Klemp's double-double powers Hanalani to second state crown

Greg Yamamoto | SL

For Ellana Klemp and the Royals, the third time was the charm.

After runner-up finishes the past two seasons, Hanalani upended ILH rival Hawaii Baptist, 62-33, to win the schools's second state title since 2022.

"Some of the motivation was not feeling that same feeling that we felt two years in a row," said Klemp.

"It being our senior year, we knew what we needed to do and we were able to the little things we needed to win."

Klemp scored 33 points and added 15 rebounds, both game-highs, in what could only be described as a dominating performance for the senior in her final game as a Royal.

Her performance was buoyed by a strong night by Piha Akiona, who added 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks before fouling out with 1:57 left in regulation.

Hanalani started off slowly but eventually got its motor going with about 2:31 left in the opening quartet, when Klemp finally got in the points column, picking up a loose ball at midcourt and taking it all the way to the basket for an and-one.

"That definitely got me going a little bit," said Klemp of the play. "I was a little nervous coming into the game but that definitely hyped me up."

That momentum resulted in the Royals closing the first quarter gap to just a point, and carried over into the second, where Hanalani's full court press gave Hawaii Baptist fits, resulting in an 11-0 spurt to put the top seed firmly in control.

"We've worked on that a lot and there are a pretty fast team, but we were able to stick to our game plan and execute it," said Klemp.

The Royals' led 29-15 at the half and stretched the margin steadily in the second half as the Eagles just could not string together enough offense to get back into it.

Hanalani held Hawaii Baptist to just over 25% shooting from the field, and the Eagles hit just 2 of 16 threes in the contest.

The advantage for the Royals on the glass, 40 to 19, included 14 offensive boards to just four for the Eagles, and was a decided advantage.

Hawaii Baptist was looking for its first state crown since 2013.

Pacific Century Fund Team Aloha Girls Basketball State Championships
Division II All-Tournament Team

Pihaeu Akiona, Hanalani
Sienna Lamblack, Hawaii Baptist
Cyani Bagaoisan-Rita, Waimea
Liliyanah-Tiare Tavale, Kapolei
Kalia Marquez, Kohala
Most Outstanding Player: Ellana Klemp, Hanalani