Victoria Kintz scored 16 points, including a key bucket with 55 seconds left, as No. 7-ranked Kaimuki escaped with a 44-41 win over No. 10 Mililani on Tuesday night in the OIA Division I girls basketball semifinals at Waipahu.
Kaimuki is simply the Cinderella story of the OIA, an undersized, very young team that is now 11-1 in Division I. The Bulldogs won the last two OIA D-II titles.
“It means a lot. I want this one more than the other two,” Kintz said. “This is Division I. No one thought we could come up to D-I and go this far.”
Kintz hit a tough fadeaway shot from 5 feet out on a fast break to give the Bulldogs a three-point lead. Until that point, Mililani (9-3) had been on a furious comeback, after trailing 32-21 late in the third quarter. Guard Dahlis Sablay was on fire, scoring 13 points in a row on a combination of pull-up jumpers in the lane and long-range 3-point bombs. After she hit one of two free throws with 1:03 to go, the Lady Trojans were behind 42-41.
From there, they missed opportunities to take the lead or tie. After Kintz’s basket opened the lead to 44-41, Kayla Torres’ corner 3 was short. The young Bulldogs — Kintz is one of only two seniors — missed chances to put the game on ice. Sophomore sharpshooter Kaelyn Espinda missed the front side of 1-and-1 opportunities twice. The first time, Mililani called time out with 8.5 seconds left and Sablay launched a corner 3 that missed.
Espinda missed the next 1-and-1 with 2.5 seconds left, but Torres’ halfcourt prayer was short at the buzzer.
“I feel great. We won and we’re going to the ‘ship,’” said Kintz, who also had seven rebounds, two assists and a block.
Sirena Titer shot 4-for-9 from 3-point range and added 12 points for Kaimuki (11-1). Sonia Palik chipped in seven points and Espinda pulled in seven boards. Kaimuki was dominated on the glass 37-22, but committed just eight turnovers.
Mililani, which shot 1-for-6 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, shot 28 percent from the field (14-for-50) against Kaimuki’s matchup zone despite a major height advantage. Sablay led all scorers with 18 points. Cheyenne Ardona had eight points and seven rebounds, and Kalena Gibson tallied six points, six boards and a block. Hope Carter had a game-high 11 caroms.
Coach Patrick Basilio’s squad, the second-place team in the West, had already sealed a state-tournament berth by beating Kahuku on Saturday. Kaimuki, the first-place team from the East, had a 22-9 lead in the second quarter after a pull-up jumper by Espinda, but Mililani’s halfcourt press took the ball out of their primary scorers. Kaimuki’s reserves shot a combined 1-for-7 with four turnovers.
“We were just trying to survive,” Bulldogs coach Mona Fa‘asoa said. “In the first half, we had ball control. We controlled the pace and got the shots we wanted. Second half, we couldn’t finish.”
At least not until Kintz saved the day with one of the most awkward, yet clutch buckets of the season.
“I threw up some prayers today,” she said.
Prior to D-II, Kaimuki last won an OIA title in 1990 under the late Tom Costain.
Farrington 52, Leilehua 38
Moli Heimuli scored 20 points as the Governors rallied for the semifinal victory. Shayla Cabato-Machado added 13 points and Chantal Mailou chipped in nine points on three treys.
Kaylen Kamelamela led Leilehua (10-2), the first-place team from the West, with 13 points. Shaylee Todani added 12 points.
The Governors bolted to a 16-6 lead in the first quarter, but Leilehua rallied in the second to take the lead. The Mules used full-court pressure to spark a 17-3 run for a 23-19 lead. They led 25-23 at the half.
The Governors got a big boost from center Naomi Peltier in the third quarter and rallied to take a 36-30 lead. Farrington’s man defense had extra tight coverage on Kamelamela.
In the fourth quarter, the Govs went to a box-and-one, deploying Kylie Carganilla on Kamelamela. Shortly after that, they went back to man defense with Carganilla on Kamelamela, an accurate pull-up jump shooter, and Shaniah Paleafei on Todani, Leilehua’s long-range gunner.
Kamelamela and Todani combined for six points in the second half.
Farrington’s fast break returned, and the lead stretched to 43-30.
FIFTH-PLACE BRACKET
Nanakuli 45, Campbell 37
Alana Nuuanu knocked down three 3-pointers en route to a game-high 20 points as the Golden Hawks defeated the Sabers to clinch a spot in the HHSAA Division I State Championships.
