Pratt rallies Kaiser past McKinley, 41-39
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The youthful Kaiser High School girls basketball team is not waiting to make its move this season.
The Cougars, who started last season 1-4 before making a late run and advancing to the O'ahu Interscholastic Association quarterfinals, improved to 7-1 last night by rallying past perennial power McKinley, 41-39.
Kaiser's home victory helped keep it atop the OIA Eastern Division standings with Kahuku (6-0), although the Red Raiders own the head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating the Cougars, 56-49, on March 26.
"Our goal is to be East champs," said Kaiser sophomore Sharde Pratt, who led all scorers with 21 points last night.
That may seem like a lofty goal for a team with only one senior, but the Cougars showed last night it is a realistic target. McKinley (4-3) built a 36-30 lead early in the fourth period, only to see Kaiser claw back and tie the score at 38-38 on Pratt's layup with 2:12 remaining.
Pratt put the Cougars up, 40-38, on two free throws 20 seconds later, and Chelsea Kapuniai's free throw made it 41-38 with 1:12 left.
Bre Carson closed it to 41-39 on a free throw with 8.6 ticks remaining, and the Tigers grabbed the rebound on her missed second attempt. But Pratt blocked a shot just inside the free throw line and the ball skirted out of bounds as time expired.
Pratt had two other blocks in the final 2 1/2 minutes after picking up her fourth foul.
"I had to try (for the blocks)," said Pratt, a 5-foot-8 forward. "I had no other choice."
Now, opponents have no other choice but to take Kaiser seriously as a title contender.
"That extra year of experience has done wonders for them," McKinley coach Jesse Victorino said.
MCKINLEY (4-3) 15 8 9 7 — 39
KAISER (7-1) 11 12 4 14 — 41
MCKINLEY — Bre Carson 7, Meagan Miyasaka 9, Chantal Yadao 8, Chelsie Sato 4, Melody Ababa 11, Noe Correira 0, Linda Fowler 0. Totals 10 13-27 39.
KAISER — Shera Yamamoto 5, Jaime Nerona 0, Chelsea Kapuniai 1, Sharde Pratt 21, Tasha Aloisio 4, Kehau Bangay 3, Kilioe Ali'ifua 7. Totals 13 14-24 41.
3-point goals — McKinley 6 (Ababa 3, Yadao 2, Carson).
JV — Kaiser 39, McKinley 23.
KALAHEO 31, FARRINGTON 29: Randi Farstad made two free throws with 4.9 seconds left and the Mustangs intercepted the ensuing inbounds pass to beat the host Governors, who led 18-9 at halftime.
Kalaheo (6-2) 3 6 10 12—31
Farrington (4-4) 9 9 7 4—29
KALAHEO—Hoku Kaiu-Denning 2, Shaina Siliga 4, Randi Farstad 4, Wesley Whitman 0, Shantel Marumoto 0, Kaila Samson 0, Shanadee Canon 11, Kaliko Kepa 6, Kamala Kau 4. Totals 9 13-18 31.
Farrington—Kirstyn Va'a 2, Sunshine Misa-Uli 12, Sandy Tauta 2, Hope Tomele 0, Joanna Montero 8, Shirlyn Tamboa 2, Rachael Ancheta 0, Audrina Esera 0, Tanya Sale 3, Laticia Ioane 0. Totals 13 1-4 29.
3-point goals—Farrington 2 (Montero 2).
JV—Kalaheo 50, Farrington 48
Reported by Elaine Bihag
ROOSEVELT 54, CASTLE 37: Tati Beasley scored 15 points and Nicole Yoshimoto added 14 to lift the visiting Rough Riders past the Knights.
Roosevelt (6-2) 14 12 18 10—54
Castle (3-5) 6 10 10 11—37
Roosevelt—Tati Beasley 15, Chelsie Kadota 2, Dasha Kawakami 0, Larisa Nakasone 6, Maya Frank 4, Capi Uyechi 2, Nicole Yoshimoto 14, Shannon Miyashiro 4, Dara Kiyuna 0, Nicole Okada 7, Chelsea Uchihara 0, Puuwai Crawford-Kapanui 0. Totals 18 13-24 54.
