Finally feeling 100 percent, Kamaile Kandiah returned to the Punahou basketball team.

Her presence on the court with scoring and hustle on defense helped the Buffanblu beat Kamehameha 39-23 in Saturday’s ILH girls tournament semifinal at Hemmeter Fieldhouse. 

Vae Malufau scored 11 points and Kandiah and Tyra Moe added eight each for Punahou (8-3), which will face ‘Iolani in the tournament final.

Shantel Aleki scored seven points for Kamehameha (7-5). 

“It felt amazing to be a part of the team and back again,” said Kandiah, who came off the bench after missing six games with a meniscus injury. “We’re slowly coming back together, we’re pushing tempo, slowing down tempo, we’re working as a team more — chemistry wise.”

In a defensive battle by both teams through three quarters, Punahou burst though in the fourth. Kandiah stole the ball near midcourt, brought it down to the basket, and passed back to a trailing Malufau. Malufau made the layup to give Punahou a 27-20 lead with 6:23 remaining. Malufau scored the first five points of the fourth as the Buffanblu outscored the Warriors 17-3 in the final quarter. Kandiah had six points in the period.

“At halftime, our coaches were ‘Do we want to win, be known as the team who comes back or gives it away?’ ” Kandiah explained.

Aleki scored for Kamehameha with 4:09 remaining to cut the deficit to 32-23. The Buffanblu then held the Warriors scoreless the rest of the game. With less than three minutes left, Kandiah chased down Elle Uyeda’s missed 3-pointer in the corner and tipped the ball to a teammate. Twenty seconds later, Uyeda made her first free throw and missed the second. But Sunny Rosario’s putback on the miss extended the lead to 35-23. 

“She brought more energy to the team and helps the guards out, too,” Malufau said.

KAMEHAMEHA–Breann Nueku 5, Laycee Pasion 0, Jewel Paaluhi-Caulk 6, Rylee-Ann Kauahikaua 0, Nalani-Tearsjah Alpoalani-Tuaoi-Tootoo 3, Starr Richardson 0, Mikiala Maio 2, Brooke Kaawa 0, Kiana Vierra 0, Cassidy Keola 0, Shantel Aleki 7.

PUNAHOU–Kamaile Kandiah 8, Lexie Taylor 2, Heaven Wong 0, Kamakani DeBlake 0, Abigail Aplaca 2, Asia Olivieri 0, Va’e Malufau 11, Elle Uyeda 6, Tyra Moe 8, McKenna Granato 0, Mahina Pua’a 0, Sunny Rosario 2.

3-point goals–Kamehameha 3 (Paaluhi-Caulk 2, Nueku).  Punahou 1 (Kandiah).

‘Iolani 50, Maryknoll 47 

Brooke Maeda punctuated a fourth-quarter comeback by hitting a 3-pointer that put the Raiders ahead 48-47 with 47 seconds left in the game to upset the unbeaten Spartans.

Emily Nomura and Sierra Buscher each made a free throw down the stretch to seal the victory for ‘Iolani, which will face Punahou for the ILH Division I regular season title.

Buscher finished with 16 points and made two of ‘Iolani’s six 3-pointers. Sheyla Kahalehoe added 12 points for the Raiders.

‘IOLANI–Sheyla Kahalehoe 12, Emily Nomura 7, Brooke Maeda 5, Sierra Buscher 16, Kelsi Ikeda 0, Lindsey Combs 3, Camy Aguinaldo 3, Anis Augafa 4, Skylar Nakata 0.

MARYKNOLL–Kaile Cambra 0, Isabella Cravens 0, Lexi Delovio 7, Lindsey Lee 6, Maegen Martin 16, Chayse Milne 5, Moe Notoa 3, Rhianne Omori 6, Sierra Murobayashi 0, Ysabelle Halemano 4, Georjette Stietzel 0.

3-point goals–‘Iolani 6 (Buscher 2, Aguinaldo, Combs, Kahalehoe, Maeda). Maryknoll 2 (Halemano, Omori).