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Vae Malufau powered her way to 20 points and 12 rebounds as No. 4 Punahou routed No. 6 ‘Iolani 47-31 on Tuesday night at the Raiders’ gym.
Tyra Moe added 13 points and nine boards as coach Kevin Velasco’s team used an old-school approach to hammer the smaller Raiders in the paint.
Punahou improved to 3-0 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play while ‘Iolani dropped to 2-1.
The Buffanblu looked sharp despite a three-week layoff between their last preseason game and the league opener last week. Malufau, a 6-foot junior, and Moe, a 6-1 junior, were devastating at times.
Malufau shot 7-for-12 from the field and 6-for-8 at the foul line. She also dished a team-high four assists.
Moe was 6-for-8 from the field and blocked two shots. The two ran the floor from start to finish, just as they have all year round.
"During the summer, we played a lot together," Malufau said of their club team, HK.
Whether it was low-post isolations or a high-low game with the two looking for one another, Punahou’s inside-out game was difficult for the Raiders to stop.
"Give credit to Punahou. Their size wore us down," Raiders coach Dean Young said.
As a team, the visiting Buffanblu shot 54 percent from the field (19-for-35) while ‘Iolani struggled at 29 percent (12-for-42). The normally accurate Raiders were just 5-for-18 from the arc and rarely got a clean drive to the bucket against Punahou’s stingy man-to-man defense.
Brooke Maeda led ‘Iolani with nine points.
"I think they wanted it too badly. Maybe they were a little tight," Young said, adding that Punahou dominated the Raiders last season.
Abby Aplaca added seven points and provided tough defense with two blocks. The Buffanblu outrebounded the Raiders 31-12, grabbing 10 offensive boards with Malufau and Moe busy on the glass.
Punahou didn’t pull away until the second half, though. ‘Iolani had a 21-20 lead after a scoop shot on a drive by Maeda, but Punahou went on an 11-0 run to close the third quarter.
Malufau and Moe combined for 10 of those 11 points as the visitors took a 31-21 lead.
‘Iolani got within seven on a 3-pointer by freshman Emily Nomura, but the Buffanblu ran away.
"We knew they would be a tough team," Velasco said. "Especially after what they did to Kamehameha with a 20-point win. To their credit, we looked sluggish and flat-footed."
In the first half, it was ‘Iolani with a nice run. After a 3 by Maeda, the Raiders led 19-14 with 35 seconds left in the half. Punahou got two foul shots by Malufau to close the gap to three points going into halftime.
"We got anxious when ‘Iolani was trapping on the back side," Velasco said. "We said we had to be more patient and do what we do best with our inside game. The chemistry is building within the first team and our bigs."
‘Iolani’s on-ball pressure was enough to force Punahou into 17 turnovers, but capitalizing was another story. The Raiders will have time to work on their game shortly; they leave on Christmas Day for the Nike Interstate Shootout in Lake Oswego, Ore. They’ll play four games in four days.
"We’ll play in the snow and then come back," Young said.
The Raiders’ next ILH game is on Jan. 6 against Maryknoll.
At ‘Iolani gym
| Punahou (3-0) |
12 |
4 |
15 |
16 |
— |
47 |
| ‘Iolani (2-1) |
9 |
10 |
2 |
10 |
— |
31 |
Punahou–Kamaile Kandiah 2, Heaven Wong 0, Abby Aplaca 7, Asia Olivieri 0, Vae Malufau 20, Elle Uyeda 5, Tyra Moe 13, Emi Puaa 0.
‘Iolani–Sheyla Kahalehoe 0, Kellie Okamura 0, Emily Nomura 7, Brooke Maeda 9, Sierra Buscher 2, Kelsi Ikeda 0, Lindsey Combs 0, Camy Aguinaldo 4, Jessica Otsu 3, Aubrie Usui 0, Skylar Nakata 6.
3-point goals–Punahou 1 (Uyeda), ‘Iolani 5 (Nakata 2, Maeda, Nomura, Otsu).
ILH DIVISION II GIRLS
UNIVERSITY 40, ST. ANDREW’S PRIORY 15
Kyra Young racked up a game-high 16 points and drained three treys to lead University (1-0) over St. Andrew’s (0-2).
At St. Andrew’s Priory gym
Score by quarters not reported
ST. ANDREW’S PRIORY–Mie Oishi 3, Olivia Sou 8, Jordan Jones 0, Jessica Serikawa 4, Emily Ahlgren 0, Zijun Sun 0, Hattie Hapai 0, Connie Rico-Avello 0, Junyi Yin 0, Isabella-Marie Geppert 0, Rachel Ho 0, Qian Qian Lim 0, Emilie Anderson 0.
