The blueprint is working perfectly for the Cinderella Lady Cougars of Kaiser.
Rose Shimaoka scored 10 points and, for a second night in a row, Skylar Kimura provided the go-ahead 3-point shot as Kaiser rallied from a 10-point deficit to upset fourth-seeded Leilehua 34-27 in the quarterfinal round of the OC-16/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championships.
Freshman Maalaea Kaneaiakala chipped in eight points, including five during a pivotal second-quarter run by Kaiser.
Tywanna Abbott had eight points and eight rebounds to lead OIA champion Leilehua (12-3). Freshman Kaylen Kamelamela added seven points and four steals, while Chyel Palmer added six points and seven boards, and Tianna Hanohano had six points, six caroms, three assists and two blocks.
The dreamy sequence of clutch plays and all-out defense by Kaiser (12-3), the OIA’s fifth-place team, had Coach Simon Bitanga teary after their second win in as many nights.
“What they’ve been through, playing with five girls, then seven, then me coming back and they had to adjust to my coaching style, it’s Cinderella, the adversity they went through,” he said.
Bitanga was suspended early in the season as the DOE investigated him for undisclosed reasons. He was cleared recently and the Lady Cougars have been better than ever since. They got another stellar game from Shimaoka, who added five rebounds and four assists in another 32-minute, iron woman performance. She had plenty of help. Bitanga went to his bench early, using five reserves, and employed a stifling man-to-man defense to spark the rally.
The Cougars also got a more typical game from center Brooke Ho, who had 10 rebounds, five points and three blocks against Leilehua’s stellar front court. Ho, a 6-foot senior, struggled in the opening game against Kamehameha-Maui.
“She shook it off. She came to school and told me, ‘We have to win this game! I’m not playing like I did last night,’ ” Shimaoka said.
The game seemed to turn on an unusual tactical move by Leilehua coach Elroy Dumlao. His team jumped to a 12-2 lead against a Kaiser squad that seemed a step slow and fatigued early. Kaiser chipped away and got within 14-8 when Bitanga switched his team out of a 2-3 zone and into a tight man defense.
He sent senior Chelsea Soong to deny the ball to Leilehua’s gifted 5-10 point guard, Hanohano.
“We had to do something with Abbott and Hanohano being tall and long and killing us,” Bitanga said. “We thought they would run screens and post Hanohano.”
Instead, Hanohano stayed way back at midcourt near the sideline as her teammates attacked without success. Hanohano, who had six points, three boards and a steal in the first quarter, even stayed in the backcourt as the 5-4 Soong hovered nearby.
Kaiser went on a 9-3 run to tie the game at 17 shortly before the half.
“Four on four. If a team wants to do that, we’ll go four on four all night,” Dumlao said.
Hanohano scored just two points the rest of the game.
No. 2 Lahainaluna 77, Mililani 38
Keleah-Aiko Koloi had 23 points and eight rebounds and Cameron Fernandez finished with 23 points and five steals as the Lunas defeated the Trojans.
Fa-Ko-Fieme’a Hafoka added 12 points for Lahainaluna, which will face No. 3 seed Maryknoll in today’s semifinals at Moanalua.
The Lunas shot 31-for-60 from the field and forced 33 turnovers.
Jazmina Lafitaga scored 14 points for Mililani.
No. 3 Maryknoll 69, Hilo 53
Dakota Vienna scored 15 points and Kamalu Kamakawiwo’ole and Rhianne Omori each added 13 in the Spartans’ victory over the Vikings.
Faith Loeak had 11 points for Hilo, which fell behind 22-6 after the first quarter.
HHSAA DIVISION II
Damien 50, McKinley 40
Ilana Sagapolutele finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds and Melina Souza added 10 points as the Monarchs beat the Tigers.
Damien will face top-seeded Hawaii Baptist in today’s quarterfinals
Sagapolutele went 12-for-14 from the free-throw line for the Monarchs, who committed 37 turnovers, but held a 49-28 rebounding advantage.
