Konawaena wins rematch

This time, the Konawaena Wildcats defended their turf.

Senior guard Cherilyn Molina had 12 points and eight rebounds, and backcourt partner Mikayla Tablit sank two clutch free throws in the final minute as the three-time defending state champions edged Lahainaluna 50-45 on Friday night at Blaisdell Center.

The teams met on Dec. 1 at Konawaena’s tournament, a 44-42 win by the visiting Lunas. Three months have passed, but longtime head coach Bobbie Awa made use of that video footage.

“We got a chance to watch game film this morning. It helped us defensively on how we’ll play their screens,” she said. “We knew this game could go either way.”

BIIF champ Konawaena will face top-seeded Maryknoll tonight in the final of the Snapple/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships.

Tablit, a senior guard, hustled for 10 points and 10 rebounds. She sank the free throws with 46.5 seconds left to stretch Konawaena’s lead to 49-45. That essentially put the game on ice as MIL champion Lahainaluna failed to score down the stretch.

“We told our leaders, the ones who have been playing for four years, that they have to take care of the ball,” co-head coach Dawnyelle Awa said. “We had to know whose hands the ball had to be in.”

Lahainaluna’s nemesis has often been Konawaena. The Wildcats dominated the boards 35-16.

“We didn’t have the same energy we had last night,” Lunas coach Todd Rickard said, referring to a 38-36 win over ‘Iolani. “We’ve got to be ready from beginning to end and we didn’t have the energy until we went to fullcourt pressure. It hurts, but it’s part of the game.”

Sophomore Caiyle Kaupu added 12 points and 10 rebounds. The 5-foot-9 post crashed the offensive glass for seven caroms and defended well against the Lunas’ powerful stretch 5, Susie Namoa, who finished with 14 points and three rebounds.

“Caiyle did a good job and we got the double-team to come help,” Awa said.

Braeanna Estabillo led the Lady Lunas with 15 points.

Konawaena led 23-17 at halftime before going on a 9-4 run to open the third quarter. After Tanniya Uchida hit a jumper, Kaupu scored on a Euro-step move and Tablit splashed a 3 from the top, the Wildcats led 32-21.

Lahainaluna chipped away gradually and tied the game at 44 on a 3-point bank shot by Kayjan Pahukoa with 4:01 remaining.

Molina hit a foul shot moments later, and Tablit provided a key sequence by rebounding on the second-shot miss. She fed Molina for a layup, and the Wildcats led 47-44.

The Lunas were down 47-45 when Pahukoa’s corner 3 missed with one minute left, and the MIL champions ran out of chances.