Honokaa’s coaching staff had gotten word of Kauai guard Kristle Henry’s scoring ability prior to their state-tournament meeting on Wednesday.
Containing the Red Raiders junior was another matter.
Feeding off the opportunities produced by Kauai’s defense, Henry’s 24 points powered the Red Raiders to a 43-23 win over the Dragons and into the Division II semifinals of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships.
“We were sluggish, but (Henry) is a very good player, exceptional,” Honokaa head coach James Lukzen said. “You hardly come around one of those.
“She can command the game, she’s under control, she can finish and she sets up her players.”
With the win, fourth-seeded Kauai earned its first appearance in a state tournament semifinal and will return to Radford’s Jim Alegre Gymnasium to play in today’s 5 p.m. game.
Missing out on a state tournament appearance last year after a two-point loss to Kapaa helped sharpen the Red Raiders’ focus throughout the season and entering Wednesday’s quarterfinal.
“That fed us for this season to come out stronger,” Henry said.
The Red Raiders arrived on Oahu on Tuesday morning, giving them a day to rest up and scout Honokaa’s first-round game against Seabury Hall.
Once they took the floor, the Red Raiders allowed the Dragons few open looks on offense and controlled the boards, finishing with a
35-17 rebounding advantage.
After forward Bristy Agu scored Kauai’s first bucket, Henry scored on drives into the paint and in transition off Kauai steals to account for the Red Raiders’ next 14 points. She went into halftime with 17 as Kauai built a 23-11 lead.
¯¯¯¯¯
At Radford
| Honokaa (8-6) |
7 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
— |
23 |
| Kauai (12-2) |
9 |
14 |
6 |
14 |
— |
43 |
HONOKAA—Yvonne Daniels 3, Kasia Wilson 0, Shereen Bird 0, Shemika Frazier 1, Kayla Requelman 0, Hunter Liftee 6, Jasmine Castro 3, Halana Bertelmann-Makanani 0, Dezlie Gibo 0, Hildhang Adona 0, Precious Chong 10, Helena Iona 0. Totals 9 2-4 23.
KAUAI—Jennifer Grady 4, Alexis Hernandez 0, Kiani Felipe-Higa 0, Kristle Henry 24, London Dente 0, Shaylee Huni 0, Casey Anacleto 2, Amber Galiza 0, Giselle Dante 0, Reanna Javinar 0, Kawehi Louis-Diamond 2, Caitlyn Rapozo 2, Bristy Agu 9. Totals 18 7-16 43.
3-point goals—Honokaa 3 (Chong 2, Castro). Kauai none.
Hawaii Prep 48, Radford 45
Leahi Lindsey scored 18 points, including two free throws with 6.3 seconds left, and Ka Makani knocked off the top-seeded and defending Division II champion Rams on Radford’s home court.
“When you come to state tournament you want to play the best, because it gives you the best experience,” HPA coach Craig Kimura said. “What more can you ask, you want to play the best.”
Chancis Fernandez added 12 points for HPA and Eliyah Fernandez finished with 10 points, six coming on putbacks in the fourth quarter.
Radford forward Imani Wimbush scored a game-high 23 points and had a
1-and-1 opportunity with 7.6 seconds left with the Rams trailing 46-44. She made the first, but missed the second and Lindsey was fouled after securing the rebound.
At Radford
| HPA (9-5) |
9 |
20 |
8 |
11 |
— |
48 |
| Radford (9-5) |
8 |
14 |
10 |
13 |
— |
45 |
HAWAI‘I PREP—Leahi Lindsey 18, Tiana Tabac 3, Nani Lum 5, Chancis Fernandez 12, Eliyah Fernandez 10. Totals 18 11-17 48.
RADFORD—Imani Wimbush 23, E’Lexeus Evans 0, Rachel Kapesi 7, Tyler Whitener 2, Feliciana Vasquez 0, McKenna Wall 0, Brittany Perry 2, Korie Johnson 11. Totals 19 6-12 45.
3-point goals—Hawaii Prep 1 (Lindsey). Radford 1 (Kapesi).
Maryknoll 70, Hanalani 60
Crystie Wong scored 19 points, hitting two 3-pointers and seven of eight free-throw attempts, as the Spartans ran off to a 22-8 first-period lead to defeat the Royals.
At Kalani
| Han. (13-4) |
8 |
18 |
11 |
23 |
— |
60 |
| Maryk. (14-0) |
22 |
17 |
9 |
22 |
— |
70 |
HANALANI—Lyna Kehler 10, Catherine Armstrong 5, Brittany Williams 0, Emily Araki 0, Sarah Hyde 12, Malia Boullion 0, Nicole Gonzalez 13, Sarah Liva 20, Dylan McCorquodale 0. Totals 20 19-33 60.