ILH D-I GIRLS PLAYOFFS
Punahou 61, Sacred Hearts 30
The Buffanblu held a 37-13 halftime lead to eliminate the Lancers in the first round of the ILH Division I girls playoffs.
Punahou’s Tanisha Elbourne posted a game-high 12 points in the win, followed by Kamaile Kandiah’s 10 points.
Punahou will visit No. 1 Maryknoll today at 5 p.m.
ILH D-II GIRLS PLAYOFFS
Hanalani 47, University 42, 2OT
The Royals outscored the Junior ’Bows 11-6 in double overtime to advance in the ILH Division II girls playoffs. Keila Tsutsui (20 points) and Faith Lee (19) carried Hanalani’s offense.
Damien 55, Le Jardin 40
Shanie Nakamura and Catherine Votovich scored 12 points each to lead the Monarchs over the Bulldogs in the second round of the ILH Division II girls playoffs.
Damien will host Hanalani for the ILH Division II title on Thursday at 5 p.m.
OIA DIVISION I GIRLS PLAYOFFS
No. 7 Kaimuki 44,
No. 10 Mililani 41
At Waipahu
Mililani (9-3) 7 7 12 15 — 41
Kaimuki (11-1) 11 13 10 10 — 44
MILILANI—Teona Singletary 0, Kayla Torres 3, Taysia Canon 4, Dahlis Sablay 18, Hope Carter 2, Janae Ritchie 0, Kalena Gibson 6, Cheyenne Ardona 8.
KAIMUKI—Sirena Titer 12, Sonia Palik 7, Keihara Henry 0, Kaelyn Espinda 5, Peka Scott 2, Victoria Kintz 16, Alissa Chon 0, Cleopatra Lauvao 0, Mele Loo-Godinet 2, Nancy Atiga 0, Jasmine Chipen-Ii 0.
3-point goals—Mililani 4 (Sablay 2, Torres, Canon). Kaimuki 5 (Titer 4, Espinda).
No. 9 Farrington 52,
No. 8 Leilehua 38
At Waipahu
Leilehua (10-2) 6 19 5 8 — 38
Farrington (11-1) 16 7 13 16 — 52
LEILEHUA—Kaylen Kamelamela 13, Kayla Posiulai 0, Chyel Palmer 4, Abigail Flores 7, Shaylee Todani 12, Kimberley Owens 1, Asia Castillo 1.
FARRINGTON—Kylie Carganilla 4, Char Lubay 0, Kelia Miller 0, Shayla Cabato-Machado 13, Shaniah Paleafei 4, Chantal Mailou 9, Natasha Paleafei 0, Willima Karen 0, Setita Prescott 0, Moli Heimuli 20, Naomi Peltier 2.
3-point goals—Leilehua 5 (Kamelamela 2, Todani 2, Flores 1). Farrington 3 (Mailou 3).
Nanakuli 45,
Campbell 37
At Nanakuli
Campbell (8-5) 13 5 6 13 — 37
Nanakuli (10-3) 10 9 11 15 — 45
CAMPBELL—Taylynn Saniatan 0, Danielle Silva 15, Asia Robinson 0, Shantelle Sagucio 3, Gieani Balino 7, Jasianna Ah Nee Green 10, Brittany Matthews 0, Kimberlee Ung 2.
NANAKULI—Alana Nuuanu 20, Kalei Cates 6, Kanani Diamond 6, Crucita Enos 0, Trisdyn Kalaau 6, Pesi Osa 0, April Alaimalo 0, Shayna Montez 5, Kitona Ahsui 2.
3-point goals—Campbell 1 (Silva). Nanakuli 3 (Nuuanu 3).
ilh Division i GIRLS playoffs
Punahou 61,
Sacred Hearts 30
At Punahou
SHA (0-13) 6 7 10 7 — 30
Punahou (5-8) 17 20 16 8 — 61
SACRED HEARTS—Trinity Martin 2, Sade Mizusawa 2, Rebekah “Manu” Auld 0, Pakalana Kam 3, Kyla Nascimento 0, Dallas Martinez 8, Te‘hiwa Medeiros 9, Pamela Lino 4, Ka‘u‘ialoha “Ui” Apao 0, Ka‘iulani Harrington 2, Danielle Tavai 0.
