Kalaheo coach Alika Smith likes to spend the preseason giving his team a little taste of any situation it might see when the playoffs roll around.
Forgive him if he hopes that his boys never see anything like this again.
Daniel Andrews broke open a defensive battle with 12 points in the first half, six of them on dunks, and No. 1 Punahou beat No. 6 Kalaheo 52-40 in the semifinals of the Punahou Basketball Invitational at Hemmeter Fieldhouse on Friday night.
The Buffanblu (10-0) survive to take on Baldwin in the championship game today at 3:30 p.m.
"I’ll tell you about Kalaheo, I won’t talk about Punahou," Smith said. "We just didn’t show up, and when you don’t show up against a team like that you get put into a 16-point deficit. It might have been intimidation factor with our young kids, but our kids fought back, and that’s a teaching lesson. If we put two halves together we win this game."
The Buffanblu, who lost to Kalaheo in the state semifinals last year, made this one look easy with a stifling defense. Punahou held Kalaheo scoreless until Alec Macleod put one in on the break with 33 seconds left in the first quarter.
The defending state champions were still in it, though, because Punahou’s offense wasn’t much better than Kalaheo’s.
Andrews started the scoring for the Buffablu, putting in a pass from Kanawai Noa after more than 2 minutes had been played. Andrews followed that with a dunk and Blake Wade made a pair of buckets to give Punahou a 10-4 lead after one quarter. The second was the same as the first, and the Buffanblu took a 26-10 lead into the break.
The real Mustangs showed up after halftime, with Kakai Smith swishing Kalaheo’s first two shots from long range to suddenly cut a 16-point deficit to 10.
"That worried me," Punahou coach Darren Matsuda said. "Alika was a great shooter and his kids are great shooters. I have watched them a lot and they are never really out of a game. I thought they played well."
Punahou ran the margin as high as 15 in the third quarter, but Macleod hit a 3-pointer to help Kalaheo trim it to six, 39-33, with 6:17 left in the game. Justin Kam answered with two 3-pointers to close out the young Mustangs.
"We knew it was going to be a good game and it is good for both teams to be tested like this early," Matsuda said. "This was only the second time the kids have been emotionally tested this year. The other one was Farrington, and I thought they came out of it real well."
Andrews led Punahou with 18 points on four dunks, and the game got so out of hand that the
6-foot-8 post squared up and took a 3-pointer but missed it. Kam added 12 points and Micah Ma’a scored six.
Macleod led the Mustangs with 14 points, and Kupaa Harrison and Kekai Smith each had nine. The Mustangs, who did not have a senior score a point Friday night, dropped to 12-2 this year.
"We scored 10 points in 16 minutes to start," Smith said. "I think we scored 10 points in about three minutes in the third quarter alone. That just tells you that some of our kids were intimidated, but those same kids played well in the second half."
BALDWIN 56, NO. 2 FARRINGTON 49
The Governors were missing their interior defenders to Samoa Bowl practice, and it showed.
Tevarua Eldridge ruled the paint with 17 points, and Ryan Garces ran things outside with 18 as the Bears beat No. 2 Farrington.
Baldwin scored on its first five possessions and controlled the game after that, leading Farrington by as many as 10 when Garces hit his second 3-pointer of the second quarter.
But Farrington came back by going to the line — the Governors were whistled for only three fouls in the first half to Baldwin’s 10 — and took its first lead at 27-26 on a jumper by Van Hugo. The Bears erased it immediately and went into the break up 30-28. The Bears never lost the lead in the second half and kept a lead of at least seven points for the last 2:35.
OTHER GAMES
Punahou II 33, Hawaii Prep 31
Walnut Grove 44, Pearl City 34
OIA EAST GIRLS
NO. 8 ROOSEVELT 64, FARRINGTON 42
Tavae Sina Sofa scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Rough Riders past the Governors.
Jeneva Toilolo and Penina Faumui combined for 20 first-half points to keep the Govs (2-2) in the game.
But Kaohi Kapiko scored eight points after the break as the Rough Riders (4-0) put the game out of reach with a big third-quarter run.
"We just tried to collapse inside to make it more difficult for them, force some turnovers," said Roosevelt coach Hinano Higa.
At Farrington
ROOSEVELT (4-0) |
20 |
17 |
17 |
10 |
— |
64 |
FARRINGTON (2-2) |
14 |
11 |
6 |
11 |
— |
42 |
ROOSEVELT—Ashley Kiko 6, Sharice Kawakami 6, Tavae Sina Sofa 22, Starr Rivera 7, Kaohi Kapiko 6, Devyn Kauhi 6, Keala Quinlan 9, Destiny Holani 0, Tia Tiana 2.
