No. 1 Kamehameha steamrolls into semis

Alohi Robins-Hardy has played deep into state tournaments before, just not on the basketball court.

As an All-State volleyball player, Robins-Hardy helped Kamehameha reach the state championship match the past two seasons and played a prominent role in a breakthrough win for the girls basketball program on Wednesday.

Robins-Hardy’s 15 points led a balanced Kamehameha attack and the Warriors advanced to the semifinals of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Division I Girls Basketball Championships with a 65-40 win over Maui at Radford’s Jim Alegre Gymnasium.

"It’s kind of redemption for last year because we came in and we lost our first game, so it feels good," Robins-Hardy said.

Kamehameha has eight girls basketball trophies in Kekuhaupio Gym, but hadn’t reached the state tournament semifinals since winning its last title in 2002.

The Warriors return to the tournament’s final four today and play in the 7 p.m. semifinal at Blaisdell Arena.

"Last year I came in and they bought into what we tried to do," said Kamehameha coach Darold Imanaka, who led Kalani to a Division II title in 2006. "They’re good kids, they listen, there’s no drama on my team. They want it so badly. I told them when we finished preseason, ‘It’s up to you guys,’ and they responded."

Second-seeded Kamehameha (13-0) had a first-round bye as the ILH champion and forced Maui, which defeated Waianae on Tuesday, into 18 turnovers in the first half.

Kamehameha substituted in waves in the first half and seven Warriors contributed to their 16-8 lead after the first quarter. Tiare Kanoa scored eight of her 14 points before halftime as the Warriors defense fed the offense with 13 steals.

"It’s defense first and offense after," Robins-Hardy said of the Warriors’ mind-set.

Robins-Hardy, a 6-foot-1 junior, had four steals in the first half and scored nine points in the third quarter to account for the bulk of her total.

"Kamehameha is a solid team; they’re tall they’re long; they rebound and they can handle the ball," Maui coach Gilbert Silva said. "We knew coming in it would be a big, big test for us. It was a matter of us trying to control the game, but they just overpowered us tonight."

Maui stayed close in the opening moments thanks to 3-pointers by senior Trina Valencia and sophomore Jordyn Vega. But Kamehameha went on a 14-3 run bridging the first and second quarters and took a 29-15 lead into halftime.

The Warriors opened the third quarter with an 18-4 run, scoring eight points in a 30-second flurry midway through the period.

All 11 available players saw significant playing time for Kamehameha and 10 got into the scoring column.

Valencia and senior center Christina Lotulelei led Maui with 10 points each.

At Radford

Maui (12-2) 8 7 12 13 — 40

Kamehameha (13-0) 16 13 25 11 — 65

MAUI—Jasmine Cabajar 1, Liana Tanaka 5, Jordyn Vega 9, Trina Valencia 10, Jamilyn Tamura 0, Jo’voni Shimabukuro 3, Kuulei Bailey 0, Jenicca Tamura 2, Nicole Pagan-Eldredge 0, Brittnie Suda-Molina 0, Emma Hanlon 0, Christina Lotulelei 10.

KAMEHAMEHA—Breann Nueku 6, Kealani Ryder 8, Tori-Jean Cambra 5, Erin Marks 7, Shelbey Cadinha-Oku 0, Alohi Robins-Hardy 15, Tiare Kanoa 14, Puuwainui Ah Puck 6, Nicole Kaaihue 0, Lilia Maio 2, Shantel Aleki 2.

3-point goals—Maui 4 (Valencia 2, Vega, Tanaka). Kamehameha 1 (Marks).

Hilo 66, Leilehua 40

Aliyah Pana hit two of the Vikings’ seven 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 18 points and Hilo pulled away from the third-seeded Mules.

Hilo faces Kamehameha today in its first appearance in the state tournament semifinals since 1990.

