Abrianna Johnson-Edwards’ quick hands helped ‘Iolani grab both a comeback win over Punahou and a spot in the state tournament on Wednesday.
Johnson-Edwards came up with two steals in the final minute and converted both into the tying and go-ahead baskets as the Raiders rallied from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter in a 38-35 win over the Buffanblu in the semifinals of the ILH girls basketball tournament.
Johnson-Edwards scored 12 of her game-high 22 points in the final period, including the game’s final nine points, as ‘Iolani advanced to the tournament final.
"We just played hard, all heart and played together," Johnson-Edwards said. "Even though we were down in the fourth quarter, we pulled together and we really wanted it."
‘Iolani’s win combined with Kamehameha’s victory over Maryknoll secured the Raiders a Division I spot in the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships.
Kamehameha had already clinched a state tournament berth by winning the ILH regular-season championship. ‘Iolani finished second in the regular season and claimed the league’s remaining berth by finishing no lower than second in the tournament.
‘Iolani plays at Kamehameha p.m. on Friday for the single-elimination tournament title. If ‘Iolani wins, the teams will meet again 7:30 p.m. at Kamehameha on Saturday for the league’s overall championship.
"One step at a time," ‘Iolani coach Eddie Maruyama said. "We’re going to focus in on Friday first and see what happens."
Punahou needed to win the tournament to extend its season into the state tournament, but saw its season end.
"They picked up the defense," Punahou coach Courtney Robinson said. "They turned it up and they did a good job pressuring us."
Neither team could establish much of an offensive flow until Punahou went on a 14-4 run bridging the third and fourth quarters. Buffanblu junior Keaupono Fey scored the final four points of the run with a putback and a layup off transition to give Punahou a 35-27 lead with 5:28 left.
Those were Punahou’s final points of the game as ‘Iolani’s pressure created turnovers that helped the Raiders chip into the Buffanblu lead.
"We only had one foul, so it gave us a chance to be more aggressive," Johnson-Edwards said. "We didn’t have to play scared."
After ‘Iolani closed to 35-33 with the clock running under a minute, Johnson-Edwards poked the ball loose near midcourt and took it in for the tying layup with 49 seconds left.
"I just wanted it so bad," Johnson-Edwards said. "Anything to get the ball.
"I just said go for the ball. As soon as it went in I grabbed it and went."
About 26 seconds later, she came up with another steal and got a shot to fall while drawing a foul.
"She did it in a very intelligent way, too," Maruyama said of Johnson-Edwards’ plan of attack on defense.
Punahou had 22.3 seconds left and called time out with 6.6 left. But ‘Iolani forced the Buffanblu to take a deep 3-pointer that fell short.
Tyra Moe led Punahou with 12 points.
"Punahou played well and had a good game plan and we were fortunate things went our way in the last four to five minutes," Maruyama said.
At ‘Iolani
PUNAHOU (5-6) 8 9 9 9 — 35
‘IOLANI (9-2) 7 10 6 15 — 38
PUNAHOU—Keau Fey 8, Aviana Finn 0, Michelle San Luis 0, Hailey Motooka 2, Astra Kidani 8, Turner Wong 0, Kaitlyn Waki 3, Samantha Alakai 2, Tyra Moe 12.
‘IOLANI—Sheyla Pua Kahalehoe 1, Bailey Choy 0, Klein Masutani 0, Brooke Maeda 0, Sierra Buscher 3, Lindsey Combs 0, Abrianna Johnson-Edwards 22, Alyssa Liilii 0, Alex Masaquel 4, Taimane Passi 0, Jade Botelho 8.
3-point goals—Punahou 3 (Kidani 2, Waki). ‘Iolani 1 (Johnson-Edwards).
No. 1 Kamehameha 56, No. 9 Maryknoll 48
The Warriors edged the Spartans to advance to the ILH championship on Friday.
Alohi Robins-Hardy and Kea Ryder scored 13 points apiece for Kamehameha in the win. Alexis Delovio and Siena Shupe led Maryknoll with 11 points each.
Line score not reported.
MARYKNOLL—Alexis Delovio 11, Maile Goodin 4, Crystie Wong 10, Maia Laboy 3, Cianna Ochoco 0, Kaile Cambra 4, Kayla Agustin 2, Siena Shupe 11, Maegen Martin 3.
KAMEHAMEHA—Breann Nueku 9, Kea Ryder 13, Kanoe Marks-Mahoe 0, Shelbey Cadinha-Oku 1, Alohi Robins-Hardy 13, Tiare Kanoa 10, Puuwainui Ah-Puck 1, Lilia Maio 9, Makana Aleki 0.
