For one half, the Konawaena Wildcats were lights out from the 3-point arc.
The St. Mary’s Rams turned those lights out after the break. Amaya Oliver scored 21 points and hustled for 12 rebounds as the visitors from Stockton, Calif., turned a one-point halftime lead into a 60-44 victory in the opening round of the ‘Iolani Prep Classic girls basketball tournament.
“We shot the ball well in the first half,” Wildcats coach Bobbie Awa said. “I like our fight. Our bench had a lot of energy and we still had gas in the fourth quarter. If we knocked down some shots in the second half, it would’ve been better.”
Her team was 7-for-15 from the arc before the break and was within 25-24. The Rams siphoned off the pipeline, limiting the Wildcats to two 3-point attempts in the third quarter during a pivotal run.
Konawaena, ranked No. 2 in the Star-Advertiser Girls Basketball Top 10, got 15 points from freshman Braelyn Kauhi, all on 3-point shots in the first half. Senior Caiyle Kaupu added 13 points and seven rebounds.
Point guard Tai Sherman delivered 11 points and three assists and sophomore Sophia Lee added nine points on three treys for St. Mary’s, which lost most of its talent base to graduation. Last season’s team finished No. 13 in the state.
Coach Tom Gonsalves had to get used to a different rotation with two key players out this week. One of them, Brooklyn Perry, averages 15 points per game.
“We’re so short-handed. (Perry’s) dad wouldn’t let her come. He found out he couldn’t get off of work and told her yesterday she wasn’t going on the trip,” said Gonsalves, whose team arrived in Honolulu on Wednesday night.
Oliver was a big energizer on both ends. The 6-foot-1 senior missed most of her junior season after suffering an ACL injury 18 months ago. She was everywhere on Thursday, battling hard defensively.
“Amaya played well. During the summer, she could hardly move,” Gonsalves said. “She’s made a lot of progress.”
Oliver has scholarship offers from mid-major schools on the West Coast, Gonsalves said, in addition to St. John’s.
“Motivation, morale has to be high to win games,” she said. “I’m back at full strength.”
The teams exchanged 3-pointers midway through the first half with Konawaena tying the game at 9-, 12- and 15-all, but the Rams’ 7-0 run opened a 22-15 lead. Sherman beat the shot clock off the dribble for an easy layup, and then she splashed a straightaway 3 for the biggest lead at that point.
After a timeout, the Wildcats responded with treys by Kaliana Salazar-Harrell, Kauhi and Grace Hing to pull within 25-24 with 1:10 left.
South Medford (Ore.) 54, Kahuku 36
Eastern Washington signee Bella Pedrojetti scored 17 points, including three treys, to lead the Panthers.
Tati Kamae led the Lady Raiders with 15 points and Leiah Naeata chipped in with 10.
