Adversity arrives in all shapes and forms, but the Lady Falcons of Kalani keep soaring higher.
Despite a key post player being gone and three players getting injured during the game, Kalani dominated second-seeded Waiakea 73-57 on Thursday night in the quarterfinal round of the Snapple/HHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships at McKinley Student Council Gymnasium.
Sophomore guard Kalena Halunajan poured in 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting, while senior Kamalu Kamakawiwo‘ole powered her way for 17 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks for the Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Falcons.
Shelby McDaniel tallied eight points, six rebounds and two steals for Kalani (21-6 overall). Kamakawiwo‘ole was efficient, 8-for-8 at the foul line, and Kalani shot 27-for-37 at the charity stripe.
“We play loose, have fun,” Kalani coach Chi Mok said. “During the season, at times they were trying too hard.”
Kelsie Imai had 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals to lead Waiakea (20-5 overall). Destynee Williams also scored 11 points and pulled down a team-high nine boards. Jazelle Dorser added 10 points.
The Falcons, who lost in the OIA final to the hot Kahuku Lady Raiders two weeks ago, were on Imai all night, forcing her into a 4-for-16 performance from the field.
Waiakea had just 12 turnovers, but shot 22-for-73 from the field (30 percent).
“Kalani’s a well-coached team. They played really well tonight,” Waiakea coach Brandon Kauhi said. “Our game plan was to face-guard their two scorers (Kamakawiwo‘ole and Halunajan), but we had communication problems.”
With center Kandyce Woods leaving the team before Kalani’s opening-round win over Radford on Monday, Mok had to find production from the rest of his lineup on Thursday. But there was an ankle injury to starting guard Heidi Kishaba in the first quarter, an ankle injury to Daesha Viela and a knee injury to Alayna Akiona during the third period.
Guard Lilehina Oyama stepped up with four points and four assists in 20 minutes, and reserve Kira Niemi had five rebounds in 13 minutes.
“We played more as a team in this game and the game before,” McDaniel said. “We just go with what we’ve got and persevere.”
Viela returned to the game and finished with 12 key minutes in relief, hitting all six of her free-throw attempts in the final quarter as Kalani protected its lead.
“Every little bit we can get from our younger players helps get our starters more rest,” Mok said.
The Falcons surged to a 9-2 lead as Halunajan splashed a wing 3. Kalani rolled out its fullcourt press with a little more than three minutes to go in the opening quarter, but pulled it back after taking a 14-9 lead into the second quarter.
The Falcons went on a 13-3 run to open the quarter. Oyama hustled for an offensive board and fed Kamakawiwo‘ole for a layup, and Halunajan scored in transition on a pass from Akana. After Halunajan’s and-1 free throw, the margin was 12. Akiona then drilled a 3 for a 27-14 lead.
By halftime, Kalani had a 29-14 lead and had completely stifled the Warriors. Waiakea shot 6-for-29 from the field in the first half with seven turnovers.
Waiakea trailed 40-17 in the third quarter, then chipped the lead down to 15 in the final stanza, but it was too late for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champions.
The Warriors earned the high seeding after beating Konawaena twice in the BIIF season. The first time, they ended Konaweana’s 124-game win streak in league play. The second time was in the league championship game on Konawaena’s home court.
Despite their frequent travel to Oahu each year in preseason, the Warriors looked out of sync at times. Kalani opted to stay back in halfcourt man defense rather than press fullcourt, and so did Waiakea, one of the quickest, if smallest, teams in the tournament.
“We were waiting for them to press,” Kamakawiwo‘ole said.
Konawaena 46, Kahuku 42
The four-time defending state champion Wildcats were one of three unseeded teams to win in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
Kailana Salazar Harrell scored a game-high 22 points and Caiyle Kaupu added 17 points and 14 rebounds for the BIIF runner-up Wildcats (12-2), who have won 14 straight games in the state tournament since losing to Mililani in the 2014 quarterfinals.
Only four players scored for Konawaena, which will play No. 1 overall seed ‘Iolani in the second semifinal tonight at 7 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Sophomore Leiah Naeata scored a game-high 16 points and added 13 rebounds, three assists and two steals without a turnover for the OIA champion Red Raiders (14-1), who trailed by 10 at halftime after getting outscored 14-5 in the first quarter.
‘Iolani 67, Maui 32
Lily Lefotu Wahinekapu led five Raiders in double figures as the Raiders advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2013.
Taylor Wu added 13 points, Shyann Kahalehoe and Jovi Lefotu Wahinekapu each poured in 11 and Alexis Huntimer chipped in 10 points for ‘Iolani, which hasn’t played in a final since losing to Konawaena in 2012.
Kamehameha 47, Lahainaluna 30
Malie Marfil went 4-for-4 from the 3-point line and Noelle Sua-Godinet added six points, 11 rebounds, two assists and two steals to help the Warriors (11-4) reach the semifinals for the second time in three years.
Kamehameha will meet Kalani in today’s 5 p.m. semifinal at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Kalina Obrey finished with just eight points and six rebounds on 1-for-8 shooting from the field, but the Warriors defense was superb, holding the MIL champion Lunas (13-1) to 24.4 percent shooting (10-for-41).
Susi Namoa had 15 points, eight rebounds, five steals and a block, but the rest of Lahainaluna’s starting lineup combined to shoot 6-for-27 from the field. The Lunas were 0-for-7 from 3-point range.
DIVISION II
Seabury Hall 63, University 52
Anau Tu’ivai was unstoppable, with a game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds on 9-for-15 shooting to lead the Spartans into the semifinals against Hanalani tonight at 5:30 at Damien.
Ameera Waterford added 19 points, eight rebounds, eight steals and four assists for the MIL champion Spartans (11-0), who will play in the semifinals for the first time in school history.
Tyra Goo Sun had a team-high 17 points and Makena Tong added eight points and 11 rebounds for the Junior ’Bows (10-5).
Hawaii Baptist 50, Farrington 29
Kyley Nakagawa scored 17 points with five steals and Sasha Phillip helped out with 14 points and seven rebounds for the No. 1-seeded Eagles (13-1).
Alexis Dang added nine points and six steals for Hawaii Baptist, which will play Waimea in the second semifinal tonight at Damien.
Setita Prescott had 11 points and Shaylen Tatupu-Timu added nine points for the Governors (7-9).
Waimea 53, Hawaii Prep 14
The KIF champion Warriors dominated the BIIF champions, holding Ka Makani (4-9) scoreless in the second quarter to roll into the semifinals.
Kaye Serapio had a monster double-double with 21 points and 16 rebounds and added eight steals and four assists without a turnover in 30 minutes.
Kierstin Gummerus added 20 points and four steals for Waimea (12-3), which hadn’t played in the state tournament since 2007 and had won only once in the winner’s bracket until this year.
Hanalani 63, Castle 50
Keila Tsutsui scored 18 points and Lishae Scanlan added 17 points, three rebounds, three steals and three blocks as the Royals (13-2) won back-to-back games in the state tournament for the second time ever.
Tatem Foster made all four field goals off the bench for Hanalani, which held the OIA champion Knights (7-7) to 32.7 percent shooting (18-for-55) from the field and forced 19 turnovers.
Briarra Nakihei finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead Castle.