McKinley’s Kayla Rasavanh scored 13 points.
Kohala 47, Kapaa 40, OT
Naai Solomon-Lewis scored 14 points, including four in overtime, and Brittany Shimono added 13 as the Cowboys beat the Warriors.
Kohala will play No. 4 seed Molokai in today’s quarterfinals.
Tori “Laka” Daligcon-Pomaikai scored nine points for Kapaa.
Mid-Pacific 49, Hanalani 28
Ciera Kameehonua scored 18 points and Brillie Kovaloff added 11 points and eight rebounds in the Owls’ victory over the Royals.
Mid-Pacific will play No. 3 seed Kaimuki in today’s quarterfinals.
Rebekah Yamada scored eight points for Hanalani, which shot just 8-for-26 from the free-throw line.
St. Francis 48, Waipahu 28
Ka‘imi Kalei scored 12 points, Skye Ah Yat and Olivia Vaeatangitau each added 10 and the Saints made 20 of 31 field-goal attempts in a win over the Marauders.
St. Francis will play No. 2 seed Kamehameha-Hawaii in today’s quarterfinals.
Waipahu’s Kaelyn Aceret scored nine points.
HHSAA DIVISION I GIRLS
No. 2 Lahainaluna 77, Mililani 38
| At Kalani High |
| Mililani (11-4) |
7 |
16 |
8 |
7 |
— |
38 |
| Lahainaluna (15-0) |
30 |
13 |
24 |
10 |
— |
77 |
MILILANI—Velisa Meleisea 6, Brianna Garcia 0, Teona Singletary 0, Kayla Torres 8, Ava Lowell 2, Elise Vasper 0, Amanda Barlan 0, Caysie Tomas 0, Taylor Walker 1, Jazmina Lafitaga 14, Kalena Gibson 3, Melanie Santoro 1, Janae Richie 0, Cheyenne Ardona 3.
LAHAINALUNA—Teani Richard 0, Fa-Ko-Fieme’a Hafoka 12, Rachael Balagso 0, Braeanna Estabillo 4, Keiko Aotaki 0, Aprelene Cuaresma 0, Erin Ho’okano 0, Keleah-Aiko Koloi 23, Elisapeta Hafoka 5, Cameron Fernandez 23, Tori Tihada 2, Sheilaika Agbayani 2, Susitina Namoa 6, Alexa Plaza 0.
3-point goals—Mililani 4 (Lafitaga 3, Torres). Lahainaluna 5 (Fernandez 3, F. Hafoka, Koloi).
No. 1 Konawaena 51, No. 4 Punahou 27
| At Moanalua |
| Punahou (13-4) |
7 |
9 |
6 |
5 |
— |
27 |
| Konawaena (13-0) |
11 |
16 |
9 |
15 |
— |
51 |
PUNAHOU—Kamaile Kandiah 9, Lexie Taylor 0, Heaven Wong 1, Kamakani DeBlake 0, Abigail Aplaca 6, Va’e Malufau 7, Elle Uyeda 2, Tyra Moe 2, Kylie Yamauchi 0.
KONAWAENA—Mikayla Tablit 8, Tanniya Uchida 0, Jenny Fong 2, Chanelle Molina 9, Mercedes Victor 6, Mahie Kaawa 0, Celena Molina 16, Cherilyn Molina 10.
3-point goals—Punahou none. Konawaena 3 (Cel, Molina, Cha. Molina, Che. Molina).
Kaiser 34, No. 6 Leilehua 27
| At Moanalua |
| Kaiser (12-3) |
5 |
12 |
9 |
8 |
— |
34 |
| Leilehua (12-3) |
12 |
7 |
1 |
7 |
— |
27 |
KAISER—Brooke Ho 5, Rose Shimaoka 10, Skylar Kimura 6, Kayla Russell 0, Chelsea Soong 0, Tehani Kahawai-Robinson 2, Trinidee Kaneaiakala 10, Shavelle Kaneaiakala 0, Zhi Qing Sun 1.