Hilo jumped out to a 23-5 lead in the second quarter before Leilehua scored the final eight points of the first half. The Vikings — who rallied past Roosevelt on Tuesday — stretched the lead in the second half, scoring 32 points in the fourth quarter. Chailey Cabalis finished with 15 points and Hilo shot 19-for-21 from the free-throw line in the game.

Elyshia Bowden led OIA Red champion Leilehua with 10 points.

At Radford

Hilo (13-1) 18 5 11 32 — 66

Leilehua (12-2) 3 10 10 17 — 40

HILO—Raevyn Kaupu 0, Chailey Cabalis 15, Alexis Pana 5, Alyssa Perreira 0, Sharlei Graham-Bernisto 8, Aliyah Pana 18, Cierra Kelii 4, Shalyn Guthier 10, Amber Vaughn 6, Sydnee Yokota 0, Kaily Harris 0, Faith Loeak 0, Kaiana Seguban-Yamabe 0.

LEILEHUA—Chloe Pojas 0, Krizzle Calip 5, Jazmyn Dangaran 0, Jerri Maluyo 6, Tatiana Caravallo 0, Carissa McBride 6, Hannah Coffin 0, Briana Crawley 5, Tiffany Reyher 6, Elyshia Bowden 10, Tywanna Abbott 2, Azah Quach 0.

3-point goals—Hilo 7 (Graham-Bernisto 2, Aliyah Pana 2, Cabalis, Alexis Pana, Vaughn). Leilehua 4 (Reyher 2, Maluyo, Calip).

Girls Division II Quarterfinals

Kamehameha-Hawaii 54, University 48

Casey Poe scored 18 points and Riana Arima had 17 as the top-seeded Warriors advanced to face Hanalani in the semifinal round today at Kalani at 7 p.m.

In the loss, the Jr. ‘Bows got 13 points from Brooke Kodama and 12 from Markayisha Masani and Kianalei Machida.

At Kaimuki

University (9-3) 19 7 10 12 — 48

KS Hawaii (10-3) 18 7 12 17 — 54

UNIVERSITY—Kawai Crisostmo 0, Sue Moraga 2, Markayisha Masani 12, Kianalei Machida 12, Skyler Chun-Ming 4, Michelle Au 0, Brooke Kodama 13, Meagan Mahiko 5.

KAMEHAMEHA HAWAII—Casey Poe 18, Kiera Kua Ramirez 0, Caitlin Poe 2, Namele Naipo-Arsiga 10, Riana Arima 17, Chyann Gabriel 7, Harley Woosley 0.

3-point goals—University 4 (Kodama 3, Masani). Kamehameha Hawaii 1 (Arima).

Hanalani 55, Kalaheo 46

Junior center Sarah Liva posted 20 points and 21 rebounds to lead the Royals into the semifinals with a victory over the fourth-seeded Mustangs.

Lyna Kehler added 13 points for Hanalani, which plays top-seeded Kamehameha Hawaii today at 7 p.m at Kalani.

Kalaheo got 10 points from Tara Takata.

At Kaimuki

Hanalani (9-3) 13 11 14 17 — 55

Kalaheo (8-7) 13 14 10 9 — 46

HANALANI—Lyna Kehler 13, Catherine Armstrong 7, Lexi Hee 0, Dylan McCorquodale 8, Kara Tanaka 2, Sabrina Stratton 5, Sarah Liva 20.

KALAHEO—Jayla Tamashiro 5, Tara Takata 10, Lindsay Unsell 4, Shauna Perry 8, Tilani Puaauli 2, Sierra Freitas 6, Jade Martins 5, Rebekah Kahlbaum 2, Gabby Clark 2, Team 2.

3-point goals—Hanalani 2 (Kehler, McCorquodale). Kalaheo 4 (Perry 2, Tamashiro, Takata).

Kauai 51, Kailua 42

Senior guard Kristle Henry poured in 30 points to lead the second-seeded Red Raiders to a quarterfinal victory over the Surfriders.

