HHSAA Girls Basketball
No. 8 Konawaena holds off No. 5 Kahuku


  



Thu, Feb 7, 2019 @ Moanalua


Final 1 2 3 4  
Konawaena (10-2, 14-5) 14 1171446
Kahuku (14-0, 16-6) 5 10 11 1642
L. Naeata 16 pts  1 3pm  1/2 FTs
K. Salazar Harrell 22 pts  5 3pm  5/8 FTs
L. Naeata 13 tot  6 off  7 def
C. Kaupu 14 tot  3 off  11 def
L. Naeata 3 ast
G. Hing 3 ast

SALT LAKE — No. 8 Konawaena isn't ready to give up its crown just yet.

The Wildcats, winners of the past four state titles, staved off a late push by fourth-seeded and fifth-ranked Kahuku for a 46-42 win in the quarterfinals of the Snapple/HHSAA Division I Girls Basketball Championships at Moanalua Thursday night.

Freshman guard Kaliana Salazar Harrell scored a game-high 22 points with five made triples and junior forward Caiyle Kaupu notched a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds to power the Wildcats into Friday's semifinal at the Stan Sheriff Center where they will face top-ranked and top-seeded Iolani at 7:00 p.m.

It was Kahuku's first loss since dropping a 63-33 preseason contest to Maryknoll on Nov. 28.

Although the Red Raiders (15-5 overall) trailed by as many as 11 points in the game, they would constantly get key buckets to stay within a two possession game. However, free throw shooting was Kahuku's downfall as it shot 7-for-19 at the charity stripe.

Quick buckets by Salazar Harrell and a three-point play by Kaupu gave Konawaena (13-4) an early 8-0 lead as the Wildcats never trailed in the contest.

Kaupu also made a stepback fadeaway jumper at the first half buzzer to give the Wildcats a 25-15 halftime lead. She had an efficient shooting night, going 7-for-9 from the field.

Salazar Harrell's fourth 3-pointer of the game gave Konawaena a 28-17 lead early in the third quarter, but Kahuku kept fighting and cut the deficit down to six, 32-26, heading into the final period of play.

However, Konawaena quickly went back up by 11 to start the fourth quarter as Salazar Harrell knocked down another trey and Kaupu put back in her only miss from inside the arc.

Still, the Red Raiders continued to rally and made it a 38-33 game with 2:37 remaining after Meleane Tonga split a pair at the line.

But like it did when Kahuku would show life, Konawaena pulled away again and led 42-33 until the 53.7 mark when Tonga converted two free throws.

The Red Raiders did have some life late when the Wildcats started missing some free throws, but time ultimately ran out on Kahuku as Serina Aumua-Tuisavura's putback at the buzzer gave the final score of the game.

Leiah Naeata led Kahuku in the loss with 16 points and 13 boards.



Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


IMAGE GALLERY



MORE STORIES

Kapaa takes down Kauai for second straight league win

Bob Manintin pitched six strong innings as the Warriors snapped the Red Raiders' seven-game winning streak.

Waianae holds off Castle; Mililani next

Teizsha Kaopuiki hit two home runs to power the Seariders in the opening round of the OIA Division I...

Surfriders erase early deficit, pull away from Falcons

Ninth-ranked Kailua scored 10 unanswered runs behind six scoreless innings of relief from DJ Kauahi to...

Pearl City ends Kaiser's season with playoff road victory

The Chargers rapped out nine runs on 14 hits, capped by Jayson Au Hoy's three-run home run in the top...

Shinagawa's catch spurred Cougars in OIA East finale; Painter continues producing for unbeaten Bears

The Kaiser junior centerfielder made a pivotal highlight-reel grab against Kailua Saturday, while the...

Campbell scores 11 runs in opening frame in rout of Leilehua

Ismael Diaz delivered a pair of two-RBI doubles as part of a 29-minute top of the first inning for the...