Behind the big performance of 6-foot-1 sophomore center Kalei Adolpho, Moloka'i advanced to its first state basketball championship game.

Adolpho recorded 16 points, 25 rebounds and seven blocks as the Farmers defeated Kapa'a, 45-37, in one semifinal game of the HHSAA/Hawaiian Airlines Girls Division II Basketball State Championships last night at Kalani High School.

"I didn't do so good the last game so I went home and thought about it," Adolpho said. "I knew how important it was today."

Fourth-seeded Moloka'i (14-0) plays second-seeded Kamehameha-Hawai'i (12-1) in tonight's championship game at 5 at the Neal Blaisdell Arena.

"It is really an honor," Adolpho said. "This is what we worked for the whole season. It feels good to be that much closer to it."

Moloka'i's appearance in the basketball championship game is a first not only for the school, but for the Maui Interscholastic League as well.

"It's a pretty awesome feeling," coach Douglas Furlong said. "We placed fourth last year and lost six seniors. We had eight returnees, but after losing all that experience, we didn't expect to be back here."

Moloka'i junior guard Danna-Lynn Hooper-Juario paced the Farmers with six points in the first quarter and had an assist on one of Adolpho's two baskets in the period as they held a 10-9 at the end of the first quarter.

The Farmers extended their lead by outscoring the Warriors, 10-4, in the second quarter, with four coming from Adolpho and junior Jolenta Duvauchelle.

"In the past we've had nights where we've fallen flat, like we did tonight, but our defense picks us up," said Kapa'a coach Terry Maguire, who had dyed her hair green after the team reached the semifinals. "Tonight, our inside game ... (Adolpho) was blocking us. And rebounds. We were only getting one shot."

Moloka'i's lead grew to 10 three times in the third quarter, mainly on free throws, as it made 7-of-11. Hooper-Juario put the Farmers back up 35-25 with a jumper just before the buzzer.

An 8-0 run early in the fourth quarter gave the Farmers a 43-27 lead. The Warriors would only get as close as 45-37 — the final score — on a basket by sophomore guard Jessilyn Artaho-Aki.

"We take pride in our defense," Adolpho said. "That's what carried us all season. We knew we had to dominate the boards because they take a lot of shots."

Hooper-Juario scored a game-high 18 points for the Farmers. Senior center Jondi Das scored 11 points and Leina'ala McCabe added 10 for the Warriors.

Kapa'a senior guard Mai'lika Napoleon, who scored 20 points the previous night, scored just two points last night, but pulled down 10 rebounds. The senior guard was 1-for-16 from the field.

Kapa'a was cold in the first half, shooting 15.8 percent from the field, compared to 43.5 percent by Moloka'i.