La Pietra's guards stepped up their play toward the end and helped the Lady Panthers move one step closer to a state tournament berth.

Charity Caracol, Tihon Nguyen and Leah Kaina converted free throws and passed the ball back-and-forth to eat up time in the game's final 2 minutes, helping La Pietra defeat Christian Academy, 44-42, yesterday at Hawai'i Baptist in the Interscholastic League Division II tournament semifinals. The tournament winner gets the league's fourth and final state berth.

"I kind of was thinking that it could be our last game, and it pushed me to do my best and put the extra effort in," said Caracol, who finished with nine points. "I tried to cheer on defense like 'good D, good D.' On offense, we just had to be patent."

La Pietra (11-5), led by Megan Giles' 11 points, will face Hawai'i Baptist (8-7) in the final tomorrow at 5 p.m. at McCabe Gym.

"They were able to mix up their guards to step up," Christian Academy coach Raymond Park said. "They took their roles as not one single person, but three or four stepped up. That made a big difference."

Nguyen's 3-pointer with less than 2 minutes left in the third quarter tied it 27-27, right after La Pietra lost both of its post players. Giles had just picked up her fourth foul and Sarah Peoples was still feeling the effects of the flu.

"We went small and tried to pick them up early in their offense, (to) try to keep them away from the low block a little better," La Pietra coach Anthony Czaja said. "And on offense we tried to be a bit more patient and give Ashanti (Shih), who is coming off of a knee injury, to keep her moving to the basket."

The teams traded the lead until Kaina's basket with 4 minutes to play increased La Pietra's advantage to 38-35.

Christian Academy (5-10) closed to 38-37 on Ashley Medcalf's basket with 1:19 left, but Caracol and Nguyen went 6 for 8 from the free throw line in the game's final 53.9 seconds.

"When she (Caracol) hit those free throws at the end, that was the difference of the game," Czaja said.

Hanna Edwards' basket for Christian Academy made it 44-42 with 5 seconds left, but the Patriots couldn't foul Kaina before time expired.

The loss ended an illustrious career for Medcalf, an All-State pick, who led the Patriots with 27 points and was virtually unstoppable on offense.

Medcalf sat out several games toward the end of the season with a knee injury, but managed to return.

"I'm proud of myself for overcoming the injury," she said. "I think I've been doing pretty well. It's been tough."

"She's awesome," Caracol said. "She just kept pushing and she's hard to stop."

CHRISTIAN ACAD. (5-10) 10 10 9 13 — 42

LA PIETRA (11-5) 10 6 11 17 — 44

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY — Ashley Acedo 0, Ashley Medcalf 27, Amber Acedo 2, Megan Salazar-Winters 0, Michel Chon 0, Sarah Godinet 0, Jessica Benito 2, Jasmine Tory 0, Hannah Edwards 11. Totals 18 6-13 42.

LA PIETRA — Christen Hirai 0, Charity Caracol 9, Chelsea Kiyabu 2, Leah Kaina 6, Tihon Nguyen 5, Jasmine Kimura 0, Megan Giles 11, Ashanti Shih 6, Sarah Peoples 5. Totals 17 8-15 44. 3-point goals: La Pietra 2 (Nguyen, Caracol).

HAWAI'I BAPTIST 37, WORD OF LIFE 36

Keline Yoshimura made a runner in the lane with 8 seconds left to lift the host Eagles (8-7) past the Firebrands (3-12).

"We were planning something else but it just happened and it fell into our hands," Yoshimura said. "I felt excited."

After a timeout, Word of Life could only get off an off-balance 3-pointer as time expired.

"We run a lot of things out of that play based on what they give us," Hawai'i Baptist coach Reid Takatsuka said. "Most of our plays are determined by what the defense gives us.

"The lane was open, she made a good decision."

WORD OF LIFE (3-12) 13 4 7 12 — 36

HAWAI'I BAPTIST (8-7) 6 6 14 11 — 37

WORD OF LIFE — Jasmine Saquilon 9, Marietta Ranche 0, Jaymie Kaopuiki 2, Rayanne Alvarado 12, Janna Kaopuiki 4, Sanoe Aina 5, Monique Jackson 0, Brittany Iwamoto 4. Totals 15 6-18 36.

