Taking a page out of her older brother's playbook, 'Iolani School senior guard Chanel Hirata dialed long distance in scoring nine first-half points last night to help the Raiders build a big early lead and then hold off 'Aiea, 59-48, in the first round of the Hawaiian Airlines/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Girls Basketball Division I Championships.

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Raiders improved to 13-2 in the regular and postseason and will face O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion Kalani (13-2) in tonight's 8 o'clock quarterfinal at Kaimuki High School Gym.

It will be preceded by another quarterfinal between Maui High (10-5) and Waiakea (13-0) at 6.

As expected, 'Aiea (9-7) came out last night focused on neutralizing 'Iolani's All-State center, senior Jamie Smith. But Hirata swished a deep 3-pointer just 11 seconds into the game, and 90 seconds later she made a steal and layup while being fouled.

She completed the three-point play for a 6-0 lead, and Dayna Jandoc's 3-pointer extended it to 9-2 with just under six minutes remaining in the period.

That helped open things inside for Smith, who scored the next eight points on a layup and six free throws to give the Raiders a commanding 17-2 lead barely five minutes out of the gate.

"They came out and established the perimeter right away," said Na Ali'i coach Mike Yen. "We tried to take away Jamie, but they have great shooters and there's no defending that when they're shooting it from out there."

'Aiea finally broke the run on Natasha Helsham's two free throws with 2:34 left and cut it to 22-8 by the end of the quarter, but Hirata began the second period by draining a rainbow from about 23 feet — the same distance older brother Ryan was known for shooting from during his playing days at 'Iolani (2002 to 2004).

"I just shoot to shoot it," said Hirata, a 5-foot-4 four-year letterman. "The other teams usually pack it in on Jamie, so that opens things up for us on the outside, and we have a lot of shooters. Then if we start hitting our shots, that opens things up for her on the inside."

The Raiders finished the first half with five 3-pointers en route to a 31-19 lead, then began the second half with two layups by Smith and one by Hirata to extend it to 37-19. Smith, who finished with a game-high 24 points and eight rebounds, opened the fourth quarter with a layup to give 'Iolani a 50-27 lead, and Na Ali'i never got closer than the final score.

"We made a little run in the second quarter when Jamie picked up her second foul and got within striking distance," Yen said. "But then they came out strong again in the second half and we couldn't catch them. They are very seasoned, very disciplined."

Hirata finished with 11 points; Helsham and Natasha Fong led 'Aiea with 11 points each and Jennifer Yuen added 10 points.

'AIEA (9-7) 8 11 8 21 — 48

'IOLANI (13-2) 22 9 17 11 — 59

'IOLANI — Elysse Tom 0, Tami Konishi 5, Kylie Ahlo 9, Lahela Usui 2, Lori Yamashita 0, Kaitlyn Shikida 0. Chanel Hirata 11, Dayna Jandoc 8, Jamie Smith 24, Raechele Takara 0, Georgette Lopes-Liutolo 0, Shauni Watanabe 0, Hailey Maeda 0. Totals 20 14-18 59.

'AIEA — Jennifer Yuen 10, Savannah Albinio-Cudal 0, Natasha Helsham 11, Natasha Fong 11, Danielle Grace 0, Shayla Kuehu 2, Emily Tausaga 2, Capri Holiona 7, Caroline Sio 5. Totals 19 8-10 48.

3-point goals: 'Iolani 5 (Hirata 2, Jandoc 2, Ahlo). 'Aiea 2 (Fong, Helsham).