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Hawaii Baptist’s Rylie Wada scored 15 points to lead her team into uncharted territory Thursday night.
The Eagles (16-0) are headed to the Division II final of the New City Nissan Girls Basketball State Championships, thanks to a 53-40 win over Kamehameha-Hawaii at the Kaimuki High gym.
For the past two years, it was the Warriors from the Big Island who ended the title hopes of HBA. Not this time.
"We want to make history for our school," Wada said. "We’re not satisfied."
It will be a tough task for the ILH D-II champion Eagles today at 5 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center against defending D-II state champion Honokaa (12-2), the second-tier BIIF titlists.
"We are happy and honored to be in the championship game," said HBA coach Keith Sugiura, who is expecting the Dragons to be a handful. "Honokaa is so disciplined and well-coached."
Using a successful set offense with lots of passing on the perimeter, HBA attacked relentlessly all night to build a lead that the Warriors (10-5) could only chip away at.
"We’re fortunate that our starting guards have been together for three years now," Sugiura said. "They (Wada, Jenee Brown and Stephanie Dang) complement each other and it helps with the attack and with pitching it back (when needed)."
Wada hit two treys in the first quarter and the Eagles held leads between six (16-10 at the end of the first quarter) and 14 (41-27 early in the fourth).
Dominique Hart made some huge buckets for HBA, including a turnaround jumper off the glass with about five minutes left to keep the lead at 13, 45-32.
| At Kaimuki |
| KS-HI |
10 |
10 |
7 |
13 |
— |
40 |
| HBA |
16 |
12 |
11 |
14 |
— |
53 |
KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAII–Caitlin Poe 1, Makenzie Kalawaia 6, Saydee Aganus 4, Riana Arima 13, Makamae Gabriel 9, Camille Poe 3, Jordyn Mantz 0, Taylor Sullivan 4.
HAWAII BAPTIST–Stephanie Dang 8, Rylie Wada 17, Ally Wada 8, Jenee Brown 6, Megan Horita 4, Sara Utsugi 0, Nicole Lopes 0, Kaily Lum 0, Dominique Hart 10
3-point goals–Kamehameha-Hawaii none. Hawaii Baptist 2 (R. Wada 2).
No. 1 Seed Honokaa 39, University 25
Eliyah Fernandez missed only three shots and scored 19 points in 24 minutes as the top-seeded Dragons ran past the Jr. ‘Bows.
Fernandez was 9-for-11 from the field and 1-for-2 from the line and added six rebounds. The rest of the Dragons shot only 24 percent, including 1-for-9 on 3-pointers, but Kayla Requelman and Kizzah Maltezo each contributed five points.
The Dragons did it on defense, limiting the Jr. ‘Bows to two points in the first quarter and took 28 shots to University’s eight in the first half.
Honokaa is the defending state champion and has not lost a state game since the 2013 final against Kamehameha-Hawaii.
| At Kaimuki |
| UNIVERSITY |
2 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
— |
25 |
| HONOKAA |
11 |
10 |
18 |
0 |
— |
39 |
UNIVERSITY–Brenna Dela Rosa 5, British Dawson 0, Malialani Parpana 0, Kyra Young 8, Jocelyn Ki 2, Adelene Elise Ortiz 0, Karley Ann Yoshioka 8, Tioleaoauli Posiuli 2.
HONOKAA–Kayla Reguelman 5, Kizzah Maltezo 5, Shayla Ignacio 2, Taylor Souza 3, Eliyah Fernandez 19, Uluwehi Cordero 0, Sharissa Bird 0, Jaycie Carvalho 0, Kawena Kaohimaunu 3, Kuilei Aikau 0, Aulani Cordero 0, Hiilani Hanohano 0, Bella Fernandez 2, Markell Marquez 0.
3-point goals–University 1 (Dela Rosa). Honokaa 1 (Maltezo).
DIV. II 5TH-PLACE SEMIFINALS
No. 3 Kapaa 48, Castle 39
| At Kalani |
| KAPAA |
14 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
— |
48 |
| CASTLE |
6 |
11 |
6 |
16 |
— |
39 |
KAPAA–Shai-Anne Abigania 8, Kunani Tuttle 9, Ariel Cummings 5, Tori Daligcon-Pomaikai 2, Paea Tafea 18, Maile Martin-Medeiros 0, Tupou Paua 0, Siokapesi Paua 6, Brandie McCarthy 0, Atelaite Tafea 0
CASTLE–Darrien Dacosin 19, Sierra Koki 5, Kaylee Ishii 0, Asia Almeida 6, Tileree Johnson 0, Kaira Tilton 7, Raykelle Dacosin 0, Nile Beard 2, Roquellyn Silva 0, Camryn Cadinha-Oku 0, Sydney Fernandez 0.