LEILEHUA—Regina Dela Cruz 0, Megan Ayala 0, Hannah Coffin 0, Kaylen Kamelamela 7, Tianna Hanohano 6, Tywanna Abbott 8, Chyel Palmer 6, Saramasina Docktor 0, Abigail Flores 0, Shaylee Todani 0.
3-point goals—Kaiser 4 (Kaneaiakala 2, Kimura, Shimaoka). Leilehua 1 (Kamelamela).
No. 3 Maryknoll 69, Hilo 53
| At Kalani High |
| Hilo (11-3) |
6 |
19 |
10 |
18 |
— |
53 |
| Maryknoll (14-2) |
22 |
9 |
17 |
21 |
— |
69 |
HILO—Sharry Pagan 4, Alexis Pana 12, Kaiana Seguban-Yamabe 0, Sharlei Graham-Bernisto 9, Ciera Mae Keli’i 0, Shalyn Guthier 10, Faith Loeak 11, Mandi Kawaha Amar 7, Mele Fatai Vaka 0.
MARYKNOLL—Kamalu Kamakawiwo’ole 13, Alexis Delovio 6, Rhianne Omori 13, Georgette Steitzel 0, Dakota Vienna 15, Isabella Cravens 5, Chayse Milne 10, Lindsey Lee 3, Kehau Gilliland 2, Ysabelle Halemano 2, Sierra Murobayashi 0, Moenongi Notoa 0.
3-point goals—Hilo 5 (Loeak 2, Amar, Guthier, Pana). Maryknoll 4 (Viena 3, Kamakawiwo’ole).
Consolation semifinals
Farrington 42, KS-Maui 30
| At Moanalua |
| KS-Maui (10-6) |
8 |
10 |
8 |
4 |
— |
30 |
| Farrington (11-5) |
11 |
8 |
12 |
11 |
— |
42 |
KAMEHAMEHA-MAUI—Analis Nitta 0, Megan Miguel 2, Shaina Rapanot-Uyechi 0, Jamielee Felipe 0, Brianne Reformina 0, Brylee Carillo 0, Shaylisse Gregory 0, Rebeka Revelle 0, Talia Leauanae 0, Kimani Fernandez-Roy 9, Kaylee Cambra 9, Ashley Peralta 10.
FARRINGTON—Kylie Carganilla 0, Char Mae Lubay 0, Kelia Miller 0, Shayla Cabato-Machado 5, Shaniah Paleafei 0, Chalei Smith 0, Golden Rowan 4, Lokelani Pacheco 4, Molimau Heimuli 21, Naomi Peltier 2, Brittaney Savusa 0, Chantal Mailou 6.
3-point goals—Kamehameha-Maui 3 (Peralta 2, Cambra). Farrington none.
Radford 49, Roosevelt 40
| At Kalani |
| Radford (13-2) |
16 |
11 |
12 |
10 |
— |
49 |
| Roosevelt (12-3) |
6 |
2 |
12 |
20 |
— |
40 |
RADFORD—Natalie Jackson 1, Puni Seei 10, Salara Dill 4, Michelle Vazquez 2, Kyle Johnson 11, Jazmyn Peralta 7, Shaelie Burgess 12, Denise Bell 2.
ROOSEVELT—Haven Gabriel 0, Alliya Gabriel 3, Ashley-Alohi Kiko 18, Keala Quinlan 18, Sadie Luiz 0, D-Dre Wright 0, Ciera-Nicole Uchida 1, Sunhine Vicente 0.
3-point goals—Radford 1 (Peralta). Roosevelt 2 (Gabriel, Uchida).
HHSAA DIVISION II GIRLS
Damien 50, McKinley 40
| At Keaau |
| Damien (9-6) |
12 |
10 |
13 |
15 |
— |
50 |
| McKinley (6-8) |
11 |
13 |
2 |
14 |
— |
40 |
DAMIEN—Ghenniel Vegas 0, Kelsey Perrieira 2, Taylor Labanon 6, Jonnalee Galdones 0, Karly Navas 2, Karissa Racoma 8, Melina Souza 10, Ilana Sagapolutele 14, Catherine Votovich 8, Montana Carter 0, Chantelle Agag 0.