CASTLE—Shardae Ingano 2, Kellsie Sasaki 5, Annie Garrett 0, Betty Argue 0, Uilani Kekauoha 4, Audrey Ako 0, Stacy Tilton 2, Tiare Kahoekapu 10, Puna Waiolama 7, Sarah Kodama 2, Shanyn Fafard-Kaaihue 0, Titi Kawainui 0, Rachel Walker 2, Kalei Akaka 3. Totals 15 6-13 37.
3-point goals—Roosevelt 5 (Nakasone 2, Yoshimoto 2, Beasley). Castle 1 (Sasaki).
JV—Roosevelt def. Castle (score n/a)
Reported by Jeff McKeown
OIA WEST
RADFORD 35, WAIPAHU 26: Joanne Czumalowski scored eight of her 16 points in the fourth quarter as Radford remained undefeated in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Western Division.
Waipahu (2-5) 4 5 9 8—26
Radford (7-0) 0 13 6 16—35
WAIPAHU—Malia Spencer 3, Joanne Manuel 0, Tiffany Caliboso 0, Laura Florendo 0, Ashley Mendoza 0, Maryann Baxa 7, Nicole Enos 12, Renee Busch 0, Juliana Sooalo 4, Elsha Tivera 0. Totals 10 5-13 26.
RADFORD—Joanne Czumalowski 16, Sonya Legaspi 0, Nicole Grebe 0, Jenna Johnson-Endo 0, Ashley Rioux 4, Shanice Young 4, Leslie Lazo 0, Tereva Moore 7, Lia Mickey 4, Michelle Winebush 0, Filimaua Manuma 0, Punipuao Kakiva 0. Totals 11 12-30 35.
3-point goals—Waipahu 1 (Enos). Radford 1 (Czumalowski).
JV—Radford 38, Waipahu 16
Reported by Nadine Villarmia
MILILANI 47, KAPOLEI 36: Christina Korodan scored a game-high 20 points, Erica James added 12 points, and Ceslie Maafala pulled down 17 rebounds leading the Trojans over the Hurricanes in an OIA Western Division game.
Kapolei (5-2) 9 11 6 10—36
Mililani (5-3) 12 12 7 16—47
KAPOLEI—Tasha Faunuina 4, Tanya Menino 2, Kamaile Kelekolio 0, Nicole Tamapua 0, Shauntay Leutu 8, Kayla Kam 9, Gabrielle Tabios 2, Jerrell Taituave 7, Pamela Mellinger 0, Leafa Vagatai 4. Totals 14 7-17 36.
Mililani—Christina Korodan 20, Allyson Ochoa 0, Ulu Ah Sam 0, Melissa Lehano 0, Lori Nonis 2, Kuulei Agbayani 2, Erica James 12, Ceslie Ma'afala 6, Chelcey Pang 0, Yvonne Morris 2, Suzy Jackson 3. Totals 19 9-17 47.
3-point goals—Kapolei 1 (Kam).
JV— Kapolei 38, Mililani 37
Reported by Amanda Welch
'AIEA 41, WAI'ANAE 29: Nicole Takemoto scored 16 points and Jamie Rosario added 10 to lead Na Ali'i over the Seariders for their first OIA Western Division victory.
'Aiea (1-6) 9 8 9 15—41
Wai'anae (1-6) 7 6 8 8—29
'AIEA—Kim Elia 0, Shareyn Muneoka 5, Donna Echalas 3, Shannon Nahoopii 0, Tiffany Pearson 0, Sherylann Miyashiro 0, Nicole Takemoto 16, Michelle Shiroma 0, Cheri Gauer 0, Felisha Liilii 0, Zori Drew 2, Kalei Castillo 5, Jamie Rosario 10. Totals 11 19-31 41.
WAI'ANAE— Leilani Faavesi 2, Daina Correa 10, Chelsie Park 4, Naomi Lino 0, Wendy Peltier 0, Tashawn Mahoe 3, Tihare DeMello 4, Audrey Hauge 3, Tiare Kealoha-Holbron 3. Totals 11 3-16 29.
3-point goals—Wai'anae 4 (Correa 2, Hauge 1, Kealoha-Hobron 1).
JV—Wai'anae 69, 'Aiea 49
Reported by Kevin Nakamoto
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