MARYKNOLL—Maile Goodin 3, Crystie Wong 19, Maia Laboy 10, Alexis Villa 2, Kayla Agustin 4, Ciana Ochoco 10, Ashlee De Santos 10, Athena Adora 2, Maegen Martin 5 10. 23 22-34 70.
3-point goals—Hanalani 1 (Kehler). Maryknoll 2 (Wong 2).
Kamehameha-Hawaii 57, Hawaii Baptist 42
Kamehameha-Hawaii’s Casey Poe had 22 points, six steals and four blocks for the Warriors, who pulled away in the second half.
“Casey got to the basket every time she got the ball,” said Kamehameha-Hawaii coach Garrett Arima. “Casey is the most efficient player on our team.”
At Kalani
| HBA (12-3) |
14 |
11 |
10 |
7 |
— |
42 |
| KS-Haw. (11-2) |
16 |
16 |
12 |
13 |
— |
57 |
HAWAII BAPTIST—Rylie Wada 5, Jaryn Ramos 0, Kaitlyn Mukai 0, Kelsey Bajet 0, Natasha Travens 3, Amber Au 4, Torie Miyoi 0, Kimberly Au 4, Jennifer Uehara 9, Nicole Shiroma 0, Dominique Hart 0, Hailey Chong 0, Lauren Sumida 9, Jenee Brown 3, Hayley Dixon 5, Nicollette Smith 0. Totals 15 8-15 42.
KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAII—Casey Poe 22, Tiffany Pacheco 0, Chelsea Poe 8, Namele Naipo-Arsiga 9, Shaila Apele 0, Brittany Kenui 0, Britni Napiha‘a 0, Riana Arima 2, Bobbi Montibon 8, Keana Kaohimaunu 1, Shaylyn Kahawai 7. Totals 19 17-33 57.
3-point goals—Hawaii Baptist 4 (A. Au, Wada, Dixon, Brown). KS-Hawaii 2 (Montibon 2).
DIVISION II CONSOLATION
McKinley 47, Kalani 42
Sybil Coryell had 19 points and nine rebounds as the Tigers rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit.
At Kalani
| McKinley (9-8) |
4 |
9 |
11 |
23 |
— |
47 |
| Kalani (6-11) |
11 |
12 |
3 |
16 |
— |
42 |
McKINLEY—Mariz Navarro 2, Ashley Mun 0, Miranda Schmillen 4, Tiare Sugui 7, Laika Aragon 0, Jourdan Mills 11, Jessica D’amato 0, Sybil Coryell 19, Dorothy Aumua 0, Porscha Santiago 2, Tino Mulitauaopele 2, Savanna Gonzalez 0. Totals 14 19-34 47.
KALANI—Kimberly Sakamoto 0, Carly Kakuda 7, Riley Kishiba 0, Rose Alama 6, Haley Omiya 15, Kelli Muramaru 0, Brenna Beall 3, Kari Kimura 3, Kaiana Iaea 5, Alexandra Salas 0, Taylor Murai 3, Teualilo Petelo 0,Tiani Ma‘afala 0, Samantha Shizuru 0. Totals 15 5-11 42.
3-point goals—McKinley none. Kalani 7 (Omiya 3, Beall, Murai, Kimura, Kakuda).
University High 58, Seabury Hall 14
The Jr. ’Bows bolted to a 13-0 lead after the first quarter and 33-6 at halftime in dispatching the Spartans.
At Radford
| SH (5-3) |
0 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
— |
14 |
| UHS (12-3) |
13 |
20 |
13 |
12 |
— |
58 |
SEABURY HALL—Christy Fell 0, Anna Rodgers 0, Rachel Nguyen 0, Dakota Grossman 0, Allie Rudow 3, Alyssa Bettendorf 0, Tiana Camarillo 6, Rei Li Inge 0, Tiare Camarillo 3, Nahe Noton-Tolentino 0, Taryn Shaw 0, Megan O’Malley 2. Totals 2 10-21 14.
UNIVERSITY HIGH—Anuhea Memea 9, Kimiko Matsuda-Lawrence 1, Markaysha Masani 8, Kassandra Sanchez 2, Sue Moraga 5, Tiffany Ulep 1, Kianalei Machida 9, Quirena Natividad 8, Skyler Chun-Ming 4, Crystal Wang 4, Michelle Au 0, Brooke Kodama 5, Meagan Mahiko 2, Janae Rasmussen 0. Totals 24 6-10 58.
3-point goals—Seabury Hall none. University High 4 (Wang, Machida, Moraga, Kodama).
