Moanalua remains unbeaten

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Moanalua's Ronni Keli'iho'omalu looks for an opening while being pressured by Kahuku's Aisha Ale during last night's O'ahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division game at Moanalua gym. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

The Menehunes, inspired by senior Amy Kotani's cameo appearance and 3-pointer to start the game, and fellow upperclassman Patti Hardimon's 16 points despite a sprained ankle, rallied past previously unbeaten Kahuku 49-44 last night to take control of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's Eastern Division race.

Moanalua (8-0) still has Kalaheo (5-2) and Kalani (1-7) left to play in its regular-season schedule, but even if the Menehunes lose one of those games, they would own the head-to-head (first) tiebreaker advantage against Kahuku (7-1) for the East's No. 1 seed in the league playoffs.

But even with a boisterous home crowd of about 1,200 last night, Moanalua did not earn this position easily against the talented Red Raiders. The Menehunes could only use Kotani, a starting guard, for about 35 seconds as she suffered a mild concussion in Wednesday's victory over Castle and was under doctor's orders to not play a full game.

"We put her in only until the first dead ball," Moanalua coach Roy Dias said. "It was killing Amy to have to sit, and we didn't want to waste her while she was in there, so we told her to shoot."

Kotani swished a 3-pointer on the Menehunes' first possession, then was substituted during Kahuku's first trip down the floor.

From there, it took nine points from Hardimon and an 8-0 run to end the half for Moanalua to take a 23-21 lead into the locker room.

Hardimon sprained her left ankle in the first period against Castle and went through only light drills during yesterday's practice.

"It's still a little sore, but it was OK," Hardimon said after last night's game. "We knew we had to come back (after the Red Raiders took a 19-14 lead), because Kahuku wasn't going to give in, and if they made the lead bigger it would have been harder to come back."

The Red Raiders made another run, behind Aisha Ale's five points, to take a 34-31 advantage into the fourth period. But the Menehunes' Christina Sierra drained a 3-pointer to start the quarter, and Moanalua went on an 8-2 run to lead 42-36 with 4:17 remaining.

Karla Tailele then made a steal and layup to cut it to 42-38, but that was as close as Kahuku would get as sophomore Ronni Keli'iho'omalu scored four points down the stretch for the Menehunes.

"They controlled the tempo in the fourth quarter and we were out of sync," Red Raiders coach Wendy Anae said. "They're a good team."

Kahuku (7-1) 11 10 13 10 — 44
Moanalua (8-0) 11 12 8 18 — 49

KAHUKU—Camilla Ah Hoy 5, Chazel Fiso 0, Monarisa Ale 10, Lesina Funaki 0, Artevia Wily 4, Anny Soliai 0, Karla Tailele 4, Aisha Ale 11, Melissa Aumua 0, Terina Oto 0, Musie Olevao 0, Latoya Wily 10. Totals 20 3-10 44.

MOANALUA—Christina Sierra 6, Amy Kotani 3, Sherri Reyes 0, Ronni Keli'iho'omalu 9, Sasha Silva 3, Patti Hardimon 16, Joy Matsukawa 3, Kepua Lee 9, Marleen Leautu 0. Totals 13 19-34 49.

3-point goals—Kahuku 1 (Ah Hoy). Moanalua 4 (Sierra, Kotani, Hardimon, Matsukawa).

JV—Kahuku 51, Moanalua 46

MCKINLEY 37, FARRINGTON 34: Amber Lee sank two free throws with 12 seconds remaining to give the Tigers the cushion they needed to hold off the Governors.

Farrington took a last second 3-pointer that missed and was grabbed by McKinley.

Lee finished with 16 points, and Farrington's Laosamoa Misa-Uli scored a game-high 19 points.

McKinley (6-2) 7 16 9 5—37
Farrington (5-3) 5 14 11 4—34

MCKINLEY—Chantel Yadao 2, Rayna Isaki 6, Meagan Miyasaka 1, Melody Ababa 0, Bre Carson 10, Ceslie Maafala 0, Amber Lee 16, Tania Liufau 2, Janin Corpuz 0, Noelani Correia 0. Totals 12 9-15 37.

FARRINGTON—Revelyn Cabaya 0, Elaine Bihag 2, Joanne Fernandez 0, Sandy Tauta 0, Paepaetele Poasa 7, Tanya Alualu 0, Meleane Mateaki 6, Laosamoa Misa-Uli 19. Totals 12 9-17 34.

3-point goals—McKinley 4 (Isaki 2, Carson 2). Farrington 1 (Mateaki).

JV—Farrington 47, McKinley 36

KAILUA 44, ROOSEVELT 40: Tiatti Satele scored a game-high 13 points to lead the Surfriders, who held off the Rough Riders for on OIA East victory.

Justina Yanuaria scored 11 for Roosevelt.

Roosevelt (2-7) 10 7 10 13—40
Kailua (2-7) 12 11 12 9—44

ROOSEVELT—Justina Yanuaria 11, Chelsie Kadota 7, Capi Uyechi 0, Larisa Nakasone 7, Dana Kiyuna 2, Natalie Iwasaki 0, Erin Tagomori 0, Nicole Okada 5, Tasha Aloisio 0, Monile Bell 0, Nicole Yoshimoto 8, Lahilahi Simeona 0. Totals 16 4-9 40.

KAILUA—Kori Maekawa 2, Kalina Kama 0, Tiffany Lee 7, Danielle Young 2, Jaushlyn Mansinon 9, Loke Lastimosa 9, Kamaile Hughes 2, Tiatti Satele 13, Pohai Hovey 0. Totals 17 8-14 44.

3-point goals—Roosevelt 4 (Yanuaria 2, Kadota 1, Nakasone 1). Kailua 2 (Mansinon, Lee).

JV—Roosevelt 51, Kailua 15

Correction: Pearl City's Amy Fujihara sank three 3-pointers Thursday in a 60-52 win over Mililani. Her baskets were credited to another player.

Also, Pearl City's Kamill Riego deDios had her name misspelled.