Chase for the Championship
Mid-Pacific ekes out win over KS-Hawaii to set up all-ILH final


 



Mid-Pacific will battle Hanalani in an all-Interscholastic League of Honolulu final for the HHSAA Division II girls basketball crown on Saturday night at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

The two teams last faced off on Dec. 21, 2019, with the Owls handing the Royals their only conference loss, 45-42.


Mid-Pacific looked poised to run away with the contest after jumping out to a 9-0 lead, seven of them courtesy of Madisyn Sagawa.

Dominque Pacheco broke the scoring seal for the Warriors with a three at the 3:24 mark of the first, but the Owls continued to build a cushion, that expand to as many as 13 at the 5:15 mark of the second thanks to another Sagawa triple.

Things starting getting interesting right around 5:15 left until halftime, when the Warriors scored eight consecutive points to close the margin to 18-13 at the half capped off by a layup by Megan Baldado.

Sara Schubert's layup at the 5:11 mark of the third quarter got the Warriors to within 3, but the Owls quickly responded with a pair of threes, one by Kalena Thurston and the other by who else, Sagawa, to extend the lead back to nine.

The Warriors continued to chip away, trimming the lead to just four at the end of the third off of a Sierra Scanlan jumper, then to two on a pair of free throws by Scanlan at the 5:22 mark of the fourth, and finally to just one point as Schubert knocked down a pair of free throws of her own with 4:42 to go.

Seemingly desparate for scoring of any kind, the Owls got what they needed from post Paige Fahrni, who hit a clutch jumper at the 3:36 mark to edge Mid-Pacific back out to 29-26, and then another one at the 2:40 mark to make it a three point cushion again.

Sagawa was fouled after intercepting a deflected pass meant to be sent into the post in the closing moments, and the junior guard cooly made the first free throw to extend the lead to four with just nine ticks left.

She missed the second, but a desparation heave by the Warriors missed to end the contest.

Sagawa led all scorers with 15, which included two triples and five rebounds. Fahrni added 10 points, four rebounds and two assists for the Owls.

Schubert had a double-double, with 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Warriors in a losing effort.


HANALANI 51, HAWAII BAPTIST 42

Faith Mersburg puts up a shot attempt against Hawaii Baptist. Mersburg led all Hanalani scorers with 16 points in the win. Brien Ing | ScoringLive    Purchase image

Faith Mersburgh equalled her season-high of 16 points to lead the Royals to a 51-42 win over the Eagles.

She added six boards, four assists and four steals.

Hanalani led 16-8 after the first quarter, but saw the lead whittle down to just a duece when Emi Wada hit two free throws at the 5:27 mark, but a 10-2 spurt to close out the quarter by Royals put the game ultimately out of reach.

The Royals had three players in double figures, led by Mersburgh. Lishae Scanlan had 10 points and 10 rebounds and added two steals and two blocks. Maria Ralar came off the bench to score 12 points, including two triples.

Alexis Dang had a team-high 15 points for the Eagles, who were 1 of 15 from the three point arc.





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