3-point goals–Kapaa 2 (Abigania, Tuttle). Castle 4 (D. Dacosin 4).
St. Francis 57, No. 4 Seed Kaimuki 51
| At Kalani |
| KAIMUKI |
9 |
19 |
10 |
13 |
— |
51 |
| ST. FRANCIS |
19 |
10 |
11 |
17 |
— |
57 |
KAIMUKI–Sirena Titer 6, Ashlynn Henderson 5, Desiline Taulung 3, Bran Pfeiffer-Kekoa 4, Victoria Kintz 20, Lizamarie Anien 5, Alissa Chon, Keihara Henry 0, Kuuipo Sefo 2, Kato Leha 4, Cleopatra Lauvao 2.
MOLOKAI–Precious Rawlins 0, Hepuakea Falealii 16, Camille Ledesma 10, Rebecka Adolpho 2, Shanrese Pedro 9, Jamaica Bumatay 0, Kapua Lee 0, Kristine Aquino 0, Sydney Rawlins 0, Brooke Keliihoomalu 0, Kori-Lee DeRouin 0, Kelcyn Balbas 3.
3-point goals–Kaimuki 6 (Kintz 2, Anien, Henderson, Taulung, Titer). St. Francis 2 (Kalei, Santos).
DIV. II CONSOLATION FINAL
Molokai 40, Lanai 34
| At Kalani |
| LANAI |
5 |
12 |
8 |
9 |
— |
34 |
| MOLOKAI |
7 |
4 |
18 |
11 |
— |
40 |
LANAI–Maile Herolaga 4, Claire Vila 4, Kristine Elan 8, Caroline Stuck 0, Tatiana Figuerres 8, Kahea Ganer-Eskaran 0, Tya Soberano-Foster 7, Kayla Garcia 3.
MOLOKAI–Precious Rawlins 0, Hepuakea Falealii 16, Camille Ledesma 10, Rebecka Adolpho 2, Shanrese Pedro 9, Jamaica Bumatay 0, Kapua Lee 0, Kristine Aquino 0, Sydney Rawlins 0, Brooke Keliihoomalu 0, Kori-Lee DeRouin 0, Kelcyn Balbas 3.
3-point goals–Lanai 2 (Elan, Figuerres). Molokai 2 (Falealii, Ledesma).
ILH BOYS DIVISION II
Damien 54, Christian Academy 51
Rocky Mori and Kapi King each scored 13 points and Kobe Ikari added 11 as the Monarchs rallied past the Patriots.
Isaiah Harris and Joshua Luna each finished with 14 points for Christian Academy, which led 40-37 entering the fourth quarter.
| At Hanalani gym |
| DAMIEN (9-3) |
6 |
18 |
13 |
17 |
— |
54 |
| CA (0-12) |
16 |
10 |
14 |
11 |
— |
51 |
DAMIEN–Ernie Kornya 2, Malik Adenji 2, Reggie Liunoras 2, Rocky Mori 13, Shawn Apiki 5, Kapi King 13, Kobe Ikari 11, Storm Maldonaldo 0, Kolin Galdiano 2, Brandon Galang 0, Crummel Mooring 4.
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY–Isaiah Harris 14, Zane Oshiro 8, Rylie Schenbeck-Chang 4, Xavier Matthews 9, Joshua Luna 14, Jacob-Aaron Salas 0, Hollis Tam 2, Brayden Salas 0.
3-point goals–Damien 2 (Ikari, Mori). Christian Academy 2 (Oshiro, Schenbeck-Chang).
Hawaii Baptist 61, Hanalani 55
BJ Hosaka scored 29 points — all over the final three quarters — as the Eagles won the ILH Division II title and clinched a state tournament berth.
Isaac Liva added 16 points for Hawaii Baptist.
Hanalani’s Jeff Schaake scored 15 of his 29 points in the second quarter and Chaz Kubo added 11 points.
| At Hanalani gym |
| HBA (10-2) |
8 |
18 |
16 |
19 |
— |
61 |
| HANALANI (8-4) |
6 |
25 |
7 |
17 |
— |
55 |
HAWAII BAPTIST–BJ Hosaka 29, Danton Tominaga 6, Michael Dang 4, Micah Mitchell 3, Isaac Liva 16, Ty Minatoya 3, Kellen Takatsuka 0.
HANALANI– Jeff Schaake 29, Chaz Kubo 11, Zane Pantil 3, Kenan Cooper 7, Josh Rotz 0, Aaron Leong 3, Connor Kaneshiro 2.
3-point goals–Hawaii Baptist 4 (Hosaka 2, Minatoya, Mitchell). Hanalani 5 (Schaake 4, Leong).
81
JAY METZGER