3-point goals—Maryknoll 1 (Delovio). Kamehameha 2 (B. Nueku, Kanoa).
Also
Tuesday
No. 9 Maryknoll 60, Mid-Pacific 54
At Maryknoll
MPI (2-9) 20 11 9 14 — 54
MARYKNOLL (6-5) 13 15 9 23 — 60
MID-PACIFIC—Emma Krening 0, Alexe Navarro 5, Keikilani Lyons 2, Kiana Robertson 19, Rebecca Martin 2, Sariah Kanekoa 19, Courtney Tom 7.
MARYKNOLL—Alexis Delovio 11, Maile Goodin 7, Crystie Wong 9, Maia Laboy 10, Kaile Cambra 0, Kayla Agustine 2, Siena Shupe 12, Maegan Martin 7, Kylie Teramoto
3-point goals—Mid-Pacific none. Maryknoll 2 (Delovio, Wong).
OIA RED GIRLS
No. 5 Roosevelt 59, Kaiser 42
Devyn Kauhi racked up 21 points as the Rough Riders claimed the fifth OIA spot in the state tournament, while the Cougars secured the sixth OIA spot.
At Roosevelt
KAISER 8 13 10 11 — 42
ROOSEVELT 6 20 15 18 — 59
KAISER—Roselynn Shimaoka 3, Natasha Horn 0, Chantelle Arce 5, Mayce Hiraki 0, Brandi Arita 0, Taylor Chang-Simeona 2, Jazlyne Rojas 2, Kiana Matsumoto 0, Demi Freitas 1, Ashley Soong 6, Skye Keao 2, Micaela Bitanga 5, Kayla Soong 5, Alissa Soong 11.
ROOSEVELT—Sharice Kawakami 2, Starr Rivera 5, Tavae Sina Sofa 11, Kaohi Kapiko 0, Devyn Kauhi 21, Keala Quinlan 8, Chelsea Wong 7, Tatiana Mariano 5, Stacia Matsumura 0, Alexis Bennett 0, Krystle Chung 0.
3-point goals—Kaiser 2 (Arce, K. Soong). Roosevelt 6 (Kauhi 3, Rivera, Quinlan, Sofa).
Kaimuki 56, Waianae 35
The Bulldogs led by 20 after the first quarter en route to victory over the Seariders. With the win, Kaimuki clinched the OIA’s third seed into the state tournament, while Waianae is the fourth seed.
At Waianae
KAIMUKI 22 10 13 11 — 56
WAIANAE 2 11 9 13 — 35
KAIMUKI—Nikki Vongprachanh 16, Valerie Wilson 2, Canny Aikau 10, Seplynn Aikau 0, Arlyn Edwin 7, Alison Pologa 3, Julia Soares 2, Alexa Miller 2, Princess Lauvao 14.
WAIANAE—Cayshia Alapai 6, Jayrusha Martin 1, Alavoni Tukunga 0, Kuulei Bailey 1, Shania Kapua 4, Lokelani Kelii 7, Raegina Atiga 2, Leilani Atuatasi 3, Makanamakai Kealoha 6, Berlin Johnson 5, Raywyne Atiga 0.
3-point goals—Kaimuki 5 ( Vongprachanh 3, Edwin, Lauvao). Waianae 2 (Alapai 2).
OIA WHITE GIRLS
McKinley 37, Aiea 33
The Tigers rallied in the third quarter to end Na Alii’s season and lock up the final OIA seed for the Division II state tournament.
Miranda Schmillen led McKinley with 11 points. Aiea’s Pumehana Beltran finished with 14 points.
At McKinley
AIEA 12 6 8 7 — 33
MCKINLEY 12 5 12 8 — 37
AIEA—Allysha Cooper-Tabisola 2, Mich’lae Higa 9, Mele Sitani 2, Paula Mauga 3, Kyle Johnson 0, Natasha Maroney 3, Pumehana Beltran 14.
MCKINLEY—Mariz Navarro 9, Anna Marie Manog 1, Laika Aragon 2, Miranda Schmillen 11, Tiare Sugui 8, Porsche Santiago 0, Savanna Gonzales 0, Taisha Thomas 6, Jazmayne Williams 0, Kamalani Pu’u-Nunes 0, Tino Mulitauaopele 0.
3-point goals—Aiea 1 (Higa). McKinley 2 (Navarro, Schmillen).
ILH DIVISION I BOYS
No. 5 Kamehameha 54, No. 8 ‘Iolani 47, 3OT
The Warriors made 11 of 12 shots from the free-throw line to account for all of their scoring in the third overtime period and outlasted the host Raiders to win their third straight.
