Kaiser sinks free throws late to edge Nanakuli in OIA quarters

Dacee Tsue hit all six of her free throw attempts in the fourth quarter to help Kaiser stave off Nanakuli for a win the OIA Division I girls basketball quarterfinals. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Kaiser built an early double-digit lead then held off a relentless Nanakuli comeback to post a gritty 49-44 win in the OIA Division I girls basketball quarterfinals.

Cougars' guard Dacee Tsue hit all six free throws she attempted, and all during the closing moments of the fourth quarter, part of a team-high 16 points put up by the senior. She also hit two big three pointers in the second quarter to help keep Kaiser in front heading into the half.

The Golden Hawks closed to within 41-44 with 4:11 left in the regulation on a basket by Khiana Kauweloa, but got no closer as Tsue's work at the charity stripe accounted for all the points down the stretch for Kaiser, and her block of a driving layup with under two minutes helped preserve the margin.

Nanakuli got the final bucket of the game as Jahlyxcs Liana drained a three from the right wing with eight seconds left, but Kaiser inbounded unchallenged to end the game.

Kaiser led 12-3 at the end of the first quarter and took an eight point lead into the break, but found putting points on the board difficult with leading scorer Alexus Maae handcuffed by foul trouble in the second half.

Liana dominated the fourth, pouring in 12 of her game-high 18 points in the final quarter alone, but Tsue's free throw shooting ultimately kept the comeback just out of reach.

Maae fouled out in the fourth and finished with a season-low six points, but chipped in seven boards in relatively limited minutes due to the aforementioned foul trouble.

For Kaiser, Jamie Kimura contributed a quiet four points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks and Maylee Moe five points and four rebounds, including two key boards in the closing moments. Tatum Palmoa and Jamie Smith combined for a key 10 points and eight rebounds taking over duties in the post for Maae.

Ceci Enos was a force for the Golden Hawks in the loss, notching 12 points, eight rebounds and five steals.

Kaiser secured a state berth with the win, and faces off with Mililani in Monday's first semifinal at Radford set for 5 p.m. Nanakuli has one more chance to earn a ticket to states, which it can earn with win over Moanalua in the fifth place semi also set to tip on Monday.