Chanelle Molina scored six of her 16 points during a pivotal third-quarter run as top-seeded Konawaena pulled away from Punahou for a 51-37 win in the quarterfinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Division I Girls Basketball State Championships.

Konawaena (28-1, 12-0 BIIF) successfully overcame the twin towers of Punahou. The Wildcats overcame some early excitement and anxiety. 

"The game plan was to run out at the beginning, but we ran only twice," Konawaena coach Bobbie Awa said. "We were too excited and we needed to settle down." 

"First quarter, we weren’t executing our plays," said Molina, a 5-foot-7 junior who has a scholarship offer from UH. "Punahou has shot blockers. It was hard getting into the paint against them." 

Tyra Moe (eight points, seven rebounds) and Va’e Malufau (six points, nine boards) had solid performances, but they were also swarmed on the low and high posts by Wildcats all game long. 

"Kona is a tough team. We got a little tired. They’ve got good ballhandlers and shooters," said Punahou coach Kevin Velasco, who guided his team to the state crown last year. "I’m proud of how my kids fought to the end. We wish the best of luck to Kona the rest of the way." 

Punahou, runner-up from the ILH, is No. 5 in the Star-Advertiser Top 10. Elle Uyeda led Punahou (11-7, 9-4 league) with 11 points, including three treys in the opening quarter as her team opened a 13-7 lead. 

Molina took just three shots in the first quarter, making one, as her teammates got open looks. Konawaena was 4-for-16 from the field in the first eight minutes. Molina scored on a layup and ensuing free throw late in the half, however, to tie the game at 20-all entering the break. 

The Wildcats went on a 10-2 run to start the second half, using stifling on-ball pressure and double teams on the post to force five turnovers by Punahou. Ihi Victor’s mid-range shot gave Konawaena its first lead, 23-22, since the first minute of the game. 

Konawaena used its new double-post offense to put Molina to work. After scoring six points in the second quarter to spark her team, she scored another half-dozen in the third. Her spin move in the paint opened up a smooth 10-foot jumper, and after Aloha Salem hit an 18-footer from the corner, the Wildcats led 27-22. 

Molina drove for another jump shot in the paint off a flat set, and after she hit a foul shot a minute later, the Wildcats had a 30-22 lead. 

"She was on the middle post and she’s a great kid. The people we had just couldn’t stay with her," Velasco said. 

The returning All-State player of the year committed her third foul and left the floor with 2:55 left in the third stanza, but the Wildcats maintained momentum. Punahou got the lead down to 32-25 after a trey by Kamaile Kandiah, but Lindsay Bates drove and dished to Celena Jane Molina (six points, 11 rebounds) for a layup with 5 seconds left in the quarter to push the lead to 34-25.

Punahou got no closer than eight points the rest of the way. 

The Wildcats hit nine of their 13 free-throw attempts in the final quarter. 

Now Konawaena takes on OIA champion Roosevelt in a battle of two fast, skilled squads. 

"They’re fast. They love their fastbreaks. We’ve got to hustle on defense and stop their fastbreaks." 

PUNAHOU–Kamaile Kandiah 7, Lexie Taylor 3, Heaven Wong 2, Abigail Aplaca 0, Asia Olivieri 0, Va’e Malufau 6, Elle Uyeda 11, Tyra Moe 8, McKenna Granato 0, Emi Puaa 0, Sunny Rosario 0.

KONAWAENA–Taylor Bates 0, Chanelle Molina 16, Mercedes Victor 9, Celena Molina 6, Aloha Salem 5, Mikayla Tablit 2, Cherilyn Molina 10, Lindsay Bates 3.

3-point goals–Punahou 6 (Uyeda 3, Kandiah, Moe, Taylor). Konawaena 1 (Salem).

Roosevelt 56, Baldwin 33

Keala Quinlan scored 15 points and gathered 16 rebounds as the fourth-seeded Rough Riders stifled the upset-minded Bears. 

Kiana Lynn Kalehuawehe led Baldwin with 13 points and five rebounds. 

Roosevelt, the OIA champion, started the game with a 13-0 run. Baldwin finally scored on Anntoinette Agmata’s layup with 2:09 to go in the opening quarter. 

Ashley Kiko added 14 points for Roosevelt (20-2, 13-0 OIA), fueling a first-half run that turned a 15-7 game into a 23-9 halftime lead. 

The Bears knocked off Leilehua in the opening round on Tuesday, 44-30. 

BALDWIN–Dayna-Jo Calubaquib 2, Chaniya Silva 2, Deja Cala-Nakamura 0, Anntoinette Agmata 4, Ashley-Christian Kaaea 2, Shevone Shimabuku 2, Deanelyn Tapaoan 0, Kiana Kalehuawehe 13, Noelle Johnson 8.

ROOSEVELT–Destiny Holani 2, Sharice Kawakami 2, Ka’onohi Quinlan 6, Starr Rivera 8, Kaohi Kapiko 5, Ashley-Alohi Kiko 14, Keala Quinlan 15, Munaalofa Cook 0, Alliya Gabriel 4, Ciera-Nicole Uchida 0, D-Dre Wright 0.

3-point goals–Baldwin none. Roosevelt 3 (Kapiko, Kiko, Quinlan).