CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Konawaena’s Mercedes Victor drove to the basket in the first half of a rout of Punahou on Wednesday.
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Junior forward Celena Jane Molina scored 16 points and sister Cherilyn Molina added 10 as top-seeded Konawaena overwhelmed Punahou 51-27.
Last year’s All-State Player of the Year, Chanelle Molina, added nine points, and Mikayla Tablit chipped in eight as the defending champions relied on an air-tight man-to-man defense to derail the ILH runners-up. Chanelle Molina returned to action last week in the BIIF title game after missing more than a month with an ankle injury.
“I’m contributing to the team, but I don’t really have to do anything. Everybody’s stepping up,” she said.
Ihi Victor added six points and teamed up with Celena Jane Molina to thwart Punahou’s talented posts, Tyra Moe and Va‘e Malufau. The two combined for nine points as the Wildcats battled on the post and swarmed with double teams.
“They’re very good. The credit goes to them,” Punahou coach Liz Kam said. “We did what we needed to do on defense, but on offense we needed to convert. We were stagnant.”
Kamaile Kandiah led Punahou (13-4) with nine points.
The first quarter was fairly close until the Wildcats went on a run, sparked by a corner 3 from Chanelle Molina. They led 22-10 midway through the second quarter, and Celena Jane Molina’s wing 3 just before the buzzer gave the BIIF champions a 27-16 lead at intermission.
Punahou got within 29-20 on a layup by Moe, but Konawaena responded with a 9-2 run to open a 16-point lead.
