KEAAU, Hawaii >> While Konawaena was conquering the state in Division I on Oahu, Kamehameha-Hawaii protected the home island just fine.
Saydie Aganus led a balanced attack with nine points and the Warriors dropped Mid-Pacific 43-35 in the semifinals of the OC 16/HHSAA Division II Girls Basketball Tournament at Keaau’s gym on Friday.
Kamehameha-Hawaii will go for a state title of its own today against Hawaii Baptist, which beat Kohala in the other semifinal. The Eagles beat the Warriors in last year’s semifinals and the young Kamehameha-Hawaii squad remembers all too well.
DIVISION II
TODAY
At Keaau
Fifth place
Damien vs. Kaimuki, 2 p.m.
Third place
Kohala vs. Mid-Pacific, 4 p.m.
Championship
Hawaii Baptist vs. KS-Hawaii, 6 p.m.
“We lost to HBA last year, we are really excited for this matchup,” Kamehameha-Hawaii coach Weston Willard said. “They are one of the best programs in Division II and they play the right way. But we feel like we are on our home court.”
The home court helped against Mid-Pacific on Friday, but the foul disparity helped more. Mid-Pacific committed 24 fouls to Kamehameha-Hawaii’s 15. Even though the Warriors hit less than half their attempts they controlled the pace.
Two of those Mid-Pacific fouls hurt more than the others.
Makenzie Kalawaia scored only seven points but pulled down 12 rebounds and drew two charges that led to Mid-Pacific’s Ciera Kameehonua fouling out. The second charge stopped Mid-Pacific’s momentum after it narrowed a nine-point deficit to four with four minutes left. The Owls went cold from there, and Kamehameha-Hawaii traded one made free throw for the Owls’ missed shots the rest of the way.
“That was huge,” Willard said. “That’s what we pride ourselves on, finding ways to win and owning the details, and we found a way to win.”
Kameehonua led Mid-Pacific with 13 points and Brilie Kovaloff added eight. The Owls shot just 25 percent from the field and were outrebounded 40-26.
“It’s been 16 years since we have been to the state tournament,” Mid-Pacific coach Sherice Ajifu said. “Hats off to Kamehameha — they got us into foul trouble and did what they had to do. For us to be here is something special. Hopefully they got a taste of it and we will be back.”
Hawaii Baptist 52, Kohala 42
Ally Wada scored 10 of her 18 points on free throws and the Eagles overcame the Cowgirls to reach the championship game.
The Eagles ran out to a big lead, at one point pushing the margin to 11, only to have Kohala catch them in the third quarter.
Wada had only one field goal in the second half but went 8-for-10 from the line. She was 10-for-14 from the stripe in the game and pulled down 15 rebounds. Stephanie Dang added 14 points for Hawaii Baptist, with four 3-pointers.
HBA lost in the final last year and has never won a state title.
Na’ai Solomon-Lewis led the way with 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Cowgirls.
SUMMARIES
Semifinals
Hawaii Baptist 52, Kohala 42
| At Keaau |
| Kohala (9-5) |
10 |
7 |
15 |
10 |
— |
42 |
| HBA (15-0) |
16 |
12 |
6 |
18 |
— |
52 |
KOHALA—Briana Harrison 2, Brittany Shimono 2, Naai Solomon-Lewis 16, Camylle Jayde Agbayani 4, Mikayla Kekoa 4, Tezrah Antonio 14, Brittney Badua 0, Jessica Tenorio 0.
HAWAII BAPTIST—Stephanie Dang 14, Ashley Benn 0, Ally Wada 18, Katelyn Nakagawa 6, Caitlen Joy Ramos 2, Morgan Lorenzo 8, Kiara Chun 2, Kyley Nakagawa 2, Keisha Ching 0.
3-point goals—Kohala 1 (Antonio). Hawaii Baptist 8 (Dang 4, Wada 2, K. Nakagawa 2).