FARRINGTON—Leah Ramos 0, Hazel Artates 3, Nani Cabato-Machado 3, Megan Aguinaldo 2, Jessica Zane 0, Gehraniah Tulba 0, Arabelle Dela Cruz 0, Tiare Medeiros 4, Erin Perry 0, Penina Faumui 12, Jeneva Toilolo 18.
3-point goals—Roosevelt 5 (Sina Sofa 2, Kapiko, Kiko, Quinlan). Farrington 2 (Artates, Cabato-Machado).
Junior varsity—Roosevelt 60, Farrington 48
KAILUA 94, KAISER 90, 2OT
Delcie Williams scored 44 points and converted free throws down the stretch to help the Surfriders beat the Cougars in double overtime. Keala Kaio-Perez scored 18 and Tara Takata added 12 in the win.
Chantelle Arce had 37 points, Roselyn Shimaoka scored 29 and Jordan Passas added 10 for Kaiser. Arce, who hit six 3-pointers, made one with eight seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 69 and force overtime.
Arce missed a 3-pointer at the end of the first overtime.
At Kaiser
KAILUA (4-1) |
14 |
18 |
13 |
24 |
6 |
19 |
— |
94 |
KAISER (2-2) |
13 |
14 |
14 |
28 |
6 |
15 |
— |
90 |
KAILUA—Delcie Williams 44, Keala Kaio-Perez 18, Kainani Peters 2, Leilani Lastimosa 3, Tara Takata 12, Akamulyn Makua 2, Christine Antonio 0, Kahoa Mikaele 5, Patria Vaimoana 8.
KAISER—Roselyn Shimaoka 29, Chantelle Arce 37, Tasha Horn 0, Brandi Arita 0, Briana Halemanu 2, Kiana Matsumoto 0, Jordan Passas 10, Macy Hiraki 2, Karly Demello 0, Skye Keao 2, Brooke Ho 8.
3-point goals—Kailua 2 (Kaio-Perez 2). Kaiser 9 (Arce 6, Shimaoka 3).
Junior varsity—Kaiser 54, Kailua 18
KALANI 62, CASTLE 47
Carly Kakuda scored 23 points, Taylor Murai scored 11 and Taili Iinuma had 10 to lead the Falcons over the Knights.
Sierra Koki scored 12 points for Castle.
At Castle
KALANI (3-1) |
17 |
16 |
16 |
13 |
— |
62 |
CASTLE (1-3) |
14 |
10 |
17 |
6 |
— |
47 |
KALANI—Carly Kakuda 23, Riley Kishaba 0, Sydnee Kishaba 2, Tristyn Nishibun 3, Taili Iinuma 10, Kassidy Misaki 7, Samantha Shizuru 6, Shandlynn Willing 0, Taylor Murai 11.
CASTLE—Shaney Tiumalu 9, Darrien Dacosin 5, Sierra Koki 12, Briana Hidalgo 2, Asia Almedia 6, Cheyenne Espinda 5, Sheastel Tiumalu 8, Rayna Vincens 0.
3-point goals—Kalani 9 (Iinuma 2, Kakuda 2, Shizuru 2, Misaki, Murai, Nishibun). Castle 1 (Koki).
Junior varsity—Castle 55, Kalani 38
MOANALUA 55, MCKINLEY 43
Lachae McColor scored 18 points and Hokukealani Mateo had 13 to lead Na Menehune over the Tigers. Tiare Sugui had 22 points for McKinley.
At Moanalua
MCKINLEY (1-4) |
5 |
4 |
15 |
19 |
— |
43 |
MOANALUA (5-0) |
16 |
19 |
6 |
14 |
— |
55 |
MCKINLEY—Angelica Balinbin 0, Tiare Sugui 22, Joselle Ferrer 7, Porsche Santiago 0, Chelsea Tafai 7, Savanna Gonzales 4, Deborah Malaga 3.
MOANALUA—Lachae McColor 18, Sydnie Canencia 1, Jasmine Sagaysay 3, Ciera O’Brien 1, Keahi-lele Roy 2, Skyena Antolin 0, Sienna Ho 0, Chelsea Guerrero 0, Hokukealani Mateo 13, Dasia Julian 4, Jazmina Iafitaga 7, Cherie Bento 2, Kevynne Fountain-Pokipala 2, Tiare Curran 0, Breana Padua 2.
3-point goals—McKinley 3 (Ferrer, Malaga, Sugui). Moanalua 4 (McColor 2, Iafitaga Sagaysay).
Junior varsity—Moanalua 46, McKinley 18
Also
Kahuku 54, Kaimuki 24 (box not reported)
OIA WEST GIRLS
NO. 10 NANAKULI 51, WAIALUA 18
Tianna Hanohano scored 12 and Keanani Chai added 11 as the Golden Hawks overwhelmed the Marauders.
