New-look Kaimuki beats Leilehua, 47-37
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| 'Aiea's Chanelle Takemoto, left, and Kalani's Ashley Takata couldn't find the handle on a rebound in last night's OIA playoff game.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser |
The victory advances the Bulldogs, 7-4 and the Eastern Division's No. 6 seed, into tonight's quarterfinal showdown against Kalaheo (8-2, East No. 2). The season has ended for Leilehua, 8-3 and the West's No. 3 seed.
Though last night's game was perhaps the first round's best matchup, it may have resembled an intrasquad scrimmage to fans wandering into the gym late. That's because both teams were wearing jerseys with "LEILEHUA" lettering.
A duffel bag holding all of Kaimuki's jerseys got mixed up with "extramural" equipment after school and did not make it onto the team bus. The Bulldogs, wearing their warm-ups to Leilehua, had grabbed an equipment bag by mistake thinking the jerseys were in it, and the error was not discovered until about 30 minutes before tipoff. The problem was resolved with Kaimuki borrowing Leilehua's green (road) jerseys.
The pregame chaos appeared to affect the Bulldogs, who fell behind 5-0 midway through the first period.
"To me, it did (have an effect)," said Kaimuki wing Dalia Solia, who finished with a game-high 21 points. "I think we were more worried about the jerseys than about the game. But once we got into a groove, we were all right."
That happened soon enough, as Kaimuki tied the game at 7-7 later in the quarter before falling behind 15-9 early in the second. That's when the Bulldogs really got into a groove, ending the half with an 11-0 run to take a 20-15 advantage into the locker rooms.
"I think we got lazy and complacent," Mules coach Elroy Dumlao said. "We didn't execute and we made too many turnovers. And even when we had good looks, they weren't falling."
Solia, exhibiting a smooth inside-outside game, had nine points in the first half, and teammate Tyleen Tausaga added seven points.
Kaimuki stretched the lead to 36-25 after three periods led by the inspired play of Lovely Moyle, who scored on a steal and layup and also nailed a 3-pointer. She had seven of her nine points in the third quarter.
"They had other players step up, and that's a credit to them," Dumlao said. "That's what you gotta do in the big games, and we didn't do that."
The closest Leilehua could get in the fourth period was 45-37 with 57 seconds remaining. But Solia sank two free throws 12 seconds later to ice the game.
Solia, a 5-foot-9 junior, was 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in the second half after missing her only two attempts in the first half.
"During the season, we'd take the lead and always let the other team come back," Solia said. "We learned our lesson."
The Bulldogs learned another lesson last night.
"I told them, it's not the jerseys," Kaimuki coach Mona Fa'asoa said. "It's how you go out and play."
Kaimuki 7 13 16 11—47
Leilehua 11 4 10 12—37
Kaimuki—Flora Mesa 2, Kara Hayashida 0, Diana Malavong 0, Jessica Arakawa 4, Katherine Martin 0, Dalia Solia 21, Romeleen Mauricio 0, Chyenna Souza 4, Tyleen Tausaga 7, Shella Sanders 0, Lovely Moyle 9, Kehaulani Molina-Gamponia 0, Alana Burgess 0, Ching Man Ying 0. Totals 15 13-22 47.
Leilehua—Priscilla West 2, Jacqueline Kelly 0, Heidi Garcia 14, Nachelle Scott 7, Maria Quidez 0, Jesseca Battease 0, Pikake Nutter-Gaudet 4, Liz Neishell 0, Sara Smith 3, Inez Tauvela 5, Cayci Grahovic 0 , Alexis San-Nicholas 2, Nina Perry 0, Heidi Hamilton 0. Totals 16 4-12 37.
3-point goals—Kaimuki 4 (Mesa 2, Moyle 1, Solia 1). Leilehua 1 (Garcia).
KALANI 44, 'AIEA 26: At Leilehua, abysmal shooting and a slew of turnovers doomed Na Ali'i, the defending state champions.
