Lia Galdeira scored 19 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and had six steals and three assists, while Dawnyelle Awa sank eight straight free throws down the stretch to seal Konawaena’s 62-53 win over Oregon City on Friday night in the semifinals of the ‘Iolani Classic girls tournament.

“I feel good,” Konawaena coach Bobbie Awa said. “We showed some inexperience in the second half, but we’re in the final and that’s exciting.”

Unlike in an opening-round win over Bishop Gorman (Nev.) on Thursday, primary contributors like Galdeira and forward Courtney Kaupu stayed out of foul trouble. With a short rotation against a tall quick-passing team like the Pioneers, Kaupu was vital with 12 points, seven rebounds and no turnovers as a key part of Konawaena’s pressbreaker.

Kaupu, a 5-foot-10 junior, scored on some key layups on feeds from her point guard, Awa.

“She’s our best cutter,” Awa said of her teammate.

Awa was steady despite battling a cold. The senior finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and three blocks, including one down the stretch on Jade Lowery to help protect the lead.

Awa’s cousin, Mikayla, scored eight of her 10 points in the first half for Konawaena (8-0), which will play Brea Olinda (Calif.) in tonight’s championship game. The Wildcats, ranked No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Girls Basketball Top 10, lost to Brea Olinda last year in the semifinals.

“I feel good,” she said. “It’s our first time in the final.”

It was quite a finish in the semifinal, as Oregon City hustled to whittle down a 20-point deficit in the second half.

“We were making small mistakes,” Galdeira said after a round of autograph signing for players from ‘Iolani’s JV team. “I don’t care who we play in the final. I feel pretty good.”

Oregon City lost for the first time after four nonconference wins.

“We didn’t play well tonight. Give credit to Konawaena. They made good decisions,” Pioneers coach Kurt Guelsdorf said. “Twenty-three (Galdeira) and 34 (Awa) are finishers. It’s about lay-ins and free throws. That’s always our gauge to see how ready we are.”

The missed layups cost Oregon City in the first half. Konawaena kept the visitors scoreless for roughly 6 minutes in the first quarter, opening a 21-8 lead.

By halftime, Galdeira had 15 points and Konawaena had a 35-20 lead.

“We had a nice first half and we needed to settle down in the second half, hold the ball and run the offense,” Bobbie Awa said. “But we took some bad shots, floaters from the free-throw line.”

Brea Olinda (Calif.) 65, ‘Iolani 60

Senior forward Keitra Wallace delivered a pass to Taylor Spears for a layup that broke a 55-all tie and sparked a 6-0 run late in the game for the Ladycats, who will play Konawaena for the tourney title tonight.

Wallace’s steal led to a lefty layup by guard Ana Kim, who drove for another layup moments later to give the defending tournament champs a 61-55 lead with 1:04 left.

The host team got no closer than four the rest of the way.

Senior forward Keitra Wallace delivered a pass to Taylor Spears for a layup that broke a 55-all tie and sparked a 6-0 run late in the game for the Ladycats, who will play Konawaena for the tourney title tonight.

Wallace’s steal led to a lefty layup by guard Ana Kim, who drove for another layup moments later to give the defending tournament champs a 61-55 lead with 1:04 left.

The host team got no closer than four the rest of the way.

‘IOLANI CLASSIC

Girls varsity
Tsinghua (China) 47, Kaimuki 22
Bishop Gorman (Nev.) 68, Mid-Pacific 54

OIA EAST GIRLS

Moanalua 57, Kalaheo 28

LaChae McColor scored 18 points to lead Na Menehune over the Mustangs. Jasmine Funtanilla added 13 points for Moanalua.

Taylor Souza scored a team-high seven points for Kalaheo.