Punahou puts a stop to Maryknoll’s streak

This time, the Punahou Buffanblu weren’t so generous.

Using an air-tight defense and a balanced offense, No. 6 Punahou edged No. 2 Maryknoll 38-36 on Saturday at Clarence T.C. Ching Gymnasium, handing the Spartans their first loss in ILH girls basketball play.

The Spartans had opportunities. Trailing 37-36 with 25 seconds left, they used two timeouts before Lexi Delovio drove from the top of the key and fed teammate Maia Laboy with a pass that was just out of reach. The ball tumbled out of bounds with 5.3 seconds left.

Punahou’s Kamaile Kandiah hit the first of her 1-and-1 free throws with 4.1 ticks left for a 38-36 lead. Her second shot missed, but Maryknoll was unable to get the ball upcourt quickly enough for a shot before the buzzer.

Guards Hailey Motooka (eight points), Kamaile Kandiah (eight) and Astra Kidani (seven) combined for 23 points to spark Punahou. Tyra Moe anchored the frontcourt with seven rebounds and two blocks as the visitors won their fifth game in a row. Moe had help on the block. Keau Fey had two blocks before fouling out, and Vae Malufau contributed four boards and a steal off the bench.

"It was so physical, but we did all right as a team. Our communication was key, that was the whole thing," Moe said. "Our coaches are nuts when it comes to defense."

Maryknoll coach Chico Furtado knows his team missed a chance to create separation.

"It’s not just the last play. You think about the whole game that could’ve made up one point," he said.

"We let this one get away. We had an opportunity. We missed free throws and we don’t get an attempt at the end."

Punahou (7-2, 5-1) was steadfast on defense, using its man-to-man scheme effectively on Maryknoll scorers Laboy and Delovio. Laboy and Delovio combined for 22 points when Maryknoll stunned Punahou 55-45 on Dec. 18 in a game that was close until the final few minutes.

This time, the two had 14 combined points.

"Maryknoll is so dang tough. They’ve got such great chemistry. We were just hoping our kids would rise to the occasion," Punahou coach Kevin Velasco said. "(Cianna) Ochoco is tough. We knew Lexi can get to the line a lot, so we tried to take that away.

"We handled the ball a little better (in the fourth quarter) this time. We were opportunistic. We knew they would double-team on every occasion on Tyra."

Ochoco led Maryknoll (14-2, 5-1) with 14 points and three 3-pointers, including a couple of NBA-range treys in the third quarter. Maegan Martin hustled for a team-high seven rebounds.

"We were 7-for-11 and that’s not bad, but we were 3-for-6 down the stretch," Furtado said. "Turnovers were not bad. We had 13, but we had four in the fourth quarter. The effort is there, but you’ve got to execute and do some simple things. We were able to make enough of those plays the first time against Punahou, Kamehameha and ‘Iolani."

Like Maryknoll, Punahou looked to run early and often, shooting open 3s in transition. The Buffanblu finished 4-for-13 from the arc (31 percent). Maryknoll was 3-for-13 from deep (23 percent), with Ochoco going 3-for-5. But the emphasis on defense turned the game into grind.

"That’s a credit to both teams. Chico’s team and our team wanting to play hard," Velasco said.

It was a tight game all the way; Maryknoll’s largest lead was 13-8 in the opening quarter. Punahou had a modest 20-16 lead early in the third.

PUNAHOU–Keau Fey 2, Elle Uyeda 5, Hailey Motooka 8, Astra Kidani 7, Asia Olivieri 0, Vae Malufau 2, Tyra Moe 4, Abby Aplaca 2,  Kamaile Kandiah 8.

MARYKNOLL–Lexi Delovio 7, Maile Goodin 2, Maia Laboy 7, Cianna Ochoco 14, Kaile Cambra 0, Maegan Martin 4, Lindsey Lee 2, Siena Shupe 0.

3-point goals: Punahou 4 (Uyeda, Motooka, Kidani, Kandiah), Maryknoll 3 (Ochoco 3).

No. 9 ‘Iolani 40, Mid-Pacific 25

Jade Botelho scored eight points to lead the Raiders over the Owls. Harley Simon scored 10 points for the Owls.

MID-PACIFIC--Harley Simon 10, Lia Nakamoto 5, Kerry Ellen Chun 0, Kayla Muraoka 3, Judy Phan 0, Emily Ma 2, Pua Kanekoa 3, Courtney Tom 2.

‘IOLANI–Brooke Kaneshiro 4, Emily Nomura 7, Klein Masutani 2, Brooke Maeda 3, Sierra Buscher 4, Kelsi Ikeda 7, Lindsey Combs 0, Camy Aguinaldo 0, Jessica Otsu 4, Alyssa Finger 1, Sunshine Saucedo 0, Skyler Nakata 0, Jade Botelho 8.

3-point goals–Mid-Pacific none. ‘Iolani 2 (Nomura, Ikeda).

ILH DIVISION II GIRLS

Punahou II  43, Hanalani 25

The Buffanblu built a 27-11 halftime lead and cruised by the Royals. Hanalani sophomore forward Rebeka Yamada had a game-high 10 points.

PUNAHOU II–Rachel Garcia 0, Kelly Honda 4, Becky Yim 0, Melissa Nakamoto 6, Malia Mizuno 3, Brieanna Goo 0, Laakea Marquez 9, Mackenzie Feldman 8, Cassandra Uyema 7, Kayla Amano 0, Kasey Li 1, Kealohilani Myers-Rosa 2, Tatiana Garzon 2, Megan Lau 1.

HANALANI–Isabelle Aki 2, Rebekah Yamada 10, Alexa Nava 0, Shanel Taparra 3, Lexi Hee 2, Jonnisty Monalim 7, Shawnia Oliveras 0, Erica Barro 1, Kyla George 0, Kara Tanaka 0.

3-point goals–Punahou II  1 (Uyema). Hanalani  none.

Kamehameha II 56, St. Andrew’s Priory 32

Nalani Tearsjah Aipoalani-Tuaoi-Tootoo had 17 points as the Warriors pounded the Pride.

KAMEHAMEHA II–Kylie Leong 9, Taylin Perreira 2, Kealani Browne 0, Andie Hoshijo 0, Breelyn Clark 15, Kiana Burnett 3, Nalani Tearsjah Aipoalani-Tuaoi-Tootoo 17, Lindsey Mok 8, Katherine Shun-Gilmour 0, Heaven Rodrigues 2.

ST. ANDREW’S–Rachel Tamashiro 6, Chelsie DePonte 4, Mie Oishi 0, Jessica Serikawa 0, Olivia Sou 5, Rachel Ho 1, Kailee Shiraishi 0, Katie Murphy 10, Hattie Hapai 0, Isabelle-Marie Geppert 6.

3-point goals–Kamehameha II  1 (Clark). St. Andrew’s none.

Also

University 41, ‘Iolani II 29

BIIF

Honokaa 48, Hawaii Prep 23