The words were simple and true from coach Bobbie Awa to her Konawaena basketball team.
“Go hard from the start.”
The top-seeded Wildcats started fast and didn’t let up, zooming to leads of 20-0 and, by halftime, 30-6, in a 64-27 runaway win over Kamehameha-Maui on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Snapple/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championships.
A docile crowd of about 300 at McKinley Student Council Gymnasium saw the Wildcats use a stifling man-to-man defense, precision passing and aggressive attacks to the rim — much the same way they’ve won the past two state titles and seven of the past 13 crowns.
Celena Jane Molina, their senior wing/post, had 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and eight steals to spark Konawaena (25-3 overall). Guard Mikayla Tablit had 14 points, three dimes and nine rebounds, and backcourt mate Cherilyn Molina also scored 14 points and chipped in four rebounds and a team-high five assists.
The Wildcats were on fire defensively and in transition, scoring on a tip play, and never let up even after switching to a zone in the second half.
“Every game, (Awa) still says the little things to motivate us,” said Tablit, who had six steals.
Caiyle Kaupu added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats, who look much more cohesive and unified since their performance in the ‘Iolani Classic two months ago. Their reserves saw significant minutes, particularly when Cherilyn Molina sat the third quarter with foul trouble.
“They’re not afraid to shoot the ball now,” said Cherilyn Molina, who switched this season from jersey number 22 to 11, which was previously worn by former Wildcat and older sister Chanelle. “We’re faster and talking on screens (defensively), working hard. We’ve worked a lot at practice on getting every ball on the ground.”
Kaylee Cambra led KS-Maui, the MIL runner-up, with 11 points and added six boards. Ashley Peralta had seven points and Kimani Fernandez-Roy hustled for a team-high 10 rebounds. Coach Victor Aguirre’s team had lost to only one other team — Lahainaluna — since the regular season began.
Konawaena’s tight man defense led to 14 turnovers by the Warriors in the first half. The team from Pukalani broke the scoreless drought on Angel Pauole’s free throw with 3:46 left in the second quarter.
The Warriors went to a 1-2-2 halfcourt trap in the third quarter, and that triggered an 11-2 run, cutting the lead to 32-17.
From there, however, Konawaena went on a 14-3 run to extend the lead to 46-20 before KS-Maui called time out with 5:11 remaining in regulation.
“I like the fact that we had to make a few adjustments on our press breaker,” said Awa, who has coached more state championship teams than any other coach. “Some of it was mental errors. They had a nice run on us.”
The Wildcats finished the game with a mix of starters and reserves — Tanniya Uchida had five steals in 14 minutes — on the floor.
“They’re more smart now,” said the senior, Celena Jane Molina, of her young first-year varsity teammates. “At practice, it’s about defense. It’s about being able to handle two-minute drills.”
Kamehameha 52, Farrington 47
Mikiala Maio poured in 30 points as the Warriors pulled out a thriller over the OIA champion Governors.
Maio was clutch with key buckets in the paint against bigger defenders, belying her history as a wing scorer. She also hit four key free throws down the stretch.
“She kept us in the game by scoring in the post. She’s willing to do anything,” Warriors coach Joseph Cho said.
She shot 12-for-22 from the field, grabbed five boards, had two assists and three steals in 31 minutes. It’s been a long wait for Maio, who was the team manager (water girl) as an eighth-grader. Kamehameha won the state title that season but hadn’t returned to the big dance until this year.
“I’ve waited four years for this moment. I just reacted to the defense and told myself to play with confidence, to play with no fear,” Maio said.
Now the ILH runners-up have top-seeded, two-time defending champion Konawaena in Friday’s semifinal matchup.
“If we’re going out, we’re going with our guns blazing, especially against a great team,” Maio said.
Kalina Obrey added 10 points for Kamehameha.
Chantal Mailou scored 17 points, and Moli Heimuli had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Lady Governors.
Kiana Vierra swished a wing 3 for a 46-43 lead with 2:23 left to give Kamehameha the lead for good. Farrington’s Willima Karen banked in a 15-footer cut the lead to one.
Maio went to the line for a 1-and-1 with 38.7 seconds left and made both shots for a 48-45 lead.
Heimuli scored on a spin move in the lane with 26 seconds left, again cutting the lead to one. Maio answered at 18.9 seconds with two more foul shots. Farrington called time out at midcourt with 13.4 seconds remaining, down 50-47.
Heimuli drew a double team in the middle of the paint and fed sharpshooter Kylie Carganilla, who missed an 8-foot baseline shot. Vierra rebounded and was fouled with 1.3 seconds left. She made the first foul shot, icing the win.
Lahainaluna 54, Mililani 46
Elisapeta Hafoka posted a game-high 17 points to lead the Lunas over the Trojans. Susitina Namoa added 15 points for Lahainaluna, which remains undefeated. Mililani’s Kalena Gibson scored 14 points in the loss.
Maryknoll 58, Kaimuki 23
Isabella Cravens had 13 points and 10 rebounds, leading the second-seeded Spartans to an easy win over the Bulldogs.
Maryknoll also got 10 points from Rhianne Omori. Defensively, the Spartans did not allow any Kaimuki players to score in double figures.
Maryknoll faces Lahainaluna in today’s semifinal game at 5 p.m. at Blaisdell Arena.
hhsaa d-ii girls basketball
Kalani 68, Kauai 48
Kirstin Kouchi poured in a game-high 26 points, knocking down six 3-pointers, as the Falcons defeated the Red Raiders.
Taegan Keep had 13 points and 13 rebounds to lead Kauai.
Next up for the Falcons is No. 1 seed Mid-Pacific today at 7 p.m. at Kalani.
Mid-Pacific 82, Damien 30
Brilie Kovaloff knocked down five 3-pointers on six attempts en route to a game-high 23 points to lead the Owls past the Monarchs.
Mid-Pacific outscored Damien 37-7 in the first quarter, and 59-11 in the first half. The top-seeded Owls will take on Kalani in the semifinals today at 7 p.m. at Kalani.
Kamehameha-Hawaii 44, Moanalua 33
Saydee Aganus scored a game-high 13 points, and added eight rebounds and eight assists, guiding the Warriors past Na Menehune.
Kamehameha-Hawaii advanced to play St. Francis today at 5 p.m. at Kalani.
St. Francis 52, Seabury Hall 27
Olivia Vaeatangitau racked up 17 points as the Saints rocked the Spartans. Kaimi Kalei scored 11 points for St. Francis, while Kyra Cambra led Seabury Hall with nine points.
The Saints will face No. 2 seed Kamehameha-Hawaii at 5 p.m. today at Kalani High School.
