Punahou girls rally past Kamehameha for ILH title
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
 |
| Punahou's Christine Takara, left, and Kamehameha's Megan Ching scramble for a loose ball during the fourth quarter of their game at Punahou's Hemmeter Field House.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser |
The victory clinched the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship for the Buffanblu, who finished the regular season with a 14-0 record and earned a first-round bye in next month's state tournament. Kamehameha (12-2) also has secured a state tournament berth, but will need to win four straight games there to retain its title.
But the Warriors, who lost to Punahou, 47-37, three weeks ago, showed they are very much a threat to repeat after building a 36-29 lead after three periods last night. Only a 19-10 surge by the Buffanblu in the final period prevented a third meeting — a playoff for the overall title — between the powerhouses.
The two teams met six times last year, including two preseason games and the state final.
"They were much more aggressive this time," said Punahou senior guard Rachel Kane, who finished with a team-high 13 points, seven rebounds and three steals. "Last time they were a little tentative, but this time they knew what they had to do."
That meant starting strong and not allowing the Buffanblu to milk the clock with a big fourth-quarter lead, which happened last time.
Last night, Kamehameha displayed a much more organized offense and controlled the boards en route to a 22-20 halftime lead. In the third period, the Warriors got a spark from freshman reserve guard Tatriana Lorenzo.
She made a steal and hit a running bank shot to put Kamehameha up 32-26 with 1:30 remaining in the quarter, then made another steal and layup at the buzzer to give the Warriors their seven-point advantage.
Lorenzo finished with a team-high 13 points, including nine in the second half.
"She is so explosive," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "She just jumps into the passing lanes and makes things happen with her quickness. And she's just a freshman, so it's a sign of things to come."
In the final period, however, the Buffanblu stepped up their defense and got clutch baskets from the usual sources — senior captains Kane, Umeda and center Becky Hogue. The trio combined for 14 points in the quarter, including seven by Umeda.
Her 3-point basket with 4:35 left cut Kamehameha's lead to 41-40, and Kane's free throw a minute later tied the score at 43-43. Kane sank two more free throws with 2:46 remaining to put Punahou up 45-43, and sophomore Shanna-Lei Dacanay's free throw with 32 seconds left made it 46-43.
The Warriors turned the ball over on the ensuing possession, and Kane sealed it with two free throws with 24 ticks remaining.
Lorenzo sank a 3-pointer as time expired for the final margin.
"We were just too impatient and made some crucial turnovers in the fourth quarter," Kamehameha coach Clay Cockett said. "We weren't patient enough to run the offense that got us there."
As in the first meeting, the Warriors were without guard India Soo, who was ill.
KAMEHAMEHA (12-2) 10 12 14 10 — 46
PUNAHOU (14-0) 12 8 9 19 — 48
KAMEHAMEHA—Jeneka Taeoalii 9, Tiffiny Shim 0, Adrianne Hee 0, Wendy Kashiwabara 2, Tatriana Lorenzo 13, Lehua Wood 2, Mounia Nihipali 8, Megan Kanoa 4, Megan Ching 8. Totals 22 1-4 46.
PUNAHOU—Rachel Kane 13, Elyse Umeda 10, Shanna-Lei Dacanay 5, Eryn Chun 0, Makena Hunt 2, Anuhea Macfarlane 0, Kelly Karns 2, Christine Takara 4, Becky Hogue 12. Totals 16 13-17 48.
3-point goals—Kamehameha 1 (Lorenzo). Punahou 3 (Kane 2, Umeda).
ILH Varsity Division II
Word of Life 66, Redemption Academy/Christian Academy 27. WOL: C. Onosai 24. RACA: Ashley Miller 8.
Hawai'i Baptist 57, St. Andrew's 50. HBA: Jodi Kamemoto 15. St.A: Holly Saito 23.
Kamehameha 48, Punahou 29. K: Aubrey Kiemnec 14. Pun: Shauna Imanaka 11.
