Girls Basketball
Molina pours in 33 to lead OIA for classic victory


 



ALIAMANU—Chanelle Molina scored a game-high 33 points to lead the Oahu Interscholastic Association past the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, 70-60 in the Third Annual Geremy Robinson Senior Classic at Radford's Jim Alegre Gymnasium on Saturday.

This is the first time in the Classic's history that feature Neighbor Island participants.

The Konawaena senior made the most of her trip back to Oahu to drain seven 3-pointers and also had five steals and nine rebounds to take home the game's Most Valuable Player.

"It was an amazing experience, playing with these girls we don't usually play with, we learned from each other and made friendships. It was a good opportunity," said Molina.

Keala Quinlan (Roosevelt) added 11 points and Ihi Victor scored 10 points.

"It was competitive and everyone had the mindset to win," said Molina.

Cameron Fernandez and teammate Keleah Aiko Koloi represented Lahainaluna and played for the ILH. Fernandez scored a team-high 16 points and she also won the girls' 3-point contest.

Tyra Moe (Punahou) scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Vae Malufau (Punahou) and Melina Souza (Damien) added eight each.

It was an opportunity for girls from smaller schools to showcase their skills and talents. Souza came from Division II Damien, where they made it to the state tournament this past season and are on the right track to continue building the program.

"I'm happy to have the opportunity and Damien isn't really on the map, but once the girls program started to develop our second year in varsity and getting into states so it feels good to represent," said Souza.

"I look at their stats and sometimes I wondered how I would do against them and now I get to play, I feel like I can do it," added Souza, on competing with her Division I counterparts.

The OIA lead throughout the game and built a double-digit lead with 3-pointers—where they sank 11 for the game. Back-to-back poinst from Moe helped spark a 13-2 run to tie the game at 30 heading into halftime.

The OIA jumped out to a quick lead in the second half thanks to Molina and Quinlan. Fernandez scored 11 of her 16 in the second half and brought the ILH within six, 49-43. However, the OIA buried three 3-pointers and went back up by 10 and never looked back.

Regardless of the outcome, it was a positive experience for everyone on both sides.

"It was a big feeling for me and to represent my high school. I honestly was glad I got to play with them one time, I was always playing against them," said Jazmina Latifaga of Mililani.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].




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