UNIVERSITY–Angelina Elido 4, Breanna Dela Rosa 11, Malialani Parpana 2, British Dawson 2, Kyra Young 16, Jocelyn Ki 3, Tioledoauli Posiulai 2.
3-point goals–St. Andrew’s Priory none. University 3 (Young 3).
Also,
HANALANI 49, LE JARDIN 35
OIA EAST GIRLS
NO. 2 ROOSEVELT 73, KAIMUKI 34
The second-ranked Rough Riders rolled past the Bulldogs thanks in part to 23 points from Starr Rivera. Victoria Kintz poured in a game-high 26 points to pace the Bulldogs.
At Roosevelt gym
| Kaimuki (1-2) |
9 |
6 |
12 |
7 |
— |
34 |
| Roosevelt (3-0) |
20 |
23 |
21 |
9 |
— |
73 |
KAIMUKI–Sirena Giger 0, Ashlynn Henderson 2, Liza Anien 0, Desiline Talung 0, Keihara Henry 3, Brandi Pfeiffer-Kekoa 3, Victoria Kintz 26, Kuuipo Sefo 0, Kato Leha 0, Cleopatra Lauvao 0.
ROOSEVELT–Sharice Kawakami 11, Ka’onohi Quinlan 0, Starr Rivera 23, Kaohi Kapiko 12, Ashley Kiko 9, Keala Quinlan 4, Muna Cook 0, Alliya Gabriel 11, Ciera Uchida 3, D-Dre Wright 0.
3-point goals–Kaimuki 3 (Kintz 2, Henry). Roosevelt 8 (Rivera 2, Kapiko 2, Kiko, Gabriel, Uchida, Kawakami).
Junior varsity–Roosevelt 52, Kaimuki 18
NO. 10 KAISER 49, FARRINGTON 32
Rose Shimaoka scored 17 points and Brooke Ho added 12 as the Cougars defeated the Governors.
Kaiser outscored Farrington 29-10 in the first half.
Moli Heimuli had 10 points for Kaiser in the loss.
At Kaiser gym
| Farrington (2-1) |
7 |
3 |
4 |
18 |
— |
32 |
| Kaiser (3-0) |
14 |
15 |
14 |
6 |
— |
49 |
FARRINGTON–Allani Talapu 6, Britt Savusa 4, Jasmine Williams 4, Loke Pacheco 2, Erin Perry 0, Moli Heimuli 10, Violet Williams 6.
KAISER–Brooke Ho 12, Rose Shimaoka 17, Natasha Horn 5, Brandi Baker 3, Macy Hiraki 6, Chelsea Soong 4, Briana Halemanu 2, Grace Remington 0, Mary Carr 0.
3-point goals–Farrington 2 (Talapu 2). Kaiser 1 (Shimaoka).
Junior varsity–Kaiser 34, Farrington 22
KAHUKU 76, KALANI 60
Naia Leitupo scored 19 points, Cheyenne Te’o added 18 and the Red Raiders pulled away in the second half to beat the Falcons.
Kailey Espinas scored 16 points and Kassidy Misaki added 11 for the Falcons, who led 43-38 at halftime.
At Kalani gym
| Kahuku (2-1) |
18 |
20 |
15 |
23 |
— |
76 |
| Kalani (0-3) |
12 |
31 |
4 |
13 |
— |
60 |
KAHUKU–Lehiwa Benson 4, Savanna Christensen 6, Demi Matagi 3, Sachi Williams 0, Laken Te’o 7, Dynna Matagi 0, Cheyenne Te’o 18, Leving Jinadasa 2, Mela Tulele 0, Debra Barenaba-Setoki 3, Naia Leitupo 19, Lydia Taulapapa 4, Brittny Blake 10.
KALANI–Shandlyn Willing 7, Chara Higaki 0, Julia Lee 7, Andrea Ching 2, Noelle Suzuki 9, Melanie Shiraki 6, Kailey Espinas 16, Logan Luke 2, Diana Huynh 0, Kassidy Misaki 11.
3-point goals–Kahuku 1 (Laken Te’o). Kalani 5 (Espinas 2, Lee, Shiraki, Suzuki).
Junior varsity–Kahuku 42, Kalani 35
KAILUA 64, MCKINLEY 28
Patria Vaimaona scored 18 of her 28 points in the first half and Delcie Williams finished with 15 as the Surfriders remained unbeaten in league play.
Teane Sofa scored 11 points, including three 3-pointers, and Joselle Ferrer added 10 points for the Tigers.
