Posted on: Thursday, May 12, 2005
Kalani advances to OIA D-II final
| • | Golf: Waiakea's Kim claims state golf |
| • | Girl's Basketball: Kaimuki rallies past Castle, 44-39 |
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
A lingering sickness wiped out Nicole Isemoto's voice, but did little to cool off the hot-shooting guard last night as the Kalani girls varsity basketball team defeated 'Aiea, 58-40, and advanced to tonight's O'ahu Interscholastic Association Division II championship.
Isemoto scored all of her game-high 15 points in the first half, overcoming a recent illness that swept through nearly the entire Falcons squad.
"One person gets sick and almost the whole team gets sick," a raspy-voiced Isemoto said. "But I feel fine."
The Falcons (15-2) will play Kaimuki (14-3) for the third time this season in tonight's championship at McKinley High School. The teams split the previous two games with Kaimuki defeating host Kalani, 52-36, on April 13, and the Falcons defeating the host Bulldogs, 55-43, on March 18.
Tonight's championship game will be televised live on OC-16 at 7.
"Kaimuki is going to give us all kinds of problems because of their size," Kalani coach Darold Imanaka said. "But if we play good defense and we shoot the ball like we did tonight, we'll be fine. But they scare me because they're so big."
Last night, it was the 5-foot-2 Isemoto and her height-challenged teammates who provided the early action. Kalani hit three consecutive 3-point attempts, including two by Isemoto, and led 13-5 in the first quarter.
"After I shot the first shot, I felt more confident," said Isemoto, a junior.
'Aiea closed to 15-14 on Shannon Naho'opi'i's putback at the first-quarter buzzer, and trailed 19-18 after Capri Holiona's basket in the second quarter.
However, Kalani closed out the quarter with a 16-3 run to seize a 35-21 halftime lead. Isemoto scored nine second-quarter points. She went 5 of 6 from the free-throw line.
"Nicole is probably one of the best pure shooters in the state," Imanaka said. "You leave her open, she'll hit it. She does it all day at practice."
Kalani increased its lead in the second half and led by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter. 'Aiea cut the deficit to 55-40, but that's as close as it would get.
Zori Drew led 'Aiea (10-7) with 10 points. Mana Camara added 11 points for Kalani.
Aiea coach Mike Yen said Kalani "started out strong" with its perimeter shooting and Na Ali'i were slow to close out on the shooters.
"We didn't get out as we were supposed to," Yen said. "I thought our team played pretty hard. We don't have the speed that Kalani does and they took advantage of us by not letting us take advantage of our big girls inside."
The Falcons lost their top player and point guard, Richline Batoon, with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee against 'Aiea on April 2. Last night, her teammates picked up the slack. Ten Kalani players scored at least one point.
'AIEA—Shareyn Muneoka 7, Jennifer Yuen 0, Jessica Tan 0, Chelsea Puma 0, Shannon Naho'opi'i 6, Michelle Shiroma 0, Zori Drew 10, Nohelani Fonoti 0, Kalei Castillo 9, Amanda Jungblut 0, Capri Holiona 8, Annie Orial 0. Totals 17 4-14 40.
KALANI—Chloe Martin 4, Brandi Yamauchi 1, Megan Kamehiro 4, Kim Cabuyadao 7, Mana Camara 11, Yasmina Taketa 2, Chelsea Kimura 3, Nicole Isemoto 15, Kacie Gushiken 9, Liandra Bonifacio 0, Kerri Chikamori 0, Chaude Bonifacio 0, Alisha Bonifacio 2. Totals 22 10-14 58. 3-point goals—'Aiea 2 (Castillo 2). Kalani 4 (Isemoto 2, Cabuyadao 1, Camara 1).
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
IOLANI 54, KAMEHAMEHA 40: Hennasea-Sue Tokumura scored 13 points and the Raiders defeated the Warriors at McCabe Gym in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu tournament for the league's second state berth. Ana Viena-Lota scored 16 points and Tatrianna Lorenzo 14 for Kamehameha.
KAMEHAMEHA—Miki Nakamura 3, Johanna Sai 0, Ana Viena-Lota 16, Tiana Abbley 0, Noe Ho'opi'i 0, Trixy Miller 0, Rhiana Farm 0, Tatrianna Lorenzo 14, Danna Friedman 0, Lilia Lee 5, Ipo Pharr 0, Rhoni Kaneaiakala 2. Totals 19 2-10 40.
IOLANI—Kaz Masutani 2, Chelsea Unemori 0, Hennasea-Sue Tokumura 13, Alana Matayoshi 8, Chanel Hirata 3, Marci Kang 4, Alana Wall 4, Jamie Smith 7, Meilin Akamu 3, Sarah Turgeon 0, Keilyn Fujioka 10. Totals 17 17-25 54. 3-point goals—Iolani 3 (Tokumura, Hirata, Akamu). Reported by Gail Juan
MARYKNOLL 43, MID-PACIFIC 41: Nicole Fu scored 14 points and Cheryl Lee sank a shot at the buzzer, lifting the Spartans over the Owls in overtime at McCabe Gym. Maryknoll's Tammie Andres hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to force the extra period.
MID-PACIFIC—Keri Nakamura 1, Sherice Ajifu 0, Ciera Aiwohi 0, Yuki Sei 0, Jasmine Vieira 13, Meghan Laughlin 9, Kristina Lin 11, Melanie Wu 2, Crisi Nihipali 5. Totals 14 12-20 41.
MARYKNOLL—Nicole Fu 14, Kristie Watanabe 0, Jessica Akamine 3, Tammie Andres 9, Bowha Kang 2, Cheryl Lee 8, Sela Fisilau 7. Totals 15 12-22 43. 3-point goals—Mid-Pacific 1 (Vieira). Maryknoll 1 (Andres).
Reported by Gail Juan
ILH Division I