'Aiea made only one field goal through the first three periods and suffered through a 23-minute field-goal drought from 4:30 remaining in the first quarter until 5:23 left in the game. During that time, the Falcons built a commanding 34-10 lead.
But Kalani also struggled offensively early on, making only three field goals in the first half.
As far as playoff games go, this one was no work of art. The teams combined for 39 fouls — 17 by Kalani and 22 by Na Ali'i.
"'Aiea slowed the game down, and we couldn't get into a rhythm," Falcons coach Mike Zane said. "We also gave them a lot of putback opportunities, but it's a good thing they didn't capitalize."
'Aiea 4 4 2 16—26
Kalani 10 7 13 14—44
'Aiea—Jasmine Dias 11, Karina Koda 0, Marissa Komomua 0, Nicole Takemoto 0, Noelani Colburn 2, Chanelle Takemoto 3, Abigail Lee 2, Myleka Hanna 0, Maile Kauhola 3, Jaime Rosario 5, Sherylann Miyashiro 0. Totals 6 14-19 26.
Kalani—Tamari Miyashiro 5, Alisa Lum 8, Kristy Hirahara 2, Ashley Takata 7, Karlie Saiki 0, Leeann Shimabukuro 2, Chenty Bonifacio 4, Lauren Cheng 0, Jodi Segawa 6, Kristi Saiki 0, Keri Hee 8, Jessica Cruciana 2, Danielle Lindo 0. Totals 12 17-27 44.
3-point goals—'Aiea 0. Kalani 3 (Miyashiro, Lum 2).
Kahuku 51, Wai'anae 23: The Red Raiders took a 24-10 halftime lead and never looked back in rolling past the Seariders in the first round of the OIA playoffs. Karla Tailele scored 11 points and Mereani Lewenilovo added 10 for Kahuku.
Wai'anae 6 4 4 9—23
kahuku 13 10 22 6—51
Wai'anae—Kisha Hampton 2, Yvonne Eli 0, Tiare Holbron 8, Tristina Nitta 7, Angeline Lino 2, Chelsey Park 0, Wailana Darden 0, Czarina Gasper 2, Janeen Lee-Abelaye 2. Totals 7 9-24 23
Kahuku—Mereani Lewenilovo 10, Lesina Funaki 4, Nadia Mahe 0, Jazzman Kaka 0, Krisha Kai 0, Karla Tailele 11, Charlotte Leitupo 6, Michelle Peters 6, Nancy Vave 6, Tanya Alo 2, Nicole Pouha 0, Ranon Manumaleuna 0, Melissa Aumua 0, Kelci Naihe 4, Alberta Fotu 2. Totals 22 7-18.
Reported by Jeri Tugman
Moanalua 51, Radford 39: Patti Hardimon scored 13 points and Kepua Lee added 11 to counter Heather Massey's 21 points as the Menehunes routed the Rams to advance to a second-round meeting against McKinley.
Moanalua 16 4 18 13—51
Radford 10 6 6 17—39
Moanalua—Christina Sierra 4, Alice Ra 2, Jessica Moran 2, Jen Light 0, Jessie Kamakura 0, Sasha Silva 8, Patti Hardimon 13, Ashley Kaono 0, Marleen Leautu 4, Brittany Briem 1, Kepua Lee 11, Ronnie Keliihoomalu 6, Joy Matsukawa 0. Totals 18 15-20 51.
Radford—Joanne Czumalowski 0, Chantel Romano 0, Jenna Johnson-Endo 2, Marina Watts 0, Jennifer Taylor 4, Missy Cordero 3, Heather Massey 21, Lia Mickey 0, Michelle Winebush 0, Nateita Viavia 0, Talaya Jones 4, Bree Reyes 5. Totals 13 10-14 39.
3-point goals—Radford 3 (Massey 2, Cordero 1).
Reported by Adeline Del Rosario
ILH BASEBALL
MPI, Iolani play at 2:30 p.m.: The game time for today's Interscholastic League of Honolulu baseball tournament game between Iolani and Mid-Pacific at Aloha Stadium has been changed to 2:30 p.m.
