The hardest paths lead to the highest peaks, at least for the Konawaena Wildcats.
Doing it with some fresh clutch performers, even better. Freshman Caiyle Kaupu fed senior Celena Jane Molina for a key bucket, and Cherilyn Molina and sister Celena hit four free throws in a row to help top-seeded Konawaena edge second-seeded Maryknoll 53-48 in the final of the Snapple/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championships on Saturday night.
Just as huge were two 3-point bombs by reserve guard Tanniya Uchida, a sophomore guard, in the third and fourth quarters.
It’s the first time in school history that Konawaena has won three state titles in a row.
Junior guard Cherilyn Molina, named the tournament’s most outstanding player, led BIIF champion Konawaena with 14 points and six assists against Maryknoll’s long and quick defense. Kaupu added 11 points and nine rebounds, while Mikayla Tablit had eight points and three steals. Celena Jane Molina had six points and five boards.
Rhianne Omori led ILH champion Maryknoll (28-3) with 12 points and four dimes. Kamalu Kamakawiwo‘ole added 10 points, seven boards and two steals. Both teams shot 44 percent from the field, but the Wildcats had a slight edge on the boards (28-25) and shot better at the foul line. Konawaena hit 67 percent (16-for-24), while Maryknoll was at 53 percent (10-for-19).
Konawaena finished the season 27-3, capturing its eighth state championship in the last 14 years, all under coach Bobbie Awa. All eight players and Konawaena’s staff dedicated the tournament to a JV player, McKella Akana, who is being treated at Kapiolani Medical Center for lymphoma. The team wears green ribbons to honor her.
“This tournament is for her,” Awa said before her voice broke up for a moment. “All the hard work, this was a really tough season, everything the girls have gone through. I knew in preseason that we could come back here and win the state championship.”
Maryknoll coach Chico Furtado saw Konawaena at the ‘Iolani Classic.
“That’s not the same team I saw at ‘Iolani,” he said.
The crowd at Blaisdell Arena was largely comprised of Maryknoll fans anticipating a breakthrough after last year’s loss to Konawaena in the final.
Maryknoll led 35-32 late in the third quarter, but struggled the rest of the way against Konawaena’s stingy man-to-man defense.
The game was tied twice more as Maryknoll’s halfcourt press stymied the Wildcats. After a timeout with 4:26 left, the 5-foot-10 Kaupu passed from the high post to Celena Jane Molina for a 10-foot bank shot.
Kodee Viena’s post bucket tied it at 44 for the Lady Spartans, but they never regained the lead.
The Molina sisters combined to make four free throws in a row for a 48-44 lead. After a scoop shot by Kamakawiwo‘ole, the Spartans were within two points, and after unleashing their fullcourt press, they got the ball and an open 3 for Omori, but her shot missed.
Kaupu then found Cherilyn Molina backdoor for a layup, and it was 50-46 with 55 seconds left.
The Spartans missed two open 3-point shots and Kaupu swished two free throws with 15 ticks left for a 52-46 lead. Omori drove for a layup and cut the lead to four points with 7.7 seconds left, and Maryknoll regained possession on a Konawaena turnover, but another missed shot sealed the win for the Wildcats.
“We played hard and battled, but when it came down to crunch plays, No. 3 (Uchida) off the bench, we wanted her to shoot that. Give her credit,” Furtado said.
The shooting precision of Konawaena at the foul line also proved pivotal.
“We shot 1-for-5 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and they were 8-for-10,” Furtado said. “It’s not about outcoaching or anything like that. It’s about who will execute and (Konawaena) did a little better.”
Konawaena started strong, as usual, jumping to an 11-2 lead after a 22-foot trey by Tablit.
Maryknoll chipped away and got within 20-19 with a boost from reserve post Sisilia Kaufusi, who scored six points in the second quarter.
