More photos: Konawaena vs Brea Olinda »
The Konawaena Wildcats needed more than their two stars to shine against nationally ranked Brea Olinda.
Naturally, they turned to their underclassmen. Hoku Liftee scored 10 points and sophomore Makani Wall had 11 off the bench as the Wildcats stunned Brea Olinda 50-40 last night in the final of the ‘Iolani Classic girls tournament.
Lia Galdeira led the way with 15 points, six boards and four steals, while point guard Dawnyelle Awa kept the ship steady with seven points and five assists as Konawaena remained unbeaten (9-0) and avenged last year’s tourney semifinal loss to Brea Olinda.
It was Kona’s only loss last season, and the Wildcats have now won 41 of their last 42 games.
"Brea came out with tight defense denying Dawnyelle and Lia, so we talked about that at the half," coach Bobbie Awa said. "The other girls had to step up."
Against Brea Olinda’s tough fullcourt defense, Liftee and Makayla Awa became the primary ballhandlers instead of Dawnyelle Awa, and Kona’s quickness on both ends of the floor was clearly superior to the powerhouse Ladycats.
"Makani hit big baskets and Hoku played great ‘D’," their coach added.
The coach wasn’t even aware of Brea Olinda’s No. 11 ranking in USA Today. The publication’s West region rankings had Brea Olinda at No. 2 and Konawaena at No. 11.
But it was a swarming man defense that kept the Ladycats off balance much of the night. Konawaena took command in the second half and built a 13-point lead on Galdeira’s jumper off a spin move.
Keitra Wallace, who was scoreless in the third quarter, spurred a final run by the Ladycats in the fourth. They rallied to within 40-35 on a follow shot by Wallace, but Galdeira scored six points in a row in transition to put the visitors away.
Wallace finished with 17 points and eight boards.
Galdeira, who scored 64 points and grabbed 28 rebounds in the three-day tourney, also swiped 15 steals and was named the tourney’s most outstanding player.
Dawnyelle Awa finished with 30 points, 22 assists and 10 turnovers in the tourney. Courtney Kaupu, who was in foul trouble on Friday night, was named to the all-tourney team.
ILH DIVISION II GIRLS
Punahou 49, Lutheran 45
Whitney Sia tossed in 14 points to help the Buffanblu rally from an 11-point first-quarter deficit against the Lions.
Vikatolia Naulu had a game-high 16 for Lutheran.
At Palama Settlement
| Punahou (3-1) |
9 |
19 |
10 |
11 |
— |
49 |
| Lutheran (0-4) |
20 |
11 |
8 |
6 |
— |
45 |
PUNAHOU–Staci Mihara 0, Michelle San Luis 7, Jade Lum 4, Whitney Sia 14, Tiare Te’o 8, Ari Hashimoto 4, Amanda Labayag 0, Jamie Lum 0, Courtney Kaneshiro 4, Juliet Von Rohr 6, Eden Te’o 2.
LUTHERAN–Lexi Kaneshiro 5, Kayla Suganuma 2, Kourtney Park 0, Kailyn Osaki 0, Kiana Tom 5, Vikatolia Naulu 16, Kalei Ah New 8, Jasmine Fong 0, Briannah Cadiz 0, Lia Veikoso 9.
3-point goals–Punahou 2 (San Luis, Sia). Lutheran 1 (Tom).
University 42, Hanalani 34
Crystal Wang hit three 3-pointers and collected a team-high 13 points as the Jr. ‘Bows overcame being shut out in the first quarter to beat the Royals.
Sarah Liva had a game-high 17 for Hanalani.
At Klum Gym
| University (2-1) |
0 |
8 |
16 |
18 |
— |
42 |
| Hanalani (1-2) |
8 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
— |
34 |
UNIVERSITY–Anuhea Memea 4, Kimiko Matsuda-Lawrence 2, Kassandra Sanchez 0, Tiffany Ulep 0, Kianalei Machida 7, Skyler Chun-Ming 0, Crystal Wang 13, Meagan Mahiko 2, Janae Rasmussen 4, Quirena Natividad 10.
HANALANI–Lyna Kehler 4, Catherine Armstrong 0, Brittany Williams 0, Emily Araki 0, Malia Boullion 4, Tyler Okada 0, Nicole Gonzalez 9, Briana Robar, Sarah Liva 17
3-point goals–University 3 (Wang 3). Hanalani none.
‘Iolani 41, La Pietra 37
Ashley Yoshioka and Paige Omura scored nine points each as the Raiders held off the Panthers.
Monique Smith and Jordan McDonald had 12 points each for La Pietra.
At La Pietra Gym
| ‘Iolani (3-1) |
15 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
— |
41 |
| La Pietra (1-3) |
6 |
16 |
9 |
6 |
— |
37 |
‘IOLANI–Kelly Cournoyer 0, Cari Ann Nada 4, Lauren Nikaido 8, Zoe Palmer 0, Paige Omura 9, Nicole Yokoyama 0, Steffanie Tanaka 0, Ashley Yoshioka 9, Alyssa Kogami 0, Liz Nomura 2, Renn Isobe 0, Cori Whang 5, Jasmine Chen 0, Michelle Maitland 4, Miki Sylva 4.
LA PIETRA–Kiana Ho’ohuli 0, Angelina Ishiki 1, Veronica Thomas 0, Marina Sewell 3, Marissa Hoen 0, Zoe Moriwaki 0, Salote Lopes-Liutolo 9, Monique Smith 12, Jordan McDonald 12.
3-point goals–‘Iolani 4 (Nikaido 2, Omura, Yoshioka). La Pietra none.
Le Jardin 50, Christian Academy 43
Friday, at Aiea Recreation Center
| Le Jardin (2-2) |
15 |
13 |
9 |
13 |
— |
50
|
| CA (1-3) |
22 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
— |
43 |
LE JARDIN–Renee Van Bergeijk 8, Olivia McCabe 3, Kelly Kuchenbecker 20, Stephanie Ramos 4, Kacey Kuchenbecker 2, Taylor Valentine 13.
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY–Leslie Ortiz-Cruz 17, Alyssa Yee 1, Rachel Tokuda 22, Charanne Bonilla 3, Heavenlee Asato 0.
3-point goals–Le Jardin none. Christian Academy 3 (Tokuda 2, Bonilla).
‘Iolani Classic
Girls
Mid-Pacific 35, Kaimuki 34
Bishop Gorman 56, Tsinghua 47
Oregon City 63, ‘Iolani 54
Junior varsity
Girls
Punahou Gold 39, Mid-Pacific 30
Sacred Hearts 26, Island Pacific 23
Kamehameha Blue 35, Kamehameha White 31
BIIF
Seventh annual Imua JV Tournament
Friday
Kealakehe 45, Honokaa 35
Pahoa 47, Kau 43
Keaau 58, Waiakea 51
Kona 52, Kamehameha 44