HAWAI'I BAPTIST — Jennifer Young 1, Adrienne Kishimoto 2, Jamie Iha 0, Sharon Kim 0, Ashley Salado 6, Keline Yoshimura 12, Carissa Onuma 11, Stefanie Sueda 0, Kaitlin Miyashiro 5, Leah Shizuru 0. Totals 12 10-20 37. 3-point goals: Hawai'i Baptist 3 (Yoshimura 2, Salado).

Reported by Deren Oshiro

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com 535-2451

LA PIETRA 65, REDEMPTION 6

Megan Giles scored 16 points and Christen Hirai and Jasmine Kimura each added 11 in the Lady Panthers' victory over the Warriors in Monday's first-round game.

REDEMPTION ACAD. (0-14) 2 3 0 1 — 6

LA PIETRA (10-5) 17 19 24 5 — 65

REDEMPTION ACAD. — Ashley Dieron 3, Kristen Nakama 1, Gabriella Sussman 0, Rachael Ballesteros-Makua 0, Blessing Miyamoto 0, Hi'ilani Pila 0, Leimana Pila 2. Totals 1 4-10 6.

LA PIETRA — Christen Hirai 11, Alex Lake 3, Charity Caracol 8, Chelsea Kiyabu 7, Tihon Nguyen 5, Jasmine Kimura 11, Megan Giles 16, Ashanti Shih 4. Totals 27 9-17 65. 3-point goals: La Pietra 2 (Nguyen, Kiyabu).

ILH DIVISION I

PUNAHOU 43, MPI 26

Tressa Torres scored 10 points and the Buffanblu (8-5) opened a 23-13 halftime lead with a 9-2 second quarter to beat the Owls (3-10) and advance to the ILH Division I tournament final against Kamehameha tomorrow. Punahou plays Kamehameha at approximately 6:30 p.m. at McCabe Gym with the league's second state berth at stake.

MID-PACIFIC (3-10) 11 2 8 5 — 26

PUNAHOU (8-5) 14 9 10 10 — 43

MID-PACIFIC — Paige Young 0, Kayla Gomes 1, Johnnelle Kapua 9, Shanon Nishimura 3, Erin Nishimura 0, Jordan Kealoha 7, Keaton McFadden 2, Jenna Savusa 4. Totals 10 4-10 26.

PUNAHOU — Melanie Feldman 5, Rebecca Lau 2, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane 2, Dara Tompkison 7, Erin Moon 2, Ashley Satterwhite 0, Janelle Nomura 7, Anna Merrifield 2, Chelsea Deptula 4, Devon Yamauchi 0, Taj'a Wong 0, Kysa Ludviksen 0, Tressa Torres 10, Tiera Jenson 2. Totals 20 3-9 43. 3-point goals: Mid-Pacific 2 (S. Nishimura, Kealoha).

Reported by Gail Juan

KAMEHAMEHA 63,

MARYKNOLL 53

Ana Viena-Lota scored 18 points to help the Warriors overcome a 30-point performance by the Spartan's Nicole Fu.

KAMEHAMEHA (11-2) 17 16 14 16 — 63

MARYKNOLL (0-13) 14 14 10 15 — 53

KAMEHAMEHA — Alexis Furtado 9, Analee Viena-Lota 18, Pomaikai Kalakau 0, Shaleese Javillo 7, Lindsey Wong 7, Tiana Abbley 3, Rhani Kaneaiakala 5, Alexandres-Joan Akana 10, Kylle Roy 0, Casey Lum 4. Totals 24 10-16 63.

MARYKNOLL — Kristen Canencia 8, Nicole Lee , Nicole Fu 30, Amanda Macadangdang 0, Kiana Fuller 0, Kimberly Henderson 3, Melissa Ching 2, Sam Chung 4, Soana Fifita 6. Totals 19 10-13 53. 3-point goals: Kamehameha 5 (Furtado 3, Wong, Abbley). Maryknoll 5 (Fu 3, Canencia 2).

Reported by Gail Juan

OIA WHITE

MCKINLEY 63, WAIPAHU 36

Pearly Togiai scored 27 points, Kylie Sato added 17 and Tigers (12-1) took a 40-18 halftime lead in rolling past the Marauders (1-11) in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association White tournament quarterfinal game.

McKinley will play Waialua at Campbell today starting at 5 p.m. in one semifinal.