Konawaena 53, Maryknoll 48
Wildcats (15-0)
MIN FG-A FT-A R A PF PTS
Tablit 32 2-7 3-7 6 1 3 8
Ch. Molina 32 3-7 8-9 2 6 0 14
Kaawa 26 3-7 0-2 4 1 3 6
Ce. Molina 32 2-4 2-2 5 0 2 6
Kaupu 20 4-10 3-4 9 2 4 11
Uchida 12 2-2 0-0 1 0 0 6
Hing 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Cabatbat 5 1-2 0-0 0 0 3 2
TEAM 1
TOTALS 160 19-42 17-20 36 13 17 63
Spartans (15-2)
MIN FG-A FT-A R A PF PTS
Kamakawiwoole 26 3-5 4-7 7 2 3 10
Omori 32 4-11 3-5 3 4 3 12
Viena 18 2-8 1-1 2 1 3 5
Cravens 24 2-5 0-2 6 0 5 4
Milne 24 4-6 0-0 2 0 2 9
Stietzel 0+ 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0
Gilliland 10 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 0
Halemano 19 1-2 1-2 0 1 1 3
Kaufusi 7 2-3 1-2 3 0 2 5
TEAM 1
TOTALS 160 18-41 10-19 25 8 20 48
Key — fg-a: field goals made-attempted; ft-a: free throws made-attempted; r: rebounds; pf: personal fouls; pts: total points; a: assists; to: turnovers; min: minutes played.
Halftime — Konawaena 22, Maryknoll 19
3-point goals — Konawaena 3-7 (Uchida 2-2, Tablit 1-2, Ch. Molina 0-1, Kaawa 0-1, Ce. Molina). Maryknoll 2-12 (Milne 1-3, Omori 1-4, Kamakawiwoole 0-1, Viena 0-4). Steals — Konawaena 12 (Ch. Molina 6, Tablit 3, Kaawa 2, Ce. Molina). Maryknoll 8 (Kamakawiwoole 2, Milne 2, Halemano 2, Omori, Kaufusi). Blocked shots — Konawaena none. Maryknoll 4 (Cravens 3, Viena). Turnovers — Konawaena 15 (Ce. Molina 5, Tablit 3, Kaupu 3, Uchida 2, Ch. Molina, Cabatbat). Maryknoll 17 (Milne 5, Kamakawiwoole 4, Omori 3, Cravens 2, Viena, Stietzel, Kaufusi). Technical fouls — none. Officials — Thomas Yoshida, Lyle Cabacungan, Saffery Silva. Attendance — 2037
Third place
Kamehameha 53, Lahainaluna 45
at Neal Blaisdell Arena
Lahainaluna (15-2) 15 8 11 11 — 45
KSK (12-6) 13 16 14 10 — 53
LAHAINALUNA—Rachael Balagso 5, Braenna Estabillo 4, Keiko Aotaki 3, Erin Hookano 2, Elisapeta Hafoka 10, Sheilaika Agbayani 6, Teani Rickard 0, Susitina Namoa 13, Alexa Plaza 0.
KAMEHAMEHA—Bailey Chan 2, Tatum Samson 0, Jewel Paaluhi‐Caulk 2, Maile Marfil 0, Keanna Andres 0, Noelle Sua‐Godinet 2, Kiana Vierra 11, Mikiala Maio 15, Kalina Obrey 19, Mana Borden 0, Anoipua Kaaloa 2.
3-point goals—Lahainaluna 5 (Agbayani 2, Hafoka 2, Aotaki). Kamehameha 3 (Vierra 2, Maio).
Fifth place
Farrington 34, Mililani 28
at Neal Blaisdell Arena
Farrington (14-2) 8 10 7 9 — 34
Mililani (12-5) 12 7 5 4 — 28
FARRINGTON—Kylie Carganilla 0, Char Mae Lubay 0, Kelia Miller 0, Kealaula O’Hara 0, Lexuss Tulba 0, Shayla Cabato‐Machado 4, Shaniah Paleafei 0, Chantal Mailou 3, Willima Karen 2, Setita Prescott 0, Molimau Heimuli 17, Naomi Peltier 8.
MILILANI—Brooke Napier 0, Teona Singletary 0, Maxine Gelacio 0, Kayla Torres 3, Taysia Canon 5, Hope Carter 2, Janae Ritchie 0, Kira Bernat 0, Kayla Tansiongco 4, Kalena Gibson 7, Cheyenne Ardona 7, Destiny Perriera 0, Natalia Kojima 0.
3-point goals—Farrington 1 (Mailou). Mililani 1 (Torres).
