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ScoringLive staffJanuary 28, 2025, 12:07am
Mon, Jan 27, 2025 @ McKinley
On a night when Na Menehune needed it, Shiloh Liilii came up big.
The 5'11 post delivered with 14 points and 10 rebounds in Moanalua's stunning 59-48 win over eighth ