Ashley Savusa scored 16 points and No. 7 Kaimuki took command in the third quarter for a 51-33 girls basketball win over No. 10 Roosevelt last night at James Alegre Gymnasium.
The win pushed Kaimuki (20-5) into a rematch with Pearl City in the Oahu Interscholastic Association’s Red Conference double-elimination playoffs. Pearl City stunned Kaimuki last week on the Bulldogs’ home floor, ending Kaimuki’s unbeaten run in league play.
Kaimuki will play Pearl City tomorrow, and if the Bulldogs win, it would force a winner-take-all final on Saturday.
“We have to look into dishing to the open teammate when we’re doubled. Pearl City plays good defense,” Kaimuki coach Mona Fa‘asoa said.
Kaimuki’s sticky matchup zone stifled Roosevelt, which shot 29 percent (14-for-48). Freshman Tatiana Mariano led the Rough Riders with 12 points.
“It’s just a little bit of getting on their shooters, playing solid defense,” Fa‘asoa said. “It’s almost like we’re in a man, but we’re still in the zone.”
For now, the Bulldogs can relish a win over the upset-minded Rough Riders. Savusa overcame a bumpy start — six turnovers in the first half — to spark the second-half run. She scored six points during a pivotal 13-2 run that opened the second half. That turned a 15-13 game into a commanding lead.
“We just had to settle down and let the game come to us. Her attitude is so good, she said, ‘Coach, my bad.’ They’re all great kids,” Fa‘asoa said.
Savusa had six rebounds, while guard Dejah Fa‘asoa was an invaluable asset with seven points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Fa‘asoa’s floor leadership helped Kaimuki control the tempo against the whirlwind-quick Rough Riders.
When the second half started, the senior guard went to the low post and scored on back-to-back plays.
“We just tried to take advantage of what they gave us,” coach Fa‘asoa said.
Roosevelt, which shot just 3-for-18 from 3-point range, got within 40-31 on a steal and bank shot by Tatiana Mariano with just over 4 minutes left. However, Roosevelt guard Breyana Dutro-Solomua fouled out moments later, and the Rough Riders ran out of steam.
Roosevelt (14-8) had already clinched a state-tournament berth. The Rough Riders lost at Kaimuki 51-37 late in the regular season and were close for a half last night. The Rough Riders’ man-to-man defense forced the Bulldogs into 12 turnovers before halftime.
Kaimuki closed off the lanes and outrebounded Roosevelt 33-16.
The ’Dogs committed 22 turnovers in all to Roosevelt’s 11. Kaimuki shot 50 percent from the floor (18-for-36) and 11-for-15 from the foul line.
Roosevelt coach Hinano Higa was frustrated, but looking forward to the state tourney. Getting an early rest, though, was no consolation.
“It’s never a good thing,” she said. “It’s been like that from game to game. Our defense is there, we create turnovers, but we miss layups, our 3-pointers don’t fall. We’re trying to fight through it. We did the job. (Kaimuki) went to the line only once in the first half.”
¯¯¯¯¯
At Radford
| ROOSEVELT (14-8, 10-6) |
8 |
5 |
8 |
12 |
— |
33 |
| KAIMUKI (20-5, 15-1) |
|
10 |
5 |
18 |
18 |
— |
51 |
ROOSEVELT—Breyana Dutro-Solomua 8, Starr Rivera 0, Kira Arruda 3, Sharice Kawakami 2, Chelsea Wong 2, Tatiana Mariano 12, Krystle Chung 6.
KAIMUKI—Seplynn Aikau 0, Valerie Wilson 0, Canny Aikau 6, Nikki Vongprachanh 3, Kawena Paez 0, Krysta Yasui 6, Ashley Savusa 16, Keana Paez 5, Shantaeus Ramos-Dias 8, Dejah Fa‘asoa 7, Julia Soares 0.
3-point goals—Roosevelt 3 (Dutro-Solomua, Arruda, Mariano), Kaimuki 4 (Ramos-Dias 2, C. Aikau, Vongprachanh)
McKinley 46, Kalani 38
In a White Conference playoff battle, Miranda Schmillen hustled for 17 points and Tiare Sugui tallied 10 as McKinley outlasted Kalani 46-38 at James Alegre Gymnasium.
The Tigers, who have one loss in the double-elimination D-II tourney, will face Radford, which has yet to lose.
Jourdan Mills hustled for eight points to help McKinley.