OIA WEST
PEARL CITY 41, WAIPAHU 32: Marci Lobendahn scored eight of her 12 points in the second quarter as the undefeated Chargers defeated the Marauders and won the OIA Western Division.
Waipahu (3-7) 10 7 6 9—32
Pearl City (10-0) 10 13 4 14—41
WAIPAHU—Crystal Baliguat 2, Joanne Manuel 0, Laura Florendo 9, Nicole Keaunui 0, MaryAnn Baxa 1, Adrianne Olione 6, Tanya Lauifi 2, Talapasia Samuela 0, Miracle Failauga 0, Maureen Cozo 12. Totals 10 11-20 32.
PEARL CITY—Darcie Hamamoto 0, Jillan Soria 5, Amy Fujihara 3, Kellie Nishikida 4, Christie Ayers 7, Chalice Kaapuni 2, Kamill Reigo DeDios 5, Tina Questel 1, Marci Lobendahn 12, Lusia Kleinschmidt 1, Jamie Iwata 1. Totals 11 18-37 41.
3-point goals—Waipahu 1 (Florendo). Pearl City 1 (Regio DeDios).
JV—Waipahu 32, Pearl City 29
'AIEA 23, RADFORD 22: Jamie Rosario made a jump shot with 1.7 seconds remaining to give Na Ali'i the win and a tie with the Rams and Campbell for second place in the Western Division.
All three teams are 8-2.
Jenna Johnson-Endo hit a 3-pointer with 8.4 seconds remaining to put Radford up, 22-21.
'Aiea (8-2) 4 8 5 6—23
Radford (8-2) 6 5 2 9—22
'AIEA—Shareyn Muneoka 0, Donna Echalas 3, Sherylann Miyashiro 0, Nicky Takemoto 4, Noe Colburn 1, Melika Souza 0, Pukai Castillo 1, Felisha Liilii 0, Jamie Rosario 12, Ashley Vidal 0, Kalei Castillo 2. Totals 9 5-11 23.
RADFORD—Joanne Czumalowski 3, Adrianne Dudley 0, Chantel Romano 4, Marina Watts 0, Kathleen Suwa 0, Lia Mickey 1, Michelle Winebush 0, Nakita Viavia 2, Talaya Jones 2, Jenna Johnson-Endo 10. Totals 8 4-8 22.
3-point goals—'Aiea none. Radford 2 (Johnson-Endo 2).
JV—Radford 47, 'Aiea 22
CAMPBELL 50, MILILANI 40: Jacqueline Mendes scored seven of her 13 points in the second half and Jamie Kua added 12 as the Sabers defeated the Trojans.
Mililani (5-5) 11 10 12 7—40
Campbell (8-2) 14 13 11 12—50
MILILANI—Christina Korodan 6, Ashleigh Payne 2, Sandy Nakamura 3, Erin Chapman 3, Lorianne Nonies 6, Rebekah McKoy 0, Yvonne Morris 10, Suzann Jackson 6, Christy Duvauchelle 4. Totals 17 5-16 40.
CAMPBELL—Joanne Corpuz 0, Jasmine Lopez 0, Everly San Agustin 0, Jalen Garcia 9, Raynette Whitfield 4, Jamie Kua 12, Jacqueline Mendes 13, Rae-Jonea Costa 0, Chaunte Jackson 8, Teja Bakes 4. Totals 16 17-25 50.
3-point goals—Mililani 1 (Nakamura). Campbell 1 (Jackson).
JV—Mililani 37, Campbell 28
LEILEHUA 52, WAI'ANAE 11: Alexis San Nicholas scored 11 and Pikake Nutter-Gaudet 10 as the Mules routed the Seariders.
The Mules held the Seariders to three field goals.
Wai'anae (1-9) 2 5 1 3—11
Leilehua (4-6) 14 16 10 12—52
WAI'ANAE—Kisha Hampton 1, Daina Correa 3, Wendy Patier 1, Yvonne Eli 4, Audrey Hauge 2, Naomi Lino 0, Jasemine Pasion 0, Monet Sadural 0. Totals 3 5-7 11.
