The Rough Riders defeated St. Andrew's, 67-44, to capture the inaugural HHSAA/Hawaiian Airlines Girls State Basketball Division II Championships at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"It feels good, it's exciting," said sophomore forward Tati Beasley, who scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. "No disappointment."

A month ago Roosevelt (11-5), the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Division II champion, was disappointed to be placed in Division II because of its 3-7 record from 2003.

But, as coach Bobby Keanini said, the players were sold on the fact that this was their last game, and they played hard.

Roosevelt, which was down 9-4 early in the first quarter, went on a 17-0 run to end the quarter, led by junior guard Chelsie Kadota, who scored 12 points, all on 3-pointers.

"That was a game-changer right there," Kadota, who finished with a team-high 14 points, said of the Rough Riders' run.

The Rough Riders then scored 12 straight points to start the second quarter for a 33-9 lead. They ended up outscoring the Pride 17-6 in the second period, taking a 38-15 lead at halftime.

"I think our key was to hit some shots because they were playing the zone," Kadota said.

But in the second half, St. Andrew's (11-7) of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, came out shooting, and outscored Roosevelt 17-15 in the final quarter, aided by a 14-2 run, closing to 58-41 with just over 4 minutes remaining.

"I think that part of the game was uplifting," said St. Andrew's junior guard Holly Saito, who finished with 12 points. "We decided we came all this way, we'd better compete."

But the 17-point deficit was the closest the Pride would get to cutting into the Rough Rider's lead.

"I guess the first half we were depressed because they were making their outside shots and scoring on the fast breaks," said Priory junior guard Caasi Nakasone, who scored a team-high 15 points. "But we had that run and it made us feel like if we stepped up in the first half it would have been a closer game."

St. Andrew's coach Ross Kinsler said he thought the Division II tournament was "overall competitive."

"Look at the (Division I) finals, Kahuku is there," said Kinsler, because Roosevelt was the only team in the regular season to defeat Kahuku. "They probably shot the same way; they shot lights out tonight."

Beasley said winning the Division II championship was "not exactly" as satisfying as beating Kahuku.

"(Last night) was a fun game, but it is a different feeling."

Like Beasley, Kadota said she was over the disappointment of being in the Division II tournament.

"Yeah, for now," she said.