PUNAHOU—Kamaile Kandiah 10, Tanisha Elbourne 12, Kiarra Young 0, Lexie Taylor 6, Kamakani DeBlake 2, Abigail Aplaca 8, Tara Kaneshiro 0, Kristen Tamagawa 8, Jenna Reformina 2, Elle Uyeda 6, Kylie Yamauchi 5, Sinalauli‘i Uluave 2.
3-point goals—Sacred Hearts 2 (Martinez, Medeiros). Punahou 11 (Elbourne 4, Kandiah 2, Taylor 2, Uyeda 2, Yamauchi).
Also
Division I-AA girls
‘Iolani 54, Maryknoll 12
Kamehameha 40, Punahou 21
ilh Division Ii GIRLS playoffs
Hanalani 47,
University 42, 2OT
At La Pietra
Hanalani (7-5) 13 4 8 7 4 11 — 47
University (7-5) 8 7 4 13 4 6 — 42
HANALANI—Faith Lee 19, Kira Matsuda 1, Kennedy Henry 0, Kamalanimalie Manner 0, Sierra Kurihara 0, Kelsy Chong 0, Anastasiya Li 0, Geetika Patwardhan 0, Keila Tsutsui 20, Alexis Nihipali 3, Lexis Tam Ho 0, Kiara Peterson 4.
UNIVERSITY—Cassidy Gelacio 4, Alex Jaeger 2, Lily Awai 4, Abby Bierwert 0, Neah Tassill 5, Tyra Goo Sun 10, Addie Ortiz 0, British Dawson 9, Mary Ann Mailei 4, Ti Posiulai 4.
3-point goals—Hanalani 2 (Tsutsui 2). University 1 (Goo Sun).
Damien 55, Le Jardin 40
At Damien
Le Jardin (4-8) 9 10 10 11 — 40
Damien (9-3) 16 17 13 9 — 55
LE JARDIN—Mia Barrett 7, Mahea Baginski 0, Teneal Togami 0, Maddie Venezia 11, Kylie Machida 3, Katie Awana 5, Morgan Pelky 14.
DAMIEN—Alyssa Lindsay 2, Taylor Kamaile Labanon 9, Karissa Racoma 2, Anuhea Sonnenberg 2, Tia Go 0, Shania Nakamura 12, Ethel Suniga 0, Montana Carter 0, Karly Navas 10, Nora Fenton 4, Cydnee Maunakea 2, Catherine Votovich 12.
3-point goals—Le Jardin 3 (Pelky 2, Machida). Damien 4 (Nakamura 2, Navas 2).
ILH DIVISION II BOYS
No. 6 St. Francis 82,
Le Jardin 38
At St. Francis
Le Jardin (1-6) 6 4 10 18 — 38
St. Francis (7-0) 21 27 16 18 — 82
LE JARDIN—Jordon Sandoval 3, Hunter Mansanas 2, Jay Pahlmeyer 3, Eric Wisnom 5, Charlie Abe 16, Dominic Venezia 5, James Christensen 4.
ST. FRANCIS—Kameron Ng 15, Noah Kurosawa 8, Boris Vukovic 12, Kordell Ng 5, Bryce Nishida 2, Manoa Kualii-Moe 4, Wembley Mailei 4, Micah Kalei 5, Justus Paaluhi-Caulk 6, Titus Liu 3, Supilani Mailei 10, Kaneala Williams 4, Scott McLeod 4.
3-point goals—Le Jardin 6 (Abe 4, Sandoval, Pahlmeyer). St. Francis 7 (Kurosawa 2, Paaluhi-Caulk 2, Ka. Ng, Ko. Ng, Liu, Kalei).
Damien 64,
Hanalani 12
At Hanalani
Damien (5-2) 17 23 10 14 — 64
Hanalani (0-7) 3 6 3 0 — 12
DAMIEN—Crumel Mooring 2, Dorien Penebacker 5, Hakeem Adeniji 5, Jayden Peters-DeLaura 11, Kolin Galdiano 14, Michael Donley 4, Noah Lorica 6, Robert Kanoa III 2, Shaun Apiki 8, Tanner Souza 0, Ed-Ryan Balbuena 3, Lindon Sevilleja 4.
