Lunas sink Hilo to advance, 16-6
By Stanley Lee
Advertiser Staff Writer
WAIPI'O — The Lunas sprinted down the middle and into the semifinals.
Moana Tuipulotu scored eight goals as the fourth-seeded Lahainaluna High School water polo team sped past Hilo, 16-6, in yesterday's quarterfinals of the Local Motion Hawai'i High School Athletic Association state championship at the Veterans' Memorial Aquatic Center.
Lahainaluna will face top-seeded Punahou (9-0) in today's semifinals. No. 2 Kahuku (17-0) will face Kamehameha (7-3) in the other semifinal.
"We do a lot of preparation swimming laps," said Lahainaluna's Alana Hendrickson, who scored a goal. "That really helped. It helped us set up the fast breaks."
The Lunas (11-0) gave up the game's first goal to Lauren Van Heukelum, then scored seven straight behind a fast-paced attack that had players swimming uncontested down the middle of the pool the entire game. The Vikings missed three good opportunities in the first.
"We were kind of spastic in the beginning and we needed to calm down," Tuipulotu said. "Once we did, we kept going."
Michelle Fuller added four goals for Lahainaluna and Mariah Gill had three.
"We all swim during the swimming season and that's a major plus," added Lahainaluna's Hailey Gill.
Van Heukelum and Sondra Atagi scored back-to-back goals for the Vikings (8-4) to cut the deficit to 7-3 with two minutes left in the second quarter. But the Lunas scored twice to make it 9-3 at halftime.
The Lunas scored four straight in the fourth quarter to build a 16-5 lead, the last goal coming off deft passing. On the right side of the pool, Hendrickson passed to a wide-open Kayla Wall swimming down the middle. Wall passed left to Koral Gill, who passed to Fuller for the goal.
Van Heukelum and Mandy Ka'apuni scored two goals each for Hilo.
NO. 1 PUNAHOU 16, KAPOLEI 2
The top-seeded Buffanblu scored the game's first 10 goals en route to a quarterfinal victory over the Hurricanes.
Jane Galluzzi and Aisha Price had four goals each for Punahou (9-0), which led 7-0 at halftime. Kulani Jenkins had three goals and Shayna Price had two.
Alexandra Jamora scored both goals for Kapolei (12-6).
KAMEHAMEHA 12 NO. 3 KS-HAWAI'I 6
Nanea Fujiyama scored seven goals and Ashlee Akeo had three to lead Kamehameha.
Fujiyama added freshman goalkeeper Chloe Shaw-Limary and freshman Kehau Ai have been coming up big for Kamehameha (7-3). Ai scored a goal.
Alysyn Leonard and Kaci Rosehill scored two goals each for Kamehameha-Hawai'i (9-2).
NO. 2 KAHUKU 15, KALANI 4
The Red Radiers scored the game's first seven goals en route to a quarterfinal win over the Falcons.
Gina Ahue scored four goals each for Kahuku (17-0), with Taniya Sifton and Minnie Whitford each adding three. Alex Shea scored a goal in her first game back from a knee injury suffered during her team's bus accident on April 3. The bus ran into a ditch in Waikane.
Tina Pulu scored three goals for Kalani (12-6).
CONSOLATION
ROOSEVELT 3, MILILANI 1
Patrice Dang, Taesha-Marie Keola and Leticia Ruiz each scored a goal to lead the Rough Riders (14-4) over the Trojans (9-9).
LOCAL MOTION/HHSAA CHAMPIONSHIP
VETERANS' MEMORIAL AQUATIC CENTER
ROOSEVELT 3, MILILANI 1
Goal scorers-Roos: Patrice Dang 1, Taesha-Marie Keola 1, Leticia Ruiz 1. Mil: Lindsey Caralho 1.
NO. 1 PUNAHOU 16, KAPOLEI 2
Goal scorers-Pun: Jane Galluzzi 4, Aisha Price 4, Kulani Jenkins 3, Shayna Price 2, Kelli Moy 2, Lillybelle Deer 1. Kap: Alexandra Jamora 2.
NO. 4 LAHAINALUNA 16, HILO 6
Goal scorers-Lah: Moana Tuipulotu 8, Michelle Fuller 4, Alana Hendrickson 2, Mariah Gill 2. Hilo: Lauren Van Heukelem 2, Mandy Kaapuni 2, Sondra Atagi 1, Eva Avery 1.
NO. 2 KAHUKU 15, KALANI 4
Goal scorers-Kah: Gina Ahue 4, Minnie Whitford 3, Taniya Sifton 3, Brooke Roy 2, Krea Branco 1, Sarah Ungureit 1, Kelsey Wardle 1. Kal: Tina Pullu 3, Kaila Garcia 1.
KAMEHAMEHA 12, KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 6
Goal scorers-KS: Nanea Fujiyama 7, Ashlee Akeo 3, Mia Wai 1, Nani Davis 1. KSH: Alysyn Leonard 2, Kaci Rosehill 2, Ryenn Lyons 1, Hulali Trask 1.
Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.