Big first half helps Moanalua hold off Kalani

Moanalua's Sierra Kauweloa puts up a shot in the third quarter against Kalani. Kauweloa scored eight of her 10 points in the first half. Michael Lasquero | SL

This one was nearly a runaway.

Moanalua led by as many as 19 points in the first half before staving off a late push by visiting Kalani for a 51-38 win in the OIA Division I quarterfinals Thursday night.

Na Menehune (9-3 league), who edged the Falcons (8-5) by a score of 42-40 in the regular season, moves on to take on Radford in the second semifinal Saturday night at the Rams' gymnasium.

Manu Itula scored six of her team-high 12 points in the fourth quarter to help Moanalua advance. Breanne Louis-Merry followed with 11 points and Sierra Kauweloa had 10 points off the bench, eight coming in the first half, to round out the top scorers for Na Menehune.

Lilehina Oyama and Cas Kelso each finished with 14 points to lead Kalani, who trailed 14-2 after the first quarter.