Kamehameha’s Noa Kinimaka hit a 3-pointer from the corner with less than a second left in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Both teams managed just two points in the first overtime period, and ‘Iolani extended the game again when Ikaika Phillip drained a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left in the second overtime to tie the game at 43-43.
At ‘Iolani
KAMEHAMEHA (5-3) 9 3 9 13 2 7 11 — 54
‘IOLANI (3-5) 4 10 6 14 2 7 4 — 47
KAMEHAMEHA—Noa Kinimaka 9, Makoa Camanse-Stevens 18, Javen Sablay 0, Elijah Leslie 0, Kayson Smith-Bejgrowicz 4, Noah Sua-Godinet 0, Austin Gerard 7, Makana Harrison 4, Kamal Olowofoyeku 1, Kody Chai 11.
‘IOLANI—Andrew Okimura 2, Drew Uchiyama 4, Reece Foy 0, Ikaika Phillip 13, Chris Gallacher 2, Trey Kidd 2, Zach Buscher 16, Erik Yamada 8, Josiah Situmeang 0, Adrian Kwok 0.
3-point goals—Kamehameha 3 (Kinimaka 2, Camanse-Stevens). ‘Iolani 5 (Buscher 2, Phillip 2, Yamada).
No. 3 Maryknoll 71, Mid-Pacific 47
Tobias Schramm led three Spartans in double figures with 18 points. Kaleb Gilmore added 16, while Danny Danbara scored 12. Ryan Swanson finished with 12 points for the Owls.
At Maryknoll
MID-PACIFIC (0-8) 11 12 14 10 — 47
MARYKNOLL (7-0) 14 21 19 17 — 71
MID-PACIFIC—Brian Chung 3, Carl Maybin 0, Daniel Florenco 0, Den Suehiro 3, Brennan O’Connell 0, Andrew Kargol 0, Kyle Husslein 11, Tyler Yamachika 6, Kenneth Colombe 2, Lamar Carter 2, Nathaniel Ng 0, Ryan Swanson 12, James Woo 2, Gavin Nishizawa 6.
MARYKNOLL—Sean Ogata 0, Mickey Morikawa 6, John Mayer 0, Danny Danbara 12, Kaleb Gilmore 16, Tobias Powell 0, Joshua Burnett 9, Tamamoko Green 3, Tyson Kaloa 0, Hyrum Harris 7, Tobias Schramm 18.
3-point goals—Mid-Pacific 4 (Husslein 2, Suehiro, Swanson). Maryknoll 5 (Danbara 2, Burnett, Green).
ILH DIVISION II BOYS
Hawaii Baptist 57, Christian Academy 50
BJ Hosaka tallied 19 points and David Efhan 18 for the Eagles. Xavier Matthews and Joshua Luna each scored 10 for the Patriots.
At Salt Lake gym
Christian Acad. (0-6) 9 11 16 14 — 50
Hawaii Baptist (3-4) 9 13 20 15 — 57
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY—Matthew Urcia 8, Shaun Bonilla 9, Xavier Matthews 10, Eli Sugiura 2, Ethan Reyes 9, Jacob-Aaron Salas 2, Joshua Luna 10.
HAWAII BAPTIST—BJ Hosaka 19, Danton Tominaga 6, Chris Caballes 1, Matthew Kishaba 5, Jordan Kauwe 8, David Efhan 18.
3-point goals—Christian Academy 1 (Bonilla). Hawaii Baptist 2 (Hosaka 2).
Hawaiian Mission 58, Lanakila Baptist 47
Nesi Beschard led the Knights with 19 points, followed by J.J. Reynolds with 14 and Israel Olsen with 12.
Elijah Butler led the Warriors with 16 points.
At Salt Lake gym
Lanakila Baptist (2-6) 8 12 16 11 — 47
Hawaiian Mission (3-4) 14 14 15 15 — 58
LANAKILA BAPTIST—Elijah Butler 16, Isaac Shubert 8, Roycen Routt 5, Jeremy Clark 2, Andrew Walker 7,Hikaru Kamikubo 0, Jarrod Mariano 9.
HAWAIIAN MISSION—Israel Olsen 12, Jacob Kaneakua 0, Ryan Kim 4, Mark Valencia 1, Nesi Beschard 19, Jared Siok 6, Jordon Clark 2, J.J. Reynolds 14.
3-point goals—Lanakila Baptist 1 (J. Mariano). Hawaiian Mission 1 (Olsen).