KS-Hawaii 43, Mid-Pacific 35
| At Keaau |
| Mid-Pacific (13-4) |
10 |
10 |
5 |
10 |
— |
35 |
| KS-Hawaii (10-4) |
7 |
15 |
8 |
13 |
— |
43 |
MID-PACIFIC—Harley Simon 7, Kerry Ellen Chun 2, Ciera Kameehonua 13, Judy Phan 5, Brilie Kovaloff 8, Margaret Leung 0, Kayla Muraoka 0, Tylee-Kanani Wong 0, Payton Antonio 0, Marjorie Cheng-Leever 0, Brenda Huynh 0, Samantha Uyehara 0.
KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAII—Caitlin Poe 8, Makenzie Kalawaia 7, Saydee Aganus 9, Jordyn Mantz 8, Taylor-James Sullivan 5, Camille Poe 0, Kyla Aguilar 6.
3-point goals—Mid-Pacific 2 (Kameehonua, Kovaloff). Kamehameha-Hawaii 2 (Poe, Cai., Mantz).
Consolation
Damien 56, Molokai 49
| At Waiakea |
| Molokai (13-2) |
19 |
12 |
6 |
12 |
— |
49 |
| Damien (10-7) |
13 |
12 |
17 |
14 |
— |
56 |
MOLOKAI—Precious Rawlins 3, Hepuakea Faleali’i 17, Camille Ledesma 7, Brooke Keliihoomalu 7, Kelcyn Balbas 6, Jamaica Bumatay 0, Nadia Augustiro 0, Christine Rawlins 2, Kristine Aquino 0, Sydney Rawlins 2, Kaitlin DeRouin 5, Kori-Lee DeRouin 0.
DAMIEN—Ghenniel Vegas 0, Kelsey Perreira 11, Jonnalee Galdones 2, Melina Souza 20, Chantelle Agag 0, Karly Navas 8, Karissa Racoma 3, Ilana Sagapolutele 2, Catherine Votovich 10, Montana Carter 0.
3-point goals—Molokai 2 (Falealii, DeRouin). Damien 5 (Souza 2, Perreira, Racoma).
Kaimuki 50, St. Francis 42
| At Waiakea |
| Kaimuki (10-4) |
8 |
16 |
10 |
16 |
— |
50 |
| St. Francis (10-6) |
9 |
10 |
12 |
11 |
— |
42 |
KAIMUKI—Sonia Palik 5, Kaelyn Espinda 5, Brandi Pfeiffer-Kekoa 4, Victoria Kintz 15, Kato Leha 5, Sirena Titer 2, Jamie Lakmis 6, Liza Anien 0, Kayla Borja 0, Keihara Henry 0, Kuuipo Sefo 3, Alissa Chon 0, Anastasia Vea 0, Dacyleen Amond 4, Cleopatra Lauvao 0, Mele Loo-Godinet 1.
ST. FRANCIS—Kelli Okubo 8, Kahili Liu-Hanohano 2, Ka’imi Kalei 22, Skye Ah Yat 9, Dayna Romero 0, Rya Ornong 1, Zayla Sismar Evangelista 0, Olivia Vaeatangitau 0.
3-point goals—Kaimuki 3 (Kintz 2, Lakmis 2). St. Francis none.
Consolation finals
Kapaa 34, Hanalani 25
| At Waiakea |
| Hanalani (9-10) |
5 |
6 |
3 |
11 |
— |
25 |
| Kapaa (10-1) |
9 |
8 |
6 |
11 |
— |
34 |
HANALANI—Isabelle Aki 3, Alexa Nava 4, Jonnisty Monalim 6, Alyssa Spurling 9, Kiara Peterson 0, Rebekah Yamada 2, Kelsy Chong 0, Joanna Johnson 0, Keila Tsutsui 1.
KAPAA—Jaliyah Casem 6, Kunani Tuttle 3, Lila Hearn 0, Tori Daligcon-Pomaikai 5, Paea Tafea 15, Alexi Cordero 0, Lose Masaniai 0, Jazmin Kaleiohi 2, Tamare Daligcon-Pomaikai 0, Siokapesi Paua 2, Atelaite Tafea 1.
3-point goals—Hanalani 2 (Spurling 2). Kapaa none.
