Moanalua captures OIA, 49-31
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Moanalua High School girls basketball team used a near-perfect start last night to jump out on Farrington, and then motored on to a 49-31 victory for its first O'ahu Interscholastic Association championship since 1993.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
The Menehunes (13-0) are expected to be the No. 2 seed at next week's state tournament at the University of Hawai'i's Stan Sheriff Center.
Moanalua's Patti Hardimon was fouled while going up for a layup by Farrington's Sunshine Misa-Uli in the first period of the OIA championship game last night.
Last night at the same arena, Moanalua looked right at home from the very beginning. The quick and nimble Menehunes forced the Governors (10-4) into eight turnovers and a blocked shot in their first 10 possessions while grabbing a 9-2 lead in the first four minutes. Guards Patti Hardimon and Kepua Lee combined for five of those steals, and Lee scored eight points in the period as the Menehunes led 13-6 going into the second quarter.
"I was actually scared — nervous, jitters, everything," said Lee, who finished with a game-high 16 points. "But we wanted it and were ready for it today."
Making matters worse for Farrington, leading scorer Sunshine Misa-Uli picked up her second foul with 5:27 remaining in the first period, and sat out the rest of the half.
"That was big, because she's like half their points right there," Lee said. "She's a wonderful player, and I think it would have been a lot tougher for us if she was in there."
Moanalua maintained its seven-point lead until halftime, leading 17-10.
Governors coach Jenic Tumaneng said he did not want to risk Misa-Uli picking up her third foul unless they fell behind by more than 10 points in the first half.
"We were looking at the points, and we felt if it wasn't over 10 we'd be fine," Tumaneng said. "You can say the first few minutes were a nightmare, but being down only seven at the half wasn't bad. We just couldn't get it started again in the second half."
Mele Mateaki hit a 3-pointer to start the third quarter to cut the lead to 17-13, but Amy Kotani answered with a 3 to push it back to 20-13, and that was as close as Farrington would get the rest of the game. The Menehunes led 31-20 heading into the fourth period, and pushed the lead to 44-24 with about four minutes left.
Hardimon finished with 14 points, five rebounds and five steals, and Lee added four steals. Misa-Uli did not score until early in the third quarter, and finished with eight points.
Farrington (10-4) 6 4 10 11—31
Moanalua (13-0) 13 4 14 18—49
MOANALUA—Patti Hardimon 14, Kepua Lee 16, Amy Kotani 7, Marleen Leautu 3, Sasha Silva 2, Ronni Keli'iho'omalu 2, Joy Matsukawa 0, Sherri Reyes 0, Mahina Hayashi 2, Jade Miller 3, Talia Bertulfo 0. Totals 18 12-26 49.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
FARRINGTON—Sunshine Misa-Uli 8, Tanya Alualu 8, Pae Poasa 5, Revelyn Cabaya 6, Mele Mateaki 3, Ellaine Bihag 1, Sandy Tauta 0, Talia Tapua 0, Hanau Kaiura 0, Raquel Rivera 0, Joanne Fernandez 0, Gretchen Santos 0, Marrissa Keahohou 0, Audrina Esera 0. Totals 12 6-8 31.
Moanalua's Kepua Lee soars past Farrington's Hope Pomele for a layup. Moanalua won the OIA title with a 49-31 victory.
3-point goals—Farrington 1 (Mateaki). Moanalua 1 (Kotani).
THIRD PLACE
• KAHUKU 61, MCKINLEY 54: Latoya Wily and Mona Ale combined for 16 points in the first half as the Red Raiders built a 10-point lead and then stretched it to 40-23 heading into the final period.
Wily finished with 16 points and Ale added 14 points for Kahuku (11-2). Chantel Yadao led the Tigers (9-5) with 21 points, including three 3-pointers, and Bre Carson added 13 points. McKinley's All-State center, Amber Lee, was held to two points.
KAHUKU (11-2) 4 18 18 21 — 61
MCKINLEY (9-5) 7 5 11 31 — 54
KAHUKU — Camilla Ah Hoy 6, Mona Ale 14, Lesina Funaki 0, Artevia Wily 4, Anny Soliai 0, Karla Tailele 6, Aisha Ale 8, Terina Oto 2, Latoya Wily 16, Tuli Peters 5. Totals 19 21-34 61.
MCKINLEY — Chantel Yadao 21, Rayna Isaki 3, Meagan Miyasaka 0, Melody Ababa 5, Bre Carson 13, Sharlee Kitaoka 0, Ceslie Maafala 6, Amber Lee 2, Tania Liufau 0, Kauai Quartero 2, Kelli Fukumoto 1, Janin Corpuz 0, Kimberly Elia 1, Maria Lievan 0. Totals 12 24-33 54.
3-point goals — Kahuku 2 (Ah Hoy, Ale), McKinley (Yadao 3, Carson 2, Ababa).
BIG ISLAND
• Konawaena champs: Nancy Hoist scored nine of her game-high 15 points in the first half to lead Konawaena to a 54-28 victory over Kealakehe for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation girls basketball tournament championship last night.
The Wildcats (12-0) were also the BIIF regular season champs, and will be the Big Island's top seed in next week's state tournament on O'ahu. Kealakehe (9-3) also earned a berth.
Kealakehe (9-3) 8 13 4 3—28
Konawaena (12-0) 19 10 13 12—54
Kealakehe—Leila Kang 2, Jennifer Ching 0, Hina Kimitete 5, Ashlee Moncier 2, Nalani Hee 0, Kahaunani Kahananui 6, Sandra Cariaga 6, Liko DeSilva 5, Kalama Shim 2, Rachel Moi 0. Total 10 7-19 28.
Konawaena—Kristen Kitaoka 2, Tiane Estoy 2, Lauren Gomes 0, Shawna Gomes 7, Elizabeth Chung-Hoon Palau 5, Jennifer Tayamen 7, Jessica Hanato 10, Keala Kaupu 2, Tiare Deaguiar 4, Nancy Hoist 15, Lisa Deniz 0. Totals 21 10-14 54.
3-point goals—Kealakehe 1 (DeSilva). Konawaena 2 (Hoist, Deaguiar).
