Posted on: Thursday, May 12, 2005
Kaimuki rallies past Castle, 44-39
| • | Golf: Waiakea's Kim claims state golf |
| • | Girl's Basketball: Kalani advances to OIA D-II final |
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Mindy Hirokawa's extra shooting practice paid off in Kaimuki's 44-39 victory over Castle in the semifinals of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Division II tournament last night.
Hirokawa, a 5-foot-2 sophomore guard, scored 12 of her game-high 13 points in the second half and drained a 15-foot baseline jumper that put the Bulldogs ahead 41-39 with 43 seconds remaining.
"This girl stays back and shoots every single day after practice," Kaimuki coach Mona Fa'asoa said. "During halftime, I told her, 'What's the sense of staying if you're not going to shoot in the game. If you're open, you need to shoot.' She started shooting in the second half."
The Knights had three opportunities to tie the score in the final seconds, but they missed two tightly contested shots and committed a turnover.
Kaimuki (14-3) plays OIA Division II regular-season champion Kalani (15-2) in tonight's championship at McKinley at 7.
"It feels good that our team won this game," said Hirokawa, who spends an extra 30 minutes after every practice to work on her shooting. "We all worked hard and we did it. We wanted it more."
Kaimuki trailed 29-19 in the third quarter, but rallied to tie the score at 37 on a three-point play by Ashley Moi with 3:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.
"We always kind of have a slow second half every game," Fa'asoa said. "So we had to pick it up. We had to put a little more pressure on the ball."
After a pair of free throws by Kaimuki's Keri Nakahashi, Castle tied the score at 39 on Titi Kawainui's basket to set the stage for Hirokawa's go-ahead basket.
'Aiea coach Jeff McKeown said his team focused its defense on Flora Mesa and twins Ashley and Paige Moi and that left Hirokawa open.
"We're looking at Mesa and the two twins as the players we want to stop," McKeown said. "We left (Hirokawa) to help, and she stepped up and hit the shot. You've got to give her credit for that."
Kaimuki added a free throw by Chasity Laulusa and a basket by Hirokawa for the final margin.
Kawainui scored a team-high 11 points for Castle (12-5). Ashley Moi scored 10 points and Paige Moi 8 for Kaimuki.
CASTLE—Krissa Kinney 0, Candyce Ames 4, Niki Kobashigawa 0, Kellsie Sasaki 10, Sarah Phromisiri 2, Raquel Hoe-Pedro 0, Uilani Kekauoha 2, Audrey Ako 2, Tracie Kam 1, Ette Amerperosa 1, Leighla Kalahiki 0, Sao Lefotu 0, Shanyn Fafard-Kaaihue 6, Titi Kawainui 11, Kawena Kawainui 0. Totals 12 12-26 39.
KAIMUKI—Flora Mesa 8, Mindy Hirokawa 13, Keri Kaneshiro 0, Keri Nakahashi 4, Nicole Sasaki 0, Kanoe Nicola 0, Chelsea Gornichec 0, Rachelle Butler 0, Ashley Moi 10, Paige Moi 8, Chasity Laulusa 1, Ayesha Shepard 0. Totals 15 11-25 44. 3-point goals—Castle 3 (Sasaki 2, T. Kawainui 1). Kaimuki 3 (Hirokawa 2, Mesa 1). Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.
