Fast start propels No. 1 Warriors past Kahuku

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

Sometimes Goliath does prevail.

Kamehameha's Amber Carter, right, battles for a loose ball with Kahuku's Kelci Naihe and (the arm of) Mereani Lewenilovo in the first quarter. Gregory Yamamoto• The Honolulu Advertiser

The ILH champions took control of the game from the start, beating the unseeded Red Raiders, 73-61.

The Warriors, who have won two state titles in the past four years, face Punahou for the championship tonight.

It was a team effort for Kamehameha, which boasted four players with double-digits in scoring. Three players who normally average about five points per game — Ashley Ruff, Amber Carter and Lehua Wood — contributed 42 points for the Warriors.

"It was more a team effort," said Wood, who had 13 points, shooting 6-of-9 from the field. "Everyone knows I'm a defensive player. One of my goals coming into the state tournament was to prove that I could be an offensive player as well. I knew I had to step it up."

Carter, who started the season coming off the bench, also stepped up, contributing 11 points and five rebounds. The sophomore guard drained 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

The Warriors, who squeaked by Moanalua in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, were motivated to prove their No. 1 status.

"We didn't play together (against Moanalua)," said senior center Ruff, who had a game-high 19 points and nine rebounds. "We were right back where we were in the preseason. We won, but we won ugly. Some still question why we're the No. 1 seed."

And they proved themselves last night.

Kahuku started the game with an aggressive man-to-man defense that stopped the Warriors from penetrating the inside. So they went outside, with guards Wood and Carter sinking 17 of the team's 38 points, including three 3-pointers, going into halftime.

"Our perimeter shooting for us was exceptional," said Warriors head coach Clay Cockett. "We concentrated on rebounding and boxing out. It was a much more concentrated effort."

Despite a commanding 19-point lead going into the second half, the Warriors came out strong on defense, running man-to-man and full-court presses on the scrambling Red Raiders.

That tight defense, led by Wood, held Kahuku's top scorer, Kelci Naihe, to just two points in the first half. The junior guard ended the night with 16 points, most of them scored when Wood went out with a dislocated right shoulder.

The Red Raiders picked up the pace late in the second half, but it was too late. Each time Kahuku hit a jumper, the Warriors would answer back, never letting the Red Raiders get closer than 11 points.

Kamehameha outrebounded Kahuku, 38-26, and posted a higher free-throw percentage (61.8 compared to 51.6) than the Red Raiders.

The game plan for tonight's championship game:

"We have to play hard and stay focused," Wood said. "And we have to want it more."

Kahuku 10 9 13 29—61
Kamehameha 17 21 15 20—73

Kahuku—Mereani Lewenilovo 6, Lesina Funaki 4, Karla Tailele 1, Michelle Peters 20, Kelci Naihe 16, Annie Soliai 4, Krisha Kai 4, Charlotte Leitupo 4, Kahanu Ah Puck 0, Tanya Alo 2, Nicole Pouha 0. Totals 22 16-31 61.

Kamehameha—Ashley Ruff 18, Amber Carter 11, Lehua Wood 13, Mounia Nihipali 5, Megan Ching 16, Jeneka Taeoalii 4, Tiffany Ann Shim 0, India Soo 1, Courtney Chai 2, Adrianne Hee 0, Chrystal Hodson 2, Regina Cummings 0, Megan Kanoa 0, Chelsea Kalama 1. Totals 24 21-34 73.

3-point goals—Kahuku 1 (Naihe). Kamehameha 4 (Carter 3, Wood).

• Konawaena 62, Kalaheo 48: Jessica Hanato scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds and Nancy Hoist added 16 points and eight rebounds to lead the Wildcats (14-1) past the Mustangs (11-4) in a consolation bracket game.

Konawaena led 44-38 after three periods and outscored Kalaheo 18-10 in the final quarter.

Latoya Wily led the Mustangs with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Konawaena 16 16 12 18—62
Kalaheo 19 8 11 10—48

Konawaena—Kara Taniyama 3, Shawna-Marie Gomes 8, Jennifer Tayamen 0, Jessica Hanato 20, Nancy Hoist 16, Kristin Kitaoka 6, E. Palau Chung-Hoon 2, Noelani Yamamoto 0, Keala Kaupu 0, Tiare DeAguiar 7. Totals 22 15-25 62.

Kalaheo—Bre Carson 9, Shaina Siliga 3, Kandice Kinney 0, Kalena Hatori 3, Shantel Marumoto 2, Brandi Benson 10, Natasha Lagapa 3, Dawnelle Nahinu 3, Brina Fritzsche 4, Kaiena Huihui 0, Hauoli Kahlbaum 0, Latoya Wily 11, Elizabeth Lally 0, Wesley Whitman 0. Totals 16 12-23 48.

3-point goals—Konawaena 3 (Kitaoka 2, Hoist 1). Kalaheo 4 (Carson, Siliga, Lagapa, Nahinu).

• Baldwin 39, Moanalua 35: The Bears outscored the Menehune 13-3 in the second period and held off a fourth-quarter rally to win a consolation bracket game. Baldwin led 32-19 after three periods.

Kami Kapaku scored 17 points, including 11 in the first half, and freshman Jenna Mailou added eight rebounds to lead the Bears (14-2). Christina Sierra scored eight points and Patti Hardimon grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for Moanalua (11-6).

Baldwin 8 13 11 7—39
Moanalua 6 3 10 16—35

Baldwin—Kami Kapaku 17, Kapua Atay 0, Mahie Atay 6, Jenna Mailou 7, Isabeau Waiau 2, Crystal Manuel 7. 13 12-22 39.

Moanalua—Christina Sierra 8, Jessica Moran 0, Jessie Kamakura 0, Sasha Silva 6, Patti Hardimon 7, Marleen Leautu 0, Brittany Briem 6, Kepua Lee 8, Ronnie Keliihoomalu 0, Joy Matsukawa 0. Totals 10 9-18 35.

3-point goals—Baldwin 1 (Kapaku). Moanalua 6 (Sierra 2, Lee 2, Briem 2).

• Lahainaluna 50, Pearl City 31: The Lunas (12-4) outscored the Chargers 22-4 in the fourth period to win a consolation bracket game.

Missy Kaina, Sherlyn Yadao and Monika Vehikite each scored 11 points and Fatai Hala'apiapi scored 10 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for Lahainaluna.

Marci Lobendahn led Pearl City (10-5) with 10 points.

Pearl City 9 7 11 4—31
Lahainaluna 12 9 7 22—50

Pearl City—Darcie Hamamoto 0, Jillan Soria 0, Amy Fujihara 3, Joni Yoon 0, Christie Ayers 6, Chalice Kaapuni 2, Kellie Yuen 0, Jamie Iwata 0, Kristin Lai 1, Frances Mabalay 3, Tina Questel 2, Marci Lobendahn 10, Lusia Kleinschmidt 2, Kamile Riego de Dios 0, Kellie Nishikida 2. Totals 11 8-20 31.

Lahainaluna—Missy Kaina 11, Hannalore Cabrera 3, Sherlyn Yadao 11, Monika Vehikite 11, Fatai Hala'apiapi 10, Krystle Omlan 3, Kele Fushikoshi 0, Janet Bilog 1, Jessica Maielua 0, Bianca Schwarz 0, Monique Blando 0. Totals 15 17-32 50.

3-point goals—Pearl City 1 (Fujihara). Lahainaluna 3 (Cabrera, Yadao, Omlan).