Two weeks after Lahainaluna’s quest for a state championship fell one win short, the Lunas began preparing for another run at the girls basketball title.
The Lunas earned another shot on Thursday by running away from and holding off Maryknoll in a 55-44 win in the semifinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Division I Girls Basketball Championship at McKinley Gym.
The Lunas returned to the title game a year after falling to Punahou in the final, led by 18 points from junior Fe-Ko-Fiemea Hafoka, one of the holdovers from last year’s team.
"It’s just amazing. All we wanted to do is get to the state championship and play as hard we can, to focus on one game at a time," Hafoka said.
"We lost it last year, came back to practice really hard and said this is it. Two weeks later, back at the weight room, back in the gym getting our shots up."
Lahainaluna entered the tournament as the second seed after going 12-0 in the MIL despite losing nine players in the offseason, including three transfers to top-seeded Konawaena. With seven freshmen on the roster, the Lunas will attempt to win the program’s second Division I state title and first since 2010 in Friday’s final against Konawaena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"I’m just happy for our senior (center Matafolau Hafoka) and our girls," Lahainaluna coach Todd Rickard said. "Everybody thought we wouldn’t get this far, everybody doubted we could make it back. I told the girls as long as we continue to work hard, push ourselves and play smart basketball there’s a chance we can get there. To do that is special."
That said …
"We’re not satisfied with second," Rickard said. "We’ll try our best and we’ll see what happens."
Cameron Fernandez and Matafolau Hafoka contributed 11 points each for Lahainaluna, who sped out to a 27-point lead with 3:25 left in the third quarter.
Lahainaluna never trailed in the game and took control with a 9-0 run to close the second quarter.
Fe-Ko-Fiemea Hafoka opened the run by driving for a score, assisted on a fast break layup then was on the receiving end of a pass to finish another break. Lahainalua went up 28-14 when Rachael Balagso hit a 3-pointer.
"We needed to be hungry tonight," Rickard said. "We needed to play aggressively, come out and give everything they had, not save anything for tomorrow and we did that."
The Lunas pulled further ahead with a 15-2 run to start the third quarter and led 47-24 with 7:09 left in the fourth.
But Maryknoll freshman Chayse Milne helped spark an 11-0 spurt and the Spartans eventually closed to 51-41 with 2:10 left.
Lahainaluna went 4-for-14 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to provide oxygen to Maryknoll’s comeback hopes and the Spartans closed to 53-44 on Rhianne Omori’s 3-pointer with 51.2 seconds left. But that would be Maryknoll’s last bucket and the Lunas celebrated their return to the title game while the Spartans will post the program’s highest Division I finish since finishing fourth in 1988.
"I think it starts with our senior leadership," Maryknoll coach Chico Furtado said of the Spartans’ progress this season. "Those kids being in our program three, four years and to have this many freshmen and for them to come together as a team is a testament to their leadership."
| MARYKNOLL |
8 |
6 |
8 |
22 |
— |
44 |
| LAHAINALUNA |
14 |
14 |
15 |
12 |
— |
55 |
MARYKNOLL–Maegen Martin 11, Moe Notoa 0, Alexis Delovio 1, Rhianne Omori 13, Kaile Cambra 3, Maya Rodrigues-Chang 0, Georjette Stietzel 1, Isaballa Cravens 0, Chayse Milne 8, Lindsey Lee 5, Ysabelle Halemano 2, Sierra Murobayashi 0.
LAHAINALUNA–Keleah-Aiko Koloi 9, Cameron Fernandez 11, Matafolau Hafoka 11, Fa-Ko-fiemea Hafoka 18, Rachael Balagso 3, Braenna Estabillo 3, Keiko Aotaki 0, Elisapeta Hafoka 0.
3-point goals–Maryknoll 6 (Omori 3, Cambra, Lee, Martin). Lahainaluna 3 (Balagso, Fernandez, F. Hafoka).
DIV. I 3RD-PLACE SEMIFINALS
Hilo 57, Radford 41
| At Moanalua |
| RADFORD |
6 |
15 |
10 |
10 |
— |
41 |
| HILO |
12 |
12 |
15 |
18 |
— |
57 |
RADFORD–Puni Seei 4, Tanisha Elbourne 8, Jazmyn Peralta 0, Jasmine Moody 24, Kennedy Johnson 0, Brigina Terry 0, Michelle Vasquez 3, Sophia Harris 2, Shaelie Brugess 0, Cassidy Wright 0
HILO–Chailey Caalis 10, Alexis Pana 13, Sharlei Graham-Bernisto 10, Cierra Kelii 2, Shalyn Guthier 10, Faith Katie Loeak 10, Sydnee Yokota 2, Mandi Kawaha 0.
3-point goals–Radford 1 (Elbourne). Hilo 4 (Pana 3, Guthier).
| At Moanalua |
| BALDWIN |
16 |
9 |
5 |
7 |
— |
37 |
| PUNAHOU |
12 |
19 |
10 |
11 |
— |
52 |
BALDWIN–Dayna-Jo Calubaquib 4, Chaniya Silva 2, Deja Cala-Nakamura 0, Anntoinette Agmata 2, Ashley-Christ Kaaea 9, Shevone Shimabuku 0, Deanelyn Tapaoan 3, Kiana Kalehuawehe 7, Noelle Johnson 9, Deja Emerey Butay 1.
PUNAHOU–Kamaile Kandiah 9, Lexie Taylor 4, Heaven Wong 0, Kamakani DeBlake 0, Abigail Aplaca 1, Asia Olivieri 4, Vae Malufau 10, Elle Uyeda 15, Tyra Moe 7, Emi Puaa 2, Mahina Puaa 0, Sunny Rosario 0.
3-point goals–Baldwin 1 (Kaaea). Punahou 8 (Uyeda 5, Kandiah 3).
| At Moanalua |
| MILILANI |
9 |
9 |
8 |
18 |
— |
44 |
| LEILEHUA |
11 |
12 |
11 |
18 |
— |
52 |
MILILANI–Marisa Matsuo 0, Kayla Torres 12, Taysia Canon 3, Megan Shimabukuro 2, Jamie Yuki 11, Kristen Miguel 0, Taylor Walker 2, Summer Bolibol 10, Velisia Melesia 4
LEILEHUA–Chloe Pojas 0, Dehja Johnson 0, Kayla Posiulai 2, TyLeeah Maddox 0, Jerri Maluyo 12, Keahi-lele Roy 4, Regina Manumua 10, Tywanna Abbott 14, Alaese McKenzie 0, Abigail Flores 0, Shaylee Todani 1, Nora Fenton 0, Jazmina Lafitaga 9
3-point goals–Mililani 3 (Canon, Yuki). Leilehua none.
