Even though it won last year’s state title, Honokaa was reminded all season that didn’t guarantee a free pass into this year’s tournament.

That meant the Dragons had to leave everything out on the court. On Friday, Shayla Ignacio’s scoring run solidified a second straight championship.

Ignacio scored 11 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter as top-seeded Honokaa held on for a 33-31 win over No. 2 Hawaii Baptist in Friday’s Division II final of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships at the Stan Sheriff Center.

“It’s a great feeling and I’m happy for our kids that they could experience all of this,” Honokaa coach Daphne Honma said. “We always tell them there’s no guarantees next year, so you’ve got to leave everything you have out here on the floor. No expectations of coming back because there’s no guarantees you will be back … just enjoy every moment of it.”

Kizzah Maltezo had nine points and Kawena Kaohimaunu added eight off the bench for the Dragons (13-2). Big Island teams have won the past four D-II state titles.

“The whole second half we were preaching defense is going to do it for us,” Honma said. “We gotta play tough D, get some defensive stops and it was constant reminders, play tough D, know where the shooters are, shut down the dribble penetration.”

Stephanie Dang led HBA (16-1) with 12 points and Jenee Brown added eight.

“It was a really tough match for us,” Dang said. “We really played our best tonight and we’re really proud of each other.”

Dang’s 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining cut the deficit to 33-31. The Eagles’ defense then made it difficult for the Dragons to inbound the ball. Honokaa burned two timeouts to avoid a turnover, but the message remained the same: Take your time.

“Take our time, don’t need to rush, don’t need to score, just get the ball in,” Ignacio said.

Out of the final timeout, Honokaa went for a deep pass but turned the ball over. Dang came up with the loose ball with three seconds left deep in the backcourt, but the Eagles couldn’t get off a shot as time expired.

“He (coach Keith Sugiura) was telling us to stay on our man and just reassuring us we were still in it,” Dang said of the closing seconds.

Honokaa, which trailed by as many as eight points, tied it at 24 on Ignacio’s 3-pointer to open the fourth quarter. Rylie Wada responded with a 3-pointer, but Ignacio followed with a 3-pointer to tie at 27 with 6:15 remaining. The Dragons took their first lead since 2-0 after Ignacio hit two free throws for a 29-27 lead with 3:08 left.

Brown made one of two free throws to cut the deficit to 29-28, but Ignacio continued her scoring run. She made three free throws in the final minute and the Dragons led 32-28 with 35 seconds remaining.

“We just had to help on the help-side defense and take our time on offense,” said Ignacio.

Eliyah Fernandez’s free throw with 28 seconds left gave the Dragons a 33-28 lead and was the only Honokaa point not scored by Ignacio in the fourth.

“Shayla has been our floor leader pretty much the whole season,” Honma said. “She’s been stepping it up. She’s just a very strong vocal leader. She helped us out keeping her composure out there, kept our kids cool and their composure as well.”

Ignacio said she had to step it up in the fourth.

“I just got an adrenaline rush and I felt I had to step it up,” Ignacio said.

Trailing 17-11 at halftime, the Dragons turned up their defensive pressure in the second half by heavily guarding HBA’s guards. Honokaa’s defense limited good looks and the Eagles made just four of 18 shots in the second half after converting seven of 16 in the first.

“We didn’t want them getting good looks,” Honma said. “We made sure they’re taking tough shots, blocking out and grabbing boards.”

Honokaa 33, Hawaii Baptist 31

Key — fg-a: field goals made-attempted; ft-a: free throws made-attempted; rb: rebounds; pf: personal fouls; pts: total points; a: assists; to: turnovers; min: minutes played.

Halftime — Hawaii Baptist 17, 

Honokaa 11.

3-point goals — Hawaii Bapitst 5-12 (Dang 2-4, Wada, R. 2-4, Brown 1-4) Honokaa 5-16 (Kaohimaunu 2-3, Ignacio 2-6, Maltezo 1-7). Steals — Hawaii Baptist 4 (Wada, A. 2, Dang, Hart). Honokaa 2 (Requelman, Maltezo). Blocked shots — Hawaii Baptist 1 (Wada, A.). Honokaa 2 (Maltezo, Fernandez). Technical fouls — none. Officials — Arielle Daniels, Raelen Bajet, Saffrey Silva. A — N/A.

DIVISION II 3RD PLACE

Kamehameha-Hawaii 50, University 41

KS-HAWAII–Camille Poe 0, Caitlin Poe 2, Makenzie Kalawaia 1, Saydee Aganus 0, Hera Salmeron 0, Riana Arima 15, Makamae Gabriel 26, Tiana Ramelb 0, Jordyn Mantz 2, Kaleinani Rapoza 0, Taylor Sullivan 4. 

UNIVERSITY–Angelina Elido 0, Brenna Dela Rosa 14, British Dawson 4, Malialani Parpana 4, Markayisha Masani 0, Adelene Elise Ortiz 0, Kyra Young 8, Karley Ann Yoshioka 0, Jocelyn Ki 7, Tioleaoauli Posiuli 4. 

3-point goals–KS-Hawaii 3 (Arima 3). University 2 (Dela Rosa 2).

DIVISION II 5TH PLACE

Kapaa 39, St. Francis 35

KAPAA–Shai-Anne Abigania 6, Kunani Tuttle 6, Ariel Cummings 9, T. Daligcon-Pomaikai 8, Siokapesi Paua 4, Brandie McCarthy 3, Paea Tafea 3, Atelaite Tafea 0. 

ST. FRANCIS–Nani Santos 15, Kelli Okubo 1, Kahili Liu-Hanohano 0, Chasey Abrams 0, Rya Ormong 0, Misiona Ribeiro 6, Skye Ah Yat 5, Kaimi Kalei 6, Briana Nagasawa 0, Dayna Romero 2. 

3-point goals–Kapaa 3 (Abigania 2, McCarthy). St. Francis 1 (Santos).