Crunch time of big games is normally no place for freshmen.

But the Konawaena girls basketball team has one who proved last night she is a clutch performer.

Emalia Galdeira scored 13 of her 18 points in the second half as Konawaena beat Farrington, 51-43, in the semifinals of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championships at Blaisdell Arena.

"The second half I did better than the first half," said Galdeira, a 5-foot-9 guard/forward. "Oh, my gosh, I missed so much in the first half. If I make my layups in the beginning then I wouldn't have to worry about making them in the end."

Galdeira was 2 of 8 in the first half and 4 of 6 in the second for Konawaena, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion and No. 2 seed. She added six rebounds and five steals.

Konawaena (14-0) meets No. 1 seed Punahou (13-1), the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, for the title tonight at 7.

The Wildcats and Buffanblu have won the last six state titles.

Konawaena won in 2004 and 2007; Punahou won in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008.

The Buffanblu beat the Wildcats in the 2005 title game, and the Wildcats beat the Buffanblu for the crown in 2007.

"It's always great to play Punahou. We have a friendly rivalry," said Konawaena coach Bobbie Awa.

Galdeira's biggest play last night came with 1:17 left, her team up 44-41 and teammate Kimberly Brown at the line.

Brown missed both attempts, but Galdeira grabbed the rebound on the second miss, hit a layup and was fouled. She hit the free throw to make it 47-41.

"She is just so active on the floor, so she's always finding the ball," Awa said. "That was big. I can always count on her to make the big plays."

Farrington (19-2), the O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion and No. 3 seed, led 39-38 with 5:55 left after Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo's layup off an inbounds pass from Natalie Mata.

But Galdeira scored six points during the Wildcats' 13-4 game-ending run.

"Defensively, we broke down a little bit and she got some open looks at the basket, and that kind of hurt us," said Farrington coach Caroline Tatupu.

Konawaena stymied Farrington's inside game, and held a 44-34 rebounding advantage over the bigger Governors.

"We knew how they wanted to go inside," Awa said. "We practiced getting into position to stop them."

Konawaena finished 19 of 55 from the field; Farrington was 14 of 44, including 0 of 9 in the third period.

Konawaena got 21 points from three reserves — Thea Hanato-Smith (8), Makayla Awa (7) and Brown (6). Brown added 14 rebounds.

Tatupu-Leopoldo scored nine points for Farrington, which will play for third today at 3 p.m. against Lahainaluna.

FARRINGTON (19-2) 10 16 5 12 — 43

KONAWAENA (14-0) 12 11 11 17 — 51

FARRINGTON— Natalie Mata 7, Lucky Crichton 3, Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo 9, Precious Maave 0, Janell Nance 6, Macilee Moi 0, Kirsten Liana 8, Valerie Lesu 7, Sofia Folaumahina 3, Lusina Otineru 0. Totals 14 12-22 43.

KONAWAENA — Makayla Awa 0, Emalia Galdeira 18, Anuhea Wall 1, Dawnyelle Awa 5, Thea Hanato-Smith 8, Misilosa Uulopa 3, Kimberly Brown 6, Makayla Awa 7, Kara Hanato-Smith 3. Totals 19 11-22 51.

3-point goals: Farrington 3 (Tatupu-Leopoldo 2, Lesu 1). Konawaena 2 (Hanato-Smith, Galdeira).

'IOLANI 53, BALDWIN 44

Freshman guard Kylie Maeda scored 14 points to help the Raiders advance to today's fifth-place game against Roosevelt at 1 p.m. Shauna Ah Yen led the Bears with 21 points.

'IOLANI (10-6) 5 16 18 14 — 53

BALDWIN (11-5) 16 10 8 10 — 44

'IOLANI — Elysse Tom 0, Tami Konishi 3, Kylie Maeda 14, Saphrye Rezentes 0, Lori Yamashita 7, Georgette Lopes-Liutolo 4, Kaitlyn Shikada 8, Kryn Masutani 2, Mahina Haina 4, Lahela Usui 8, Shauni Watanabe 3, Brittany Barnes 0. Totals 15 19-30 53.

BALDWIN — Samantha Agtunong 6, Malia Chang 0, Shauna Ah Yen 21, Christine Co 1, Tasha Buika 4, Jennifer Alakai 2, Dayna Villanova , Breanna Gaddis 2, Malia Killiam 2, Jessica Malknecht 6, Ariana Newton 0. Totals 17 8-13 44.

3-point goals: 'Iolani 4 (Shikada 2, Maeda 1, Yamashita 1). Baldwin 2 (Ah Yen 2).

ROOSEVELT 51, 'AIEA 50

Mikela Thoemmes scored 16 points to help the Rough Riders reach today's fifth-place game against 'Iolani. Carol Sio led Na Ali'i with 17 points.

ROOSEVELT (13-8) 10 14 12 15 — 51

'AIEA (12-7) 7 16 14 13 — 50

ROOSEVELT — Charisse Tanabe 3, Kelcie Namba 2, Samantha Murakami 2, Kathleen Nakata 3, Nicole Ramirez 7, Abcde Furuta-Harada 4, Rachel Gomes 0, Mikela Thoemmes 16, Joshlyn Noga 6, Tasia Kamakawiwo'ole 8, Cierra Kapea 0. Totals 19 11-16 51.

'AIEA — Celeste Fong 0, Natasha Helsham 16, Natasha Fong 0, Crystal Tagudin 3, Rayna Strom-Okimoto 4, Emily Tausaga 10, Kaui Kuehu 0, Carol Sio 17. Totals 18 12-21 50.

3-point goals: Roosevelt 2 (Ramirez, Tanabe). 'Aiea 2 (Helsham, Tausaga).

KALANI 64, KAILUA 52

Violet Alama had 24 points to help the Falcons capture the consolation title. Teuila Afele led the Surfriders with 13.

KAILUA (9-11) 8 14 10 20 — 52

KALANI (11-9) 19 19 21 5 — 64

KAILUA — Jayna Hanawahine 2, Tawny Kiko 3, Sola Williams 4, Teuila Afele 13, Zsalei Kamaka 11, Ka'u Kohatsu 4, Anu Ah Yun 5, Taylor Souza 2, Tia Navarro 5, Malia Pearson 1, Alysha Franco 2. Totals 18 14-25 52.

KALANI — Kelsie Maslanka 1, Tiffany Liao 0, Corie Kuia 14, Ashlyn Onaga 13, Kiera Iinuma 0, Cristine Sasano 0, Kristi Belshe 0, Hikaru Kumagai 5, Jamie Higa 5, Tiare Maafala 2, Loretta Misaalefua 0, Loraina Misaalefua 0, Violet Alama 24, Marissa Sumida 0. Totals 25 9-14 64.

3-point goals: Kailua 2 (Afele, Navarro). Kalani 5 (Kuia 3, Onaga 1, Kumagai 1).