At Nanakuli
WAIPAHU (0-4) |
3 |
2 |
8 |
5 |
— |
18 |
NANAKULI (4-1) |
12 |
13 |
11 |
15 |
— |
51 |
WAIPAHU—Shaina Asada 4, Arriane Fernandez 0, Rhica Savella 1, Krystle Aceret 2, Alyssa Lene 11, Cecilia Satui 0.
NANAKULI—Alana Nuuanu 5, Jade Marfil 5, Keanani Chai 11, Tianna Hanohano 12, Alexis Paulo-Meyers 6, Kawehi Chai 0, Natalia Kaopua 8, Renise Laa 4.
3-point goals—Waipahu none. Nanakuli none.
Junior varsity—Nanakuli 46, Waipahu 36
KAPOLEI 67, WAIALUA 8
Amayha Dycus scored 14 points as the Hurricanes routed the Bulldogs.
At Kapolei
WAIALUA (0-5) |
0 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
— |
8 |
KAPOLEI (2-2) |
19 |
24 |
15 |
9 |
— |
67 |
WAIALUA—Keady Hatchett 7, Kiana Paakauila 0, Candace Basilio 0, Kaitlin Ayonon 0, Athena Bayudam 0, Kayla Kapika 0, Alania Bayudam 1, Via-Mae Pascua 0, Elena Rivera 0.
KAPOLEI—Raquel Lasconia 6, Annika San Nicolas 0, Ty White 9, Amayha Dycus 14, Samantha Eslava 0, Angel David 5, Dayshia Carter 7, Gabby Sanchez 4, Kaitlyn Lanier 6, Sati Helenihi 6, Jennifer Hillard 0, Vai Fuiava 8, Kela Whitehurst 2.
3-point goals—Waialua 1 (Hatchett). Kapolei 2 (Carter, White).
WAIANAE 59, PEARL CITY 47
Mahina Chong had 16 points to lead the Seariders over the Chargers.
At Waianae
PEARL CITY (1-3) |
7 |
10 |
15 |
15 |
— |
47 |
WAIANAE (3-2) |
12 |
14 |
10 |
23 |
— |
59 |
PEARL CITY—Louise Pekelo 1, Ciera Sylva 10, Jurey Jao 0, Christine Fuimaono 3, Tianna Amorin 9, Kayelah Arakaki 16, Brandee Huihui 0, Chiemi Trias 2, Sina Sinclair 0, Megan Ramos 6.
WAIANAE—Jayrusha Martin 0, Mahina Chong 16, Lauren Tauanuu 5, Berlin Johnson 11, Rose Tulimasealii 6, Kuulei Bailey 4, Raywyne Atiga , Raegine Atiga 14, Shania Kapua 0, Kehau Kaloi-Anderson 3.
3-point goals—Pearl City 3 (Amorin 2, Sylva). Waianae 1 (Kaloi-Anderson).
Junior varsity—Waianae 42, Pearl City 17
Also
Radford 72, Campbell 48
Statistics not reported
ILH DIVISION II GIRLS
ST. FRANCIS 49, ST. ANDREW’S PRIORY 7
Dayna Romero and Alissa Pacarro scored eight points each to lead the Saints.
At St. Andrew’s Priory
STF (2-1) |
15 |
10 |
12 |
12 |
— |
49 |
SA (0-2) |
1 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
— |
7 |
ST. FRANCIS—Kelli Okubo 4, Alissa Pacarro 8, Hunter Roberts 5, Natashya Enos 2, Rya Omong 2, Taylor Bellevou 6, Kahili Liu 2, Lacey Satele 6, Chasey Abrams 6, Dayna Romero 8, Alexis Decampo-Reguindin 0. Jessica Serikawa
ST. ANDREW’S—Krista Chang 2, Olivia Sou 1, Hattie Hapai 2, Isabelle-Marie Geppert 2, Mie Oishi 0, Jessica Serikawa 0, Rachel Ho 0, Kate Murphy 0.
3-point goals—St. Francis none. St. Andrew’s Priory none.
ILH DIVISION III GIRLS
Lanakila Baptist 46, Christian Academy 17
The Warriors raced out to a 29-4 halftime lead and coasted to victory over the Patriots.
At Salt Lake District Gym
LBS (2-0) |
13 |
16 |
7 |
10 |
— |
46 |
CA (0-1) |
2 |
2 |
6 |
7 |
— |
17 |
LANAKILA BAPTIST—J. Pananganan 16, K. Kanehialua 3, M. Pacheco 7, K. Walker 14, A. Carla 4, S. Abagail 2.
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY—S. Kurihara 2, C. Teruel 3, H. Asato 10, G. Ader 2.
3-point goals—Lanakila Baptist 1 (Pananganan). Christian Academy none.