The Konawaena Wildcats did the improbable on Saturday night, upsetting top-seeded Maryknoll 47-32 to capture their fourth state championship in a row.

No team had ever won four consecutive titles, but the Wildcats made history in the Division I final of the Snapple/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships. Maryknoll had not lost to a Hawaii team all season, but couldn’t find a way to score their normal plethora of points against a stingy Konawaena man-to-man defense. Playing in their third state final in a row, the Lady Spartans were stifled once again by the dynastic Wildcats, who have now secured nine state championships in the past 15 seasons under Bobbie Awa.

“It’s amazing. Nobody has ever done it,” senior guard Cherilyn Molina said.

“From the beginning of the season, we were underdogs,” said Mikayla Tablit, another senior guard who was clutch at the foul line.

Tablit and Molina led the way, combining to shoot 15-for-20 at the free-throw line in the final quarter. Molina finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals. Tablit had 15 points, seven boards and one steal as Konawaena (26-2 including nonconference games) stunned Maryknoll (28-3), the four-time defending ILH champion.

Isabella Cravens had 11 points, 11 rebounds, two blocks and two steals to lead the Lady Spartans.

“This is great. They seeded us No. 2. The girls had to reach deep down and they made history,” Awa said.

Konawaena’s penetration game, which was a major concern of Maryknoll coach Chico Furtado, led to a big difference in trips to the foul line. The Wildcats shot 24-for-32 and Maryknoll was 5-for-8.

Maryknoll had its chances. The Spartans led 22-17 at halftime, but shot 0-for-8 from the field in the third quarter. Konawaena patiently ran its offense, spreading the court and taking its chances against what had been the toughest defensive unit in the state.

Molina drove for a lefty layup and center Caiyle Kaupu splashed a corner 3 to spark the comeback.

“Auntie Bobbie said to get out to the line and set my feet,” the sophomore said.

After Molina hit a foul shot with 4:24 to go in the third, the Wildcats led 23-22 and never trailed again. With Maryknoll’s fouls racking up and Konawaena spreading the floor, it eventually became a chess match, with free throws as the reward for the champs.

Molina ended the third quarter with a straightaway 3, and the run continued in the fourth quarter as she drove for a bucket on an inbounds pass and Tablit sank two free throws, then a driving bucket. By then, the lead was 32-24 with 4:57 remaining.

The Lady Spartans shot 2-for-12 from the field in the fourth, continuing to struggle against the smaller Wildcats — four guards and post Kaupu — and got no closer than nine the rest of the way.

Tablit shot 8-for-10 at the foul line in the final quarter and Molina was 7-for-10 in the final stanza.

Konawaena’s title win also made it a Big Island sweep in the championship games. Kamehameha-Hawaii defeated St. Francis for the D-II crown.