WAIPAHU (1-11) 8 10 10 8 — 36

MCKINLEY (12-1) 13 27 15 8 — 63

WAIPAHU — Lilyan Donley 12, Mahealani Spencer 2, Mercedes Kaleikini 1, Joyce Baptista 2, Demi Samson 7, Ashley Bullard 0, Amber Jazier 2, Kelcey Viliamu 4, Rashia Chatman 6. Totals 15 6-14 36 .

MCKINLEY — Jackie Tihano 0, Kaitlyn Ikehara 8, Chelsie Sato 4, Jaelynn Lopez 0, Pearly Togiai 27, Marybel Hebron 0, Kylie Sato 17, Sasha Hong 0, Jorina Faletoi 4, Chrystal Tafai 1, Allyson Villanueva 2. Totals 28 3-5 63. 3-point goals: McKinley 4 (Ikehara 2, K. Sato 2).

Reported by Melvyne Mitsui

WAIALUA 61, CASTLE 47

Chelsey Ramirez scored 17 points, Brittney Basillo and Ashley Carillo each added 10, and the Bulldogs (7-5) beat the Knights (7-6) to advance to the semifinals.

CASTLE (7-6) 4 16 12 15 — 47

WAIALUA (7-5) 11 18 10 22 — 61

CASTLE — Kori Berinobis 14, Candy Ames 0, Niki Kobashigawa 16, Kelsea Berinobis 0, Sarah Phromisiri 2, Brandee Sasaki 0, Chevy Au-Stein 2, Leesha Domingo 4, Ette Ameperosa 9, Nicole Aberilla 0. Totals 17 8-19 47.

WAIALUA — Klleirr Tuyay 4, Misty Maxwell 9, Chelsey Ramirez 17, Brittney Basillo 10, Ashley Carillo 10, Noe Dela Pena-Ho'opai 2, Kimberley Meyerowitz 7, Mikiala Leslie 2. Totals 21 15-28 61. 3-point goals: Castle 5 (Kobashigawa 3, Ko. Berinobis 2). Waialua 4 (Ramirez 3, Maxwell).

Reported by Jeff McKeown

CAMPBELL 76, KAISER 56

Oli Kila scored 17 points, Jenny Sweeney 15 and Vai Confer and Aloha Dias-Kekahuna 11 each, leading the Sabers (11-1) past the Cougars (3-10).

Campbell will host Kailua, 15 minutes after the conclusion of the McKinley-Waialua game in the second semifinal.

KAISER (3-10) 10 10 17 19 — 56

CAMPBELL (11-1) 21 15 22 18 — 76

KAISER — Sarah Aila 2, Jessica Dusich 14, Tiare Kepa 9, Kristyn Mathewson 7, Mari Mathewson 6, Chelsea Okuma 16, Leandra Poole 2. Totals 20 12-24 56.

CAMPBELL — Cheyna Tagura 9, Saphyre Eltagonde 2, Gabrielle Serrano 0, Valerie Quintana 2, Vai Confer 11, Aloha Dias-Kekahuna 11, Amber Kaulia 5, Shawny Veracruz 2, Oli Kila 17, Ipo Kila 2, Jenny Sweeney 15. Totals 30 16-28 76. 3-point goals: Kaiser 4 (Kepa, K. Mathewson, Okuma, Dusich).

Reported by Nathan Macadangdang

KAILUA 51, WAI'ANAE 35

Ashley Jacobs scored 17 points, Zsalei Kamaka added 12 and the Surfriders (9-4) made a 24-14 halftime lead stand up in beating the Seariders (6-6).

WAI'ANAE (6-6) 4 10 8 13 — 35

KAILUA (9-4) 11 13 13 14 — 51

WAI'ANAE — Danielle Lovell 12, Brittni Dinong 0, Chaelyn Manuel 2, Kahealani Kelii 2, Emma Atiga 1, Crystal Punihaole 0, Genevieve Cuesta 0, Ngaire Yuen 8, Asioga Tago 6, Melody Moe 4. Totals 14 4-11 35.

KAILUA — Kristen Corrales 9, Tawny Kiko 3, Chelsea Babylon 3, Miki Scott 0, Tianna McKeague 0, Zsalei Kamaka 12, Pumehana Kanoa-Doctorello 0, Jarrish Mauhili-Kaneakua 0, Netia Ulugaono 4, Ashley Jacobs 17, Kahea Chang 3, Kau Kohatsu 0. Totals 13 21-35 51. 3-point goals: Wai'anae 3 (Yuen 2, Tago). Kailua 4 (Jacobs 4).

Reported by Tammy Sanekane