MCKINLEY—Kayla Rasavanh 13, Dezlyn Naval 0, Kloe Lum 8, Suzie Park 2, Joselle Ferrer 4, Britney Chang 2, Teane Sofa 6, Cheenie Melgazo 0, Ve’e Ve’e Li 5.
3-point goals—Damien 3 (Racoma 2, Souza). McKinley 3 (Lum, Rasavanh, Sofa).
Kohala 47, Kapaa 40, OT
| At Keaau |
| Kohala (8-5) |
8 |
5 |
8 |
15 |
3 |
8 |
— |
47 |
| Kapaa (8-1) |
6 |
9 |
8 |
13 |
3 |
1 |
— |
40 |
KOHALA—Briana Harrison 4, Brittany Shimono 13, Tezrah Antonio 5, Kyrah Sol 0, Naai Solomon-Lewis 14, Camylle Jayde Agbayani 3, Jessica Tenorio 2, Estefie Viernes 0, Kumulani Kaai 0, Mikayla Kekoa 6.
KAPAA—Jaliyah Casem 7, Kunani Tuttle 7, Mele “Lose” Masaniai 0, Jazmin Kaleiohi 2, Lila Hearn 0, Tori “Laka” Daligcon-Pomaikai 9, Tamare “Kiki” Daligcon-Pomaikai 0, Siokapesi “Pesi” Paua 7, Paea Tafea 6, Atelaite “Lupe” Tafea 2.
3-point goals—Kohala 4 (Shimono 3, Harrison). Kapaa 2 (Casem, Tuttle).
Mid-Pacific 49, Hanalani 28
| At Waiakea |
| Hanalani (8-9) |
2 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
— |
28 |
| Mid-Pacific (12-3) |
14 |
11 |
15 |
9 |
— |
49 |
HANALANI—Isabelle Aki 0, Rebekah Yamada 8, Alexa Nava 5, Kelsy Chong 0, Jonnisty Monalim 1, Joanna Johnson 0, Alyssa Spurling 2, Keila Tsutsui 7, Kiara Peterson 5, Caitlyn Bocobo 0, Tatum Leslie 0, Lexis Tam Ho 0.
MID-PACIFIC—Harley Simon 6, Margaret Leung 0, Kayla Muraoka 4, Tylee Wong 0, Kerry Chun 2, Payton Antonio 0, Ciera Kameehonua 18, Marjorie Cheng-Leever 2, Judy Phan 6, Brillie Kovaloff 11, Brenda Huynh 0, Samantha Uyehara 0.
3-point goals—Hanalani none. Mid-Pacific 3 (Kameehonua 2, Kovaloff).
St. Francis 48, Waipahu 28
| At Waiakea |
| St. Francis (10-5) |
10 |
13 |
11 |
14 |
— |
48 |
| Waipahu (4-9) |
7 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
— |
28 |
ST. FRANCIS—Haley Yoshioka 2, Kelli Okubo 6, Kahili Liu-Hanohano 2, Ka’imi Kalei 12, Rya Ornog 2, Skye Ah Yat 10, Zayla Sismar-Evangelista 0, Dayna Romero 4, Olivia Vaeatangitau 10.
WAIPAHU—Kayla Dias-Pajente 0, Kruzee Balcobero 0, Shannon Mailos 7, C.J. Tamayo 0, Angelica Simanu 0, Kathleen Camangeg 0, Kaelyn Aceret 9, Jenna Ramirez 2, Leilani Baon 8, Krystele Aceret 0, Jhoanna Caucon 0, Kanoe Uehara 2, Jonilyn Cabatic 0.
3-point goals—St. Francis 2 (Kalei 2). Waipahu 2 (Baon 2).