Schmillen and Sugui combined to score all 10 of McKinley’s points in the second quarter, when the Tigers turned a seven-point lead into a 23-12 halftime edge.
Mills hit six free throws in a row in the final minutes to seal the win.
At Radford
| KALANI (4-8) |
6 |
6 |
10 |
16 |
— |
38 |
| MCKINLEY (8-6) |
13 |
10 |
9 |
14 |
— |
46 |
KALANI—Kimberly Sakamoto 4, Carly Kakuda 7, Riley Kishaba 0, Rose Alama 2, Haley Omiya 8, Taili Iinuma 4, Brenna Beall 5, Kaiana Iaea 6, Alex Salas 0, Taylor Murai 2.
MCKINLEY—Mariz Navarro 2, Miranda Schmillen 17, Tiare Sugui 10, Laika Aragon 0, Jourdan Mills 8, Sybil Coryell 5, Katey Ezra 0, Savanna Gonzales 2, Dorothy Aumua 2.
3-point goals—Kalani 4 (Omiya 2, Iinuma, Beall), McKinley 2 (Schmillen, Coryell).
ILH DIVISION II GIRLS
La Pietra 33, Lutheran 30
Jordan McDonald had 11 points as the Panthers squeezed by the Lions. Kaliehiwa Ah New had a game-high 12 for Lutheran.
At La Pietra
| LUTHERAN (4-10) |
5 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
— |
30 |
| LA PIETRA (6-8) |
5 |
11 |
13 |
4 |
— |
33 |
LUTHERAN—Lexi Kaneshiro 5, Kayla Suganuma 8, Kourntney Park 0, Kailyn Osaki 0, Kiana Tom 0, Vikatolia Naulu 5, Kaliehiwa Ah New 12, Jasmine Fong 0, Briannah Cadiz 0, Lia Veikoso 0.
LA PIETRA—Kiana Ho‘ohuli 0, Angelina Ishiki 0, Veronica Thomas 1, Marina Sewell 4, Marissa Hoen 6, Zoe Moriwaki 0, Salote Lopes-Liutolo 8, Monique Smith 3, Jordan McDonald 11.
3-point goals—Lutheran 3 (Suganuma 2, Kaneshiro). La Pietra none.
Le Jardin 65, Christian Academy 42
With just three players on the scoreboard, the Patriots fell to the Bulldogs.
Le Jardin’s Taylor Valentine scored a team-high 18 points, followed by Kelly Kuchenbecker with 16.
Leslie Ortiz-Cruz and Rachel Tokuda carried Christian Academy with 23 and 18 points.
At Le Jardin
| CA (2-12) |
2 |
9 |
10 |
21 |
— |
42 |
| LJ (6-5) |
16 |
16 |
18 |
15 |
— |
65 |
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY—Leslie Ortiz-Cruz 23, Rhea Elcock 0, Charis Shimizu 0, Alyssa Yee 1, Rachel Tokuda 18, Rebecca Abergas 0, Charanne Bonilla 0.
LE JARDIN—Kelly Buck 0, Olivia McCabe 3, Kelly Kuchenbecker 16, Dana Kim 0, Jordan Gonzales 0, Renee Van Bergeijk 4, Stephanie Ramos 10, Kacey Kuchenbecker 14, Taylor Valentine 18.
3-point goals—Christian Academy 3 (Ortiz-Cruz 3). Le Jardin none.
St. Francis 51, Lanakila Baptist 42
Lacey Satele sank three from behind the arc and finished with 17 points to lead the Saints.
Jessica Sonson scored 12 points for the Warriors in the loss.
At Manoa Valley District Park gym
| LB (3-11) |
3 |
14 |
9 |
16 |
— |
42 |
| SF (6-7) |
6 |
11 |
15 |
19 |
— |
51 |
LANAKILA BAPTIST—Jeizelyn Pananganan 8, Erika Ellis 10, Jessica Sonson 12, Emily-Rae Abang 0, Millie Pacheco 0, Rebecca Caruthers 7, Kat Walker 2, Bethesda Camacho 3, Kanani Kanahailua 0.
ST. FRANCIS—Lacey Satele 17, Taylor Bellevou 9, Alissa Pacarro 10, Ashley Kahapea-Wagner 2, Rachel Carlos 0, Tori Keliiaa 0, Jairian Ka’ahauni 8, Jasmine Soon 3, Jessica Rossi 2.
3-point goals—Lanakila Baptist none. St. Francis 5 (Satele 3, Pacarro 2).