LEILEHUA—Melody Bell 0, Laree Rodriguez 3, Chazarae Ramirez 6, Tiana Caravallo 1, Jessica Battease 5, Alexis San Nicolas 11, Pikake Nutter-Gaudet 10, Heidi Hamilton 9, Priscilla West 7. Totals 19 10-18 52.
3-point goals—Wai'anae none. Leilehua 4 (Ramirez 2, Rodriguez, Battease 1).
JV—Leilehua 44, Wai'anae 23
KAPOLEI 51, NANAKULI 46: The Hurricanes defeated the Golden Hawks at Nanakuli. No other details were reported.
Kapolei is 4-6, Nanakuli 3-7.
OIA EAST
KAHUKU 49, KAIMUKI 33: The Red Raiders won with defense by recording six blocks, while holding the Bulldogs' Dalia Solia to five points in the second half.
Solia finished with 16 points.
Kaimuki (4-5) 9 9 9 6—33
Kahuku (8-1) 7 13 16 13—49
KAIMUK?—Flora Mesa 1, Sashi Capps-Doll 3, Katherine Martin 3, Dalia Solia 16, Diana Malavong 1, Tyleen Tausaga 1, Amanda Leopoldo 2, Alana Burgess 2, Man Ying Ching 4. Totals 9 12-22 33.
KAHUKU—Camilla Ah Hoy 4, Monarisa Ale 9, Lesina Funaki 2, Artevia Wily 2, Anny Soliai 4, Karla Tailele 7, Aisha Ale 9, Melissa Aumua 2, Latoya Wily 10. Totals 21 6-14 49.
3-point goals—Kaimuki 3 (Capps-Doll, Martin, Solia). Kahuku 1 (Tailele).
JV—Kahuku 49, Kaimuki 35
FARRINGTON 56, KALAHEO 52: Laosamoa Misa-Uli scored eight of her game-high of 16 points in the Governors' victory.
Farrington (6-3) 15 15 13 13—56
Kalaheo (6-3) 12 14 13 13—52
FARRINGTON—Revelyn Cabaya 14, Elaine Bihag 0, Joanne Fernandez 0, Sandy Tauta 14, Racquel Rivera 0, Paepaetele Poasa 3, Tanya Alualu 0, Meleane Mateaki 9, Laosamoa Misa-Uli 16. Totals 19 15-23 56.
KALAHEO—Shalei Soveira 0, Shaina Siliga 14, Jade Simmons 0, Shantel Marumoto 4, Brandi Benson 9, Malia Samson 2, Stephine Hobbs 0, Taylor Smith 12, Kaiena Huihui 4, Kaliko Kepa 7, Kamala Kau 0. Totals 18 14-20 52.
3-point goals—Farrington 3 (Cabaya 2, Mateaki 1). Kalaheo 2 (Siliga 2).
JV—Farrington 73, Kalaheo 70
MIL BASEBALL
Maui wins: Maui High scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to defeat Baldwin, 4-2, yesterday and take sole possession of first place in Maui Interscholastic League baseball.
Maui is 13-0, Baldwin is 12-1. The two teams meet again at 7:30 tonight at Iron Maehara Stadium in Wailuku. The Sabers can wrap up the regular season title with a victory, while a Baldwin victory would force a playoff game on Monday.
Yesterday, Maui pitcher Vance Otake pitched a complete game, allowing four hits, striking out 11 and walking three.
Maui High (13-0) 010 000 3—4 2 3
Baldwin (12-1) 000 002 0—2 4 2
Vance Otake and Gavin Takakura. Jonathan Honda, Chevis Shima (6), Mead Tabata (7) and Tabata, Gered Mochizuki (7). W—Otake. L—Shima.
Leading hitters: Maui—Joseph Kala double. Baldwin—Guy Nishiyaba 2-2.