At McKinley gym
| Kailua (3-0) |
23 |
14 |
16 |
11 |
— |
64 |
| McKinley (0-3) |
7 |
10 |
4 |
7 |
— |
28 |
KAILUA–Delcie Williams 15, Puanani Dela Cruz 4, Kylee Keohohina-Kaaikala 3, Kainani Peters 0, Nyla Salas-Baker 2, Tara Takata 8, Kailee De Soto 0, Christine Antonio 4, Tiani Lastimosa 0, Kapili Albinio 0, Patria Vaimaona 28.
MCKINLEY–Kayla Rasavanh 2, Kloe Lum 1, Suzie Park 0, Joselle Ferrer 10, Britney Chang 0, Kenzie Hernandez-McKenzie 0, Alexa Kailieha 4, Teane Sofa 11.
3-point goals–Kailua 2 (Keohohina-Kaaikala, Takata). McKinley 4 (Sofa 3, Ferrer).
Junior varsity–McKinley 22, Kailua 19
MOANALUA 44, KALAHEO 29
Sieanna Ho scored 10 points to lead Na Menehune past the Mustangs.
At Moanalua gym
| Kalaheo (0-3) |
7 |
13 |
5 |
4 |
— |
29 |
| Moanalua (2-1) |
9 |
19 |
8 |
8 |
— |
44 |
Individual stats not reported.
3-point goals–Kalaheo none. Moanalua none.
Junior varsity–Moanalua 38, Kalaheo 11
Also,
CASTLE 2, ANUENUE 0 (BY FORFEIT)
OIA WEST GIRLS
NO. 8 MILILANI 32, RADFORD 27
Summer Bolibol scored 11 points as the Trojans beat the Rams in a matchup of unbeaten teams.
Tanisha Elbourne and Jazmyn Peralta each scored eight points for Radford.
At Mililani gym
| Radford (2-1) |
11 |
4 |
9 |
3 |
— |
27 |
| Mililani (3-0) |
6 |
10 |
8 |
8 |
— |
32 |
RADFORD–Brigina Terry 0, Puni Seei 0, Tanisha Elbourne 8, Michelle Vasquez 4, Jazmyn Peralta 8, Jasmine Moody 4, Jazmyn Bishop 2, Kennedy Johnson 1.
MILILANI–Hope Carter 0, Kayla Torres 4, Daysia Canon 5, Megan Shimabukuro 0, Jamie Yuki 0, Kristen Miguel 0, Taylor Walker 0, Shantel Appleby 6, Summer Bolibol 11, Lisia Melesia 6.
3-point goals–Radford 3 (Peralta 2, Elbourne). Mililani 1 (Canon).
Junior varsity–Radford 32, Mililani 31
LEILEHUA 50, NANAKULI 48
Leilehua withstood a 26-16 fourth-quarter run by Nanakuli and held off the Golden Hawks thanks in part to a game-high 23 points from Tywanna Abbott.
At Leilehua gym
| Nanakuli (1-1) |
8 |
7 |
7 |
26 |
— |
48 |
| Leilehua (2-1) |
12 |
15 |
7 |
16 |
— |
50 |
NANAKULI–Alana Nuuanu 14, Jade Marfil 6, Jahnna Kahele-Madali 2, Ciera O’Brien 17, Tianna Hanohano 9, Raynette Meyers-Kahalehoe 0.
LEILEHUA–Chloe Pojas 0, Keahi-Lele Roy 4, Regina Manumu’a 0, Tywanna Abbott 23, Salamansina Docktor 8, Tatiana Caravallo 0, Jazmina Lafitaga 2, Jerri Maluyo 13.
3-point goals–Nanakuli 3 (O’Brien 2, Nuuanu). Leilehua-none.
Junior varsity–Nanakuli 36, Leilehua 27
WAIPAHU 26, WAIALUA 20
Ronelyn Naluyo scored a game-high 10 points and teammate Shannon Mailos chipped in 8 to help the Marauders fend off Bulldogs.
At Waialua gym
| Waipahu (1-2) |
8 |
7 |
7 |
4 |
— |
26 |
| Waialua (0-2) |
6 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
— |
20 |
WAIPAHU–Kaelyn Aceret 0, Kruvee Balcobero 4, Jhoanna Cauton 3, Kayla Dias-Pajente 0, Alyssa Lene 0, Shannon Mailos 8, Ronelyn Naluyo 10, Number 32 1.
WAIALUA–Kaedy Hatchett 4, Kiana Paakaula-Reis 4, Kaitlin Ayonon 2, Alaina Bayudan 2, Laola Pang 0, Chalseah Pascua 2, Kayla Kapika 4, Gemelie Hatchie 2.
3-point goals–Waipahu none. Waialua none.
74
DARRYL OUMI / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-ADVERTISER