The change was made to accommodate Iolani's Junior Prom tomorrow night and an SAT for Mid-Pacific juniors, ILH baseball coordinator Don Botelho said.
The time was first changed from 7 p.m. to 1 p.m. to accommodate Iolani's prom, then moved back to 2:30 p.m. because of MPI's SAT.
Because of the time change, there will be no radio broadcast of the game, he said.
Mid-Pacific is 3-0 in the double elimination tournament, including a 9-6 victory over Iolani on Wednesday.
If Mid-Pacific wins today, the Owls play regular-season champion Kamehameha on Tuesday at Aloha Stadium for the league championship and a first-round bye in the state tournament.
If Iolani (2-1) wins today, the Raiders and Owls will play again Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Aloha Stadium for the tournament championship. In that case, Tuesday's winner will play Kamehameha on Thursday at Aloha Stadium for the overall ILH championship and first-round bye in the state tournament.
ILH TRACK AND FIELD
Records fall in qualifying: Brandon Ala of Kamehameha broke the Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys meet record in the discus by 11 feet in qualifying on Thursday at Punahou.
His throw of 196 feet, 11 inches would rank fifth in the nation this season on the May 1 high school list compiled by Dyestat.com.
Ala, an all-state football player who is headed for University of Washington, wiped out the ILH meet record of 185-3 set in 1990 by another all-state football player, Mu Tagoai of Punahou.
In girls trials, Lauran Dignam of Iolani took more than half a second off the meet record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.34 seconds.
Dignam, who is defending state champion in the 200 and 400, shattered the record of 56.99 set three years ago by Punahou's Eri Macdonald, who currently is the 14th-ranked 800-meter runner in the NCAA for Oregon.
Defending league and state100 and long jump champion Kelly Figueira of Sacred Hearts will miss the ILH meet because of a pulled left hamstring, suffered in a meet on Maui April 6. A decision on whether Figueira can participate in next weekend's state championships at Mililani will be made after she tests the leg early next week, said her father, Bruce Figueira.
Today's ILH finals at Punahou will begin with field events at 1 p.m. First track event will be at 1:30. Admission is free. The girls discus will be held before the boys.
Interscholastic League of Honolulu Championship Meet Qualifying
Thursday's Results
At Punahou High School
Leading Qualifiers
Boys
Discus: Brandon Ala, Kamehameha, 196-11 (meet record, old record 185-3 by Mu Togoai, Punahou, 1990). Shot Put: Dane Uperesa, Punahou, 53-8.5. Long Jump: Nikolas Clay, Pac-Five, 20-6.5. Triple Jump: Derek Turbin, Punahou, 44-7.25. 110 Hurdles: Taualai Fonoti, St. Louis, 15.41. 100: Keahua Bowman, St. Louis, 11.54. 1,500: Todd Iacovelli, Punahou, 4:09.60. 400: Nick Frazier, Kamehameha, 51.89. 300 Hurdles: Jesse Lee, Kamehameha, 39.59. 800: Nick Frazier, Kamehameha, 2:02.41. 200: Travis Beyer, Kamehameha, 23.01.
Girls
Discus: Natalie Fujimoto, Punahou, 113-8. Shot Put: Natalie Fujimoto, Punahou, 42-9.5 (ties meet record set by Deedee Akeo, Kamehameha, 1977). Long Jump: Catherine Greenlee, Iolani, 16-4.75. Triple Jump: Noelle Yempuku, Sacred Hearts, 34-10.75. 100 Hurdles: Lindsay Beimes, Kamehameha, 16.80. 100: Lauran Dignam, Iolani, 12.82. 400: Lauran Dignam, Iolani, 56.34 (meet record. Old record 56.99 by Eri Macdonald, Punahou, 1999). 800: Pippa Macdonald, Punahou, 2:20.66. 200: Lauran Dignam, Iolani, 25.54.
