Hanalani takes down reigning champ KS-Hawaii

Hanalani's Kira Matsuda (2) puts up a shot against Kamehameha-Hawaii. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Down go the champs.

Hanalani defeated reigning state champion Kamehameha-Hawaii in the opening round of the Snapple/HHSAA Division II Girls Basketball Championships with a 44-28 win at Kalani's Earl C. Holmer Gymnasium Wednesday night.

Keila Tsutsui scored 14 points with six rebounds and five steals to power the Royals into Thursday's quarterfinals, where they will face third-seeded Castle at 5 p.m.

Both teams were tied at 7 after the first quarter before Hanalani rolled to a 28-18 lead at the half.

The Royals extended their lead to 16 after the third quarter, then both teams scored just two points in the final period of play.

Mihalani Mortensen scored eight points with seven rebounds to lead the Warriors in the loss.

Kamehameha-Hawaii hadn't finished outside the top three of the D2 girls basketball state championships since 2010. This will be just the fourth time since the D2 tourney began 15 years ago in 2005 (five koa trophys in that span). https://t.co/vMnwkyDV1W
— Spencer Honda (@SpncerHonda) February 7, 2019