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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, February 27, 2009

Kamehameha-Hawaii, Moloka'i in Division II final

By Stanley Lee
Advertiser Staff Writer

Freshman Chelsea Poe's running shot with 10 seconds remaining lifted Kamehameha-Hawai'i into another state title game.

Poe converted her teammate's miss and Kaimuki came up short at the buzzer as second-seeded Kamehameha-Hawai'i topped Kaimuki, 42-41, in last night's semifinals of the Hawaiian Airlines/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Girls Division II State Basketball Championships at Radford High School.

Kamehameha-Hawai'i (12-1) will face No. 4 Moloka'i (14-0) in today's 5 p.m. championship game at the Neal Blaisdell Arena.

"We grew up tonight," said Poe, who finished with five points. "Especially Katelynne Paleka-Kennedy and myself, we grew up, and our team did a really good job when two of our teammates fouled out."

The Warriors won the 2005 and 2007 DII state titles and finished second in 2006. Only two players remain from the 2007 team.

Paleka-Kennedy scored 13 points off the bench to lead the Warriors.

"Tonight, I saw the challenge and embraced it," said Paleka-Kennedy, a sophomore. "This is the best team win we could've asked for."

Olivia Phommachanh scored 15 points and her driving shot hit the front rim with 2 seconds left for Kaimuki (15-5), which faces Kapa'a (10-1) in today's 11 a.m. third-place game at the Blaisdell.

Kayla Lacaran-Costales missed a 3-point attempt in front of the Warriors' bench with 15 seconds left. But Poe rebounded from the right corner and drove in for the game-winning shot.

"Kayla is a shooter and got an open look," said Warriors coach Kalani Silva, who pointed out he wanted his team to run its offense on that last play. "I'm glad Chelsea came up with the big shot."

Letisha Fa'asoa came up with a steal with 1:30 left, then hit a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 41-40 lead with 1:17 remaining, their first lead since they led 2-0.

The Warriors' Kimberly Palea turned the ball over with 45 seconds left, and the Bulldogs' Dejah Fa'asoa was fouled with 22.9 seconds left.

But Fa'asoa missed both free-throw attempts and Palea rebounded before passing to Lacaran-Costales.

Kaimuki rallied from a 30-21 third-quarter deficit to tie the score at 38 with 4:18 to play after Lani Mikaele hit four straight free throws.

Shanley Apele's runner down the lane for the Warriors made it 40-38 with 2:44 remaining.

Paleka-Kennedy came off the bench early in the first quarter and immediately made an impact. At 6 feet 2, she towered over everybody in the post. She had three straight putbacks to help the Warriors lead 13-5 at the end of the first.

"I love coming off the bench," Paleka-Kennedy said. "Our starters (set) the tempo. I'm one of the new players. They get the tempo so high and I keep up with them."

KAIMUKI (15-5) 5 14 13 9 — 41

KS-HAWAI'I (12-1) 13 10 12 7 — 42

KAIMUKI — Olivia Phommachanh 15, Pua Akaka 0, Tanya Villanueva 1, Dinishah Fa'asoa 2, Brittney Anglin 0, Letisha Fa'asoa 5, Dejah Fa'asoa 9, Leti Mikaele 0, Ashley Fortson 0, Lani Mikaele 7, Totals 13 12-21 41.

KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I — Chelsea Poe 5, Joelle Cabasa 8, Kayla Lacaran-Costales 6, Shanley Apele 6, Kimberly Palea 0, Lilinoe Heaukulani 0, Bobbi Montibon 0, Katelynne Paleka-Kennedy 13. Totals 17 6-16 42.

3-point goals: Kaimuki 3 (Phommachanh 2, L. Fa'asoa). Kamehameha-Hawai'i 2 (Lacaran-Costales 2).

CONSOLATION

HAWAI'I BAPTIST 47, HAWAI'I PREP 38

Keline Yoshimura scored 22 points and Narissa Fujii added 15 to lead the Eagles (12-6) to the consolation title at Kalani. Tayler Wang scored 21 points for Ka Makani.

HAWAI'I BAPT. (12-6) 10 8 8 11 — 47

HAWAI'I PREP (9-5) 8 4 14 12 — 38

HAWAI'I BAPTIST — Keline Yoshimura 22, Narissa Fujii 15, Jordin Ramos 6, Reana Lee 2, Kayla Yamamoto 2.

HAWAI'I PREP — Tayler Wang 21, Leahi Lindsey 5, Maya Chong 4, Katie Ho 4, Cori Wang 3, Lana Queen 1.

KAHUKU 72, UNIVERSITY HIGH 54

Vaimalama Tito scored 20 points as the Red Raiders beat the Junior Rainbows in a consolation game at Kalani. Kahuku plays Maryknoll in today's 9 a.m. fifth-place game at the Blaisdell. Quynne Eharis scored 21 for University High.

UNIVERSITY (12-3) 15 13 15 11 — 54

KAHUKU (15-2) 21 19 19 13 — 72

UNIVERSITY HIGH — Quynne Eharis 21, Angie Yoshizu 18, Ruth Tusi 9, Piilani Mahoe 3, Melanie Cortez 3.

KAHUKU — Vaimalama Tito 20, Jovan Falemalu 13, Rachel Tailele 11, Nile Te'o 10, Lavinia Latu 9, Jessica Falemalu 4, Hi'ilei Cummings 2, Manaia Afalava 1, Mata Tonga 1, Malia Tonga 1.

MARYKNOLL 59, KAISER 58

Ashely Agcaoili scored 23 points to lead the Spartans past the Cougars in overtime in a consolation game at Radford. Keely Bitanga scored 26 for Kaiser.

MARYKNOLL (13-1) 13 7 21 15 3 — 59

KAISER (12-8) 16 13 9 18 2 — 58

MARYKNOLL — Kristen Canencia 11, Nicole Lee 0, Kayla Godinet 0, Ashley Agcaoili 23, Stacie Lau 0, Miho Arai 0, Corine Gushikuma 4, Amanda Tseu 0, Ashley Shiroma 0, Melissa Ching 6, Soana Fifita 10, Tiana Kawaihoa-Marquez 5.

KAISER — Chelsy Okuma 19, Keely Bitanga 26, Bailey Miller 9, Daryn Vorderbruegge 0, Haley Durham 4.

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.