The Kalani girls basketball team is no longer the league's best kept secret.

The Falcons won their second consecutive O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference title, fending off 'Aiea, 49-41, last night before a raucous crowd at McKinley's Student Council Gym.

"This is big," Kalani coach Darold Imanaka said. "More importantly, this year, we didn't sneak up on anyone. They knew we were good, and everyone came after us. For the kids to persevere, it's amazing."

Chloe Martin hit four 3-pointers and scored a team-high 14 points, and Kacie Gushiken added 10 points for the East Division champion Falcons (12-1) who will receive a first-round bye in next week's DII state tournament.

West champion 'Aiea (8-5) also advanced to the state tournament.

"Everyone is happy, everyone on our team gave 110 percent," Martin said. "It's a credit to our coach for that. He keeps us going."

The Falcons trailed early in the first quarter, but rallied to take a 19-17 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, with Kalani leading 23-20, Martin ignited a 13-3 run by hitting two consecutive 3-pointers. After a putback by 'Aiea's Capri Holiona, Martin hit another 3-pointer.

"I was surprised," said Martin, who practices shooting every day. "I practiced in the beginning to get that perfect. It paid off in the game."

Holiona added one free throw, but Gushiken followed with a basket and teammate Megan Kamehiro capped the surge with a pair of free throws for a 36-23 Kalani lead.

In the fourth quarter, Na Ali'i rallied behind Tasha Helsham, who scored three consecutive baskets to cut the deficit to 43-39 with 1:35 remaining. Helsham scored nine of her team-high 14 points in the final period.

That's as close as 'Aiea would get. Kalani closed the game, hitting 6 of 9 foul shots. The Falcons were 17 of 29 for the game.

"Our youth showed," 'Aiea coach Mike Yen said. "Kalani's a good team. We just overcompensated on our help defense, and left them open a couple of times. We gave them too much of a lead to catch up."

'AIEA (8-5) 8 9 13 11—41

KALANI (12-1) 10 9 18 12—49

'AIEA—Chasity Guzman 0, Tierra Miguel 0, Jennifer Yuen 4, Tasha Helsham 14, Tasha Johnson 2, Jessica Tan 0, Natasha Fong 0, Annie Orial 0, Michelle Shiroma 10, Emily Tausaga 0, Sara Watanabe 0, Capri Holiona 7, Nohelani Fonoti 4. Totals 15 9-12 41.

KALANI—Chloe Martin 14, Brandi Yamauchi 0, Violet Alama 3, Megan Kamehiro 9, Kim Cabuyadao 0, Raynani Camara 5, Chande Bonifacio 3, Chelsea Kimura 5, Kacie Gushiken 10, Alisha Bonifacio 0, Nicole Ameperosa 0. Totals 13 17-29 49.

3-point goals—'Aiea 2 (Helsham, Shiroma). Kalani 6 (Martin 4, Kimura, Kamehiro).

ILH DIVISION I

KAMEHAMEHA 45, IOLANI 40

Tatriana Lorenzo scored 21 points, Analee Viena-Lota added 11 and the Warriors rallied from a 30-19 third-quarter deficit to beat the Raiders in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I tournament final last night at McCabe Gym.

Kamehameha, which earned the league's second and final berth in next week's state tournament, outscored Iolani, 26-10 in the fourth quarter.

IOLANI (9-4) 15 5 10 10—40

KAMEHAMEHA (8-4) 7 7 5 26—45

IOLANI—Kaz Masutani 0, Hennasea-Sue Tokumura 12, Alana Matayoshi 0, Chanel Hirata 0, Marci Kang 2, Alana Wall 2, Jamie Smith 17, Meilin Akamu 0, Sarah Turgeon 2, Keilyn Fujioka 0, Megan Burton 5. Totals 13 13-21 40.

KAMEHAMEHA—Miki Nakamura 0, Alexis Furtado 0, Johanna Sai 5, Analee Viena-Lota 11, Lindsey Wong 0, Leah Godinet 0, Rhani Kaneaiakala 4, Kauiokeola Todd 4, Tatriana Lorenzo 21. Totals 14 15-25 45. 3-point goals—Iolani 1 (Tokumura). Kamehameha 2 (Sai, Viena-Lota).

Reported by Gail Juan

ILH DIVISION II

ST. FRANCIS 57, WORD OF LIFE 46

Siutiti Takai scored 16 points and Bryanna Batts added 13 as the Troubadours won the ILH Division II tournament last night at McCabe Gym. Both teams and Hawai'i Baptist, will join regular-season champion La Pietra in next week's state tournament.

ST. FRANCIS (14-2) 11 17 12 17—57

WORD OF LIFE (10-5) 14 7 13 12—46

ST. FRANCIS—Nicole Perry 4, Kanani Perry 10, Danielle Tanaka 10, Emma Dacalio-Spencer 0, Bryanna Batts 13, Maile Kimura 0, Jaimie Iwashita 2, Kacee Coito 2, Siutiti Takai 16. Totals 21 14-30 57.

WORD OF LIFE—Krystle DeBorja 3, Jasmine Saquilon 3, Justine Sampaga 5, Rayane Alvarado 0, Piilani Mahoe 4, Kanani Sagon 2, Careena Onosai 17, Brittany Iwamoto 0, Shayna Onosai 6, Moani McBraun 6. Totals 18 6-15 46. 3-point goals—St. Francis 1 (K. Perry). Word of Life 4 (DeBorja, Saquilon, Sampaga, C. Onosai).

Reported by Gail Juan

HAWAII BAPTIST 56, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 33

Carissa Onuma scored 16 points, Janine Diehl had 15 and Jodi Kamemoto 10 as the Eagles captured third place in the tournament last night at McCabe Gym to earn the league's fourth and final berth in next week's state tournament.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (6-9) 9 9 7 8—33

HAWAI'I BAPTIST (10-5) 8 8 20 20—56

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY—Ashley Medcalf 24, Michel Chan 5, Jessie Kamikawa 0, Reyna Cachola 2, Jessica Benito 2, Jasmine Tory 0. Totals 13 6-10 33.

HAWAI'I BAPTIST—Jodi Kamemoto 10, Candace Yonashiro 1, Narissa Fujii 3, Ashley Salado 2, Carissa Onuma 16, Stacie Sueda 3, Janine Diehl 15, Tiffany Chang 2, Leah Shizuru 4. Totals 21 12-23 56. 3-point goals—Christian Academy 1 (Chan). Hawai'i Baptist 2 (Kamemoto, Sueda).

Reported by Gail Juan

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.