HANALANI—Jacob Yarin 3, Jacob Saito 3, Kona Carruthers 2, Joshua Hooper 0, Todd Hirao 0, Chad Wakabayashi 0, Israel Torda 0, Austin Harder 0, Jadin Kam 3, Ryan Kaneshiro 1, Laramie De Soto 0, Culver Leaman 0.
3-point goals—Damien 7 (Galdiano 4, Lorica 2, Balbuena). Hanalani 3 (Yarin, Saito, Kam).
University 63,
Hawaii Baptist 42
At St. Francis
HBA (4-3) 6 11 14 11 — 42
University (4-3) 21 8 17 17 — 63
HAWAII BAPTIST—Adam Kikuta 1, Micah Mitchell 7, Kellen Takatsuka 6, Max Wiemken 13, Justin Ishida 12, Bryson Gonzalez 2, Tony Lucuab 1.
UNIVERSITY—Travis Kaloa 13, Shayden Koki 3, Otto Taylor 10, Keawe Tong 7, Charles Fox 14, Colby Chun 2, Keoni Thoemmes-Adams 3, Leif Fautanu 11.
3-point goals—Hawaii Baptist 8 (Ishida 4, Takatsuka 2, Mitchell, Wiemken). University 3 (Koki, Tong, Adams).
Also
Division I-AA boys
‘Iolani 59, Maryknoll 46
ILH DIVISION III BOYS
Assets 50,
Christian Academy 40
At Hawaiian Mission
Assets (9-0) 6 18 9 17 — 50
CA (7-2) 8 8 10 14 — 40
ASSETS—Royce Angelo 0, Trevor Middleton 9, Taylor Takata 0, AJ Ulufale 6, Tyler Uejo 0, Christian Wacker 0, Chris Tanaka 0, David Zimmerman 17, James Kakazu 0, Kealoha Garvin 12, Justin Hirayama 6.
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY—Frederick Harris 12, Sky Okamura 5, Rylie Schenbeck Chang 4, Erickson Kanahele 0, Matthew Tokuda 3, Akaiko Akana 0, Ethan Ferry 0, Preston Ferry 0, Dakota Fisher 15, Hollis Tam 1, Brayden Salas 0, Zachary Benigno 0, William Hatcher 0.
3-point goals—Assets 1 (Middleton). Christian Academy 3 (Fisher, Harris, Okamura).
Hawaiian Mission 57, Island Pacific 51
At Hawaiian Mission
IPA (4-6) 11 9 12 19 — 51
HMA (7-3) 13 16 9 19 — 57
ISLAND PACIFIC—Logan Pedrozo 0, Jay Lu 0, Andrew Merriman 0, Jake Arakawa 24, Nathan Beck 11, Jonathan Ricard 0, Jake Lundstrom 0, Jordan Carrancho 0, Rodger Phillips 0, Bradley Sweet 1, Christopher Gionson 10, Caleb Aki 0, Michael Gottlieb 0, Jacob Weinhardt 5.
HAWAIIAN MISSION—Allan Sison 2, Joey Domingo 2, Reid Kim 21, Zachary Yamada 0, Kuahiwi Brede 0, Hayate Ishizuki 0, Zeming Sun 0, Makael French 9, Josh Willis 6, Jomari Villoso 0, Daniel Saldevar 2, Sid Ramirez 8, Noah Bryant 7.
3-point goals—Island Pacific 3 (Arakawa 2, Weinhardt). Hawaiian Mission 4 (Ramirez 2, Kim, Bryant).
Damien 48,
Lanakila Baptist 40
At Damien
LBA (1-9) 7 6 13 14 — 40
Damien (1-9) 13 13 8 14 — 48
LANAKILA BAPTIST—Jeffrey Mangahis 12, Ray Pauley 1, Kenton Bautista 0, Rocnie Felipe 0, Tyler Sproat 11, Ramon Shubert 2, Joemar Corpuz 3, Andee Gary 11.
DAMIEN—Dylan Tapat 3, Kainoa Silva 0, Brandon Hidalgo 15, Alec Cacho 0, Justice White 7, Brayden Marumoto 14, Soane Tuihalafatai 2, Eli Save 0, Tyler Tagalicud 0, Brysen Raguirag 0, Sherwin Caraang 7.
3-point goals—Lanakila Baptist 8 (Mangahis 3, Gary 2, Sproat 2, Corpuz). Damien 4 (Hidalgo 2, Caraang, White ).
