Shayla Young picked the right time to have a clutch night.

The junior guard poured in 18 points, had five rebounds, four assists and six steals as Castle outlasted University 63-52 on Wednesday at Kaimuki gym in the opening round of the Snapple/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division II State Championship.

Young’s persistence on both ends was part of a high-energy attack by Castle (5-15), the runner-up from the Oahu Interscholastic Association. Tiara Hookano hustled for 10 points, four assists and four steals, while Noelani Beard chipped in 10 points. Briarra Nakihei had a strong all-around performance with nine points, 11 boards, five assists and five steals. Sheri May Alvarado added eight caroms on the glass.

In all, the quicker Knights had 19 steals, forcing UHS into 25 turnovers.

Ti Posiulai led University (10-12), the fourth-place team from the ILH, with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Tyra Goo Sun caught fire late in the game and finished with 14 points, including three treys. Tia Akasaki added nine points. Mary Ann Mailei tallied seven points and 11 rebounds.

Castle will meet top seed and ILH champion St. Francis (23-0) 7 p.m. today at Kaimuki.

“We did good on our passing and ballhandling. Coach (Joseph Lililo) told us, ‘Just run your plays’,” said Young, who shot 7-for-9 from the free-throw line.

The game was dominated by early trips the charity stripe. Castle rolled to a 13-2 lead, but the Junior ‘Bows were in the double bonus late in the first quarter. University cut the lead to 17-12 after a 3 by Lily Awai and a layup by Posiulai, but Castle came up with steals for easy buckets and extended the lead to 28-17 by halftime.

The Knights opened the third quarter with two buckets by Young to stretch the lead to 36-22, but again, fouls racked up and University was in the double bonus before the fourth quarter began.

Early in the fourth stanza, Posiulai, a 5-11 senior, sank two foul shots, and Goo Sun sank back-to-back treys. That brought the Jr. ’Bows within 52-44 with 4:45 remaining.

Castle then went on a 9-2 run, getting a straightaway 3 from Young to put the game out of reach.

“It’s sad that we didn’t go further, but we were willing to fight to get here,” said Posiulai, who is also a standout middle blocker for University’s volleyball team. “That was a big accomplishment in itself.”

Castle hasn’t played St. Francis this season, but Young is cautiously optimistic about her team’s chances.

“They box out and they get rebounds. We’re the underdogs and that gives us more intensity to play,” she said. “You never know what will happen until you try.”

Honokaa 32, Seabury 13

Kui’lei Aikau’s double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds lifted the Dragons over the Spartans.

Anaulei Tu’ivai had a game-high 16 boards for the Spartans and scored three points.

Hawaii Baptist 40, Pearl City 9

Kyley Nakagawa had a game-high eight points for Hawaii Baptist, as nine players scored for the Eagles.

Alyssa Oshita scored a team-high five points for Pearl City.

Le Jardin 43, Waipahu 38

The Bulldogs edged the Marauders behind Julia Fisher’s 19 points and 15 rebounds, both game highs.

Elizabeth Kanaulu led Waipahu with 12 points and five rebounds.