Patria Vaimoana scored 13 points for Kailua.

Kauai faces Honokaa in the semifinals today at 5 p.m. at Kalani.

At Kalani

Kailua (8-8) 7 12 13 10 — 42

Kauai (9-0) 9 16 17 9 — 51

KAILUA—Taufau Williams 7, Sharray Revuelto-Racoma 0, Kalia Ripley 2, Keala Kaio-Perez 4, Kahea Makua 2, Nia Fealofani 0, Briana Kassebeer 7, Choryn Beall 0, Kahoa Mikaele 7, Patria Vaimoana 13.

KAUAI—Pili Chung 0, Grace Peralta 0, Ashley Ramelb 0, Kristle Henry 30, Marissa Martinez 0, Shaylee Huni 2, Casey Anacieto 7, Kailee Yago 0, Riana Ralston 5, Kawehi Louis-Diamond 7.

3-point goals—Kailua none. Kauai 3 (Henry 2, Anacieto).

Honokaa 37, Hawaii Baptist 35

Junior center Hunter Liftee scored 23 points as the Dragons knocked off the third-seeded Eagles.

Stephanie Dang led Hawaii Baptist with nine points.

At Kalani

Honokaa (9-3) 16 3 10 8 — 37

Hawaii Baptist (10-1) 5 12 7 11 — 35

HONOKAA—Shereena Bird 0, Yvonne Daniels 0, Keana Kaohimaunu 6, Kayla Requelman 0, Hunter Liftee 23, Kizzah Maltezo 0, Shayla Ignacio 6, Jasmine Castro 2, Shemika Frazier 0.

HAWAII BAPTIST—Stephanie Dang 9, Rylie Wada 1, Haley Dixon 8, Lauren Sumida 7, Dominique Hart 2, Hailey Chong 0, Jenee Brown 8, Megan Horita 0.

3-point goals—Honokaa 2 (Ignacio, Kaohimaunu). Hawaii Baptist 5 (Brown 2, Dixon 2, Dang).

Girls Division II consolation

McKinley 66, Kohala 47

At Kalani

McKinley (9-6) 10 23 14 19 — 66

Kohala (4-9) 8 13 18 8 — 47

MCKINLEY—Mariz Navarro 14, Anna-Marie Manog 2, Miranda Schmillen 14, Tiare Sugui 6, Chealse Tafai 0, Porsche Santiago 0, Jazmayne Williams 0, Taisha Thomas 18, Laika Aragon 12, Tinousi Mulitauopele 0, Deborah Malaga 0.

KOHALA—Mohala Kaholoa‘a-Kumukoa 2, Jessica Tenorio 0, Tezrah Antonio 13, Sheana Cazimero 9, Hauoli Sproat-Lancaster 8, Briana Harrison 10, Na‘ai Solomon-Lewis 5.

3-point goals—McKinley 4 (Aragon 2, Navarro, Sugui). Kohala 5 (Antonio 4, Solomon-Lewis).

St. Francis 50, Molokai 38

At Kaimuki

Molokai (5-5) 11 4 8 15 — 38

St. Francis (9-5) 12 12 9 17 — 50

MOLOKAI—Rochelle Rosqueta 0, Tiara English 7, Camille Borden 2, Shaniah Mollena-Lopez 14, Hepuakea Falealii 3, Tiera-Lee Bishae-Marquez 2, Tyra Moellena-Lopez 2, IIlana Meyer 0, Rebecka Adolpho 0, Lehiwa Pedro 8, Edel Alvarez 0, Kelcyn Balbas 0.

ST. FRANCIS—Kelli Okubo 0, Alissa Pacarro 8, Hunter Roberts 0, Tori Keliiaa 11, Taylor Bellevou 8, Lacey Satele 17, Ashely Kahapea-Wagner 2, Dayna Romero 0, Rachel Carlos 4.

3-point goals—Not available.