (Baxo).
JV—Waipahu 26, Mililani 34
Reported by Verlene Kaanoi
• KAILUA 34, ROOSEVELT 26: Konnie DeCaires scored 21 points to lead the Surfriders past the Rough Riders on Tuesday night.
Ashlie Dutro scored 13 for Roosevelt.
Kailua (2-7) 4 10 12 8—34
Roosevelt (1-8) 3 7 2 14—26
Kailua—Taryn Imai 0, Tiffany Lee 0, Kalina Kama 2, Johnalynn Ilae 0, Jaushlyn Mansinon 0, Konnie DeCaires 21, Alberta Lui 2, Ana Fisilau 3, Loke Lastimosa 4, Ruth Pedro 2, Kamaile Hughes 0. Totals 16 2-5 34.
Roosevelt—Ashlie Dutro 13, Justina Yanuaria 3, Chelsie Kadota 3, Capi Uyechi 3, Kahea Rodrigues 2, Nicole Yoshimoto 0, Nicole Okada 2. Totals 8 4-6 26.
3-point goals—Roosevelt 6 (Dutro 3, Yanuaria, Kadota, Uyechi).
JV—Roosevelt 38, Kailua 33
Reported by Bobby Keanini
ILH JV DIVISION I
Sacred Hearts 20, Iolani 17
University High 37, Hawai'i Baptist 26
Punahou Blue 55, Kamehameha Blue 54, OT
ILH JV DIVISION II
Mid-Pacific 33, Priory 13
