Harley Simon | ScoringLive

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_26020819_H.Simon-HHSAA2026DIIGBBHBAvsPC-102.png - Harley Simon | ScoringLive

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For this band of Eagles, "Take It Easy" was the furthest from the truth.

ILH champion and top seeded Hawaii Baptist needed a late comeback - following a 21 minute delay due to a power outage - to power to a 45-41 victory over OIA champion and third seeded Pearl City in an exciting final game of the Flying Hawaiian Foundation/HHSAA Division II Girls Basketball State Championships. 

The tournament was played - as it is every three years - on the Big Island. First round games were held at Keaau High School, with the final three days held entirely at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Hawaii Baptist, last year's runner-up, made good on their quest to return to the state final this time. And to say it was a collective effort would be an undertatement.

The "We-gles" were led by senior guard Sienna Lamblack, who finished with 14 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 steals. Fellow guard Lauren Okuda added 12 points and 4 rebounds. The senior also added 3 assists. Sophomore Hallie Chock chipped in 9 points. All three players made the All-Tournament Team.

"It was just a team effort that really helped us," Chock said. "That's the only reason why we're here."

"Our team just emphasizes playing for each other and we always know our roles," Okuda added. "It takes everyone, you know? We all push each other and we play for each other."

Playing a role meant tasking freshman Kayla Wainwright, as well as sophomore Blair LaBarre and Okuda, with the unenviable task of locking down the Chargers' Riya Tobosa, who was named the tournament's most outstanding player and lead all players with 26 points and 12 rebounds.

"Kayla knew her job and we've been practicing with her (guarding players on the) inside for awhile, and we just had to trust and rely on each other," said Lamblack.

That trust eventually paid dividends, especailly late in the contest, as over the game's final 5:03 the Eagles limited the Chargers' star to a single point until two free throws with three seconds left in the contest and the outcome already decided.

Hawaii Baptist got off to a hot start in the first quarter as Lamblack made two three-pointers. When junior Emily Ching also hit a trey, the Eagles led 14-9. Tobosa ruled her offensive side of the court scoring 9 of her team's 10 first quarter points.

The Eagles continued the momentum in the second quarter extending the lead to 10 at 22-12. However, the Chargers closed the quarter with a 11-3 run of their own, to trail by just two points at 25-23. Tobosa tallied six points and four rebounds in the quarter, while freshman guard Kyrie Chen contributed with four points on two key jump shots.

The Chargers outscored the Eagles 9-6 in the third quarter. Hawaii Baptist went cold, shooting just 1-11 from the floor. During the break between the third and fourth quarters, the Eagles focused much of their attention on continuing to defend Tobosa by committee.

"We had to figure out a better way to stop (Tobosa)", said Hawaii Baptist Coach Robin Yamaguchi. "We felt that defending would be the difference and we were able to pick it up late in the game. She is a great scorer and a tough cover, but we played her about as well as we could in that fourth quarter."

With 4:47 left in the final quarter, the game took a strange turn. Pearl City was slowly taking control of the game and appeared poised to extend their lead. Charger senior Chloe Bulatao was fouled on a three-point shot attempt by Taylor Shinagawa. It was the Hawaii Baptist freshman's disqualifying fifth personal foul. Then the lights flickered before going out completely. At that point, Pearl City led 35-31.

By the time the lights returned to full power and both teams were given a five minute warm up, about 21 minutes had elapsed. Coming out of the delay Bulatao made just 1 of the 3 free throw attempts.

Hawaii Baptist then went on an extended 14-5 run to end the game.

Okuda and Lamblack finished on drives to the basket. Chock made two buckets. And Lamblack and Chock cooly shot a combined 5-5 from the charity stripe for the Eagles' final 5 points, pushing the Eagles across the finish line.

"We were wondering if it was going to mess with our play, but we took a quick huddle and the music was plaing so we had a lot of dance breaks and I think that kept the energy up, which helped a lot," said Lamblack of the delay.

Hawaii Baptist coach Robin Yamaguchi was not surprised with how the game unfolded. "On film we saw that number 20 (Tobosa) was a player who could dominate the game on both ends of the floor."

He added, "We knew it would be battle and we feel very fortunate to get the win. It's so difficult to get to this final game of the tournament. So to begin with this goal in mind and to get back and to finish this year, it is as much a relief as it is exciting. I am proud of how our players pushed through when we were tested this season and in this tournament."

The Chargers were seeking a first ever state girls basketball title.

"They gave it everything they had," said Pearl City coach Kyle Martin of his squad. "They (Hawaii Baptist) are the royalty (in Division II) and we gave them a run. We had a chance at the end, and that's all you can ask for."