Top-seeded Lunas sprint away from the Vikings

Erlanda Basques scored 17 points and Matafolau Hafoka added 14 as top-seeded Lahainaluna pulled away in the second half for a 57-47 win over Hilo on Friday in the semifinal round of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Division I Girls Basketball State Championships.

A crowd of about 700 looked on at McKinley Student Council Gymnasium.

Lahainaluna (20-1) will meet Punahou in Saturday’s championship game at Neal Blaisdell Arena. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

The Lunas last played in the final in 2010, when they won the championship. Hilo played in its second consecutive semifinal. Last year, the Vikings lost to eventual champion Kamehameha.

Friday’s semifinal was a matchup of family, however distant. The grandmothers of Hilo coach Ben Pana and Lahainaluna coach Todd Rickard are first cousins.

"We play the same style, fast tempo, a lot of fullcourt pressure," Rickard said. "It’s unfortunate someone had to lose."

The Lunas brought their faithful following of about 100 fans to McKinley, but started off slowly.

"They weren’t focused. They needed to settle down," Rickard said. "We were out of position on defense, but they got it going."

The play of Hafoka, a steady post player, was important.

"She’s tough. Not very big, but I’ll take her against anybody," Rickard said. "She can get to the basket, hit the mid-range shot and she’s key for us rebounding on defense and offense."

Hilo (19-6), the BIIF runner-up, took a 12-11 lead on a layup by Aliyah Pana. The Vikings extended the lead to 22-16 after a steal and layup by Sharlei Graham-Bernisto, who finished with 16 points.

Lahainaluna started to hit open shots, though, and after Aloha Salem connected on a corner 3, the Lunas had a 27-24 lead before the half.

Hilo began to wear down in the second half. After handling Roosevelt’s tough fullcourt pressure in a an upset last week, the Vikings were devoured by the Lunas. Hilo committed five turnovers in the first two minutes of the second half as Lahainaluna opened a 33-25 lead.

Hafoka, 5-foot-10 junior, scored back-to-back buckets during the mini-run.

The Vikings got within five, 33-28, after three points by sophomore Alexis Pana (11 points), but the Lunas went on a 9-2 run. Salem stroked another trey and Fa-Ko-fiemea Hafoka scored a fast-break layup as they took a 42-30 lead late in the third quarter.

Hilo committed nine turnovers in the third quarter.

Still, Hilo responded with a 10-2 run. Alexis Pana’s coast-to-coast basket cut the lead to 44-40 with 3:25 left, but the Vikings got no closer. Hafoka loomed large again, scoring inside on consecutive baskets as the Lunas opened a 50-40 lead with less than three minutes to go.

"Everybody worked together and I got open," she said.

HILO–Sharlei Graham-Bernisto 16, Alexis Pana 11, Shalyn Guthier 7, Chailey Cablalis 6, Aliyah Pana 4, Cierra Kelii 3, Kaily Harris 0, Amber Vaughn 0.

LAHAINALUNA–Erlanda Basques 17, Matafolau Hafoka 12, Lindsay Bates 8, Aloha Salem 7, Fa-Ko-fiemea Hafoka 6, Mina Faaumu 4, Taylor Bates 3, Cameron Fernandez 0, Keleah-Aiko Koloi 0.

3-point goals–Hilo 3 (Guthier 2, Kelii). Lahainaluna 6 (L. Bates 2, Salem 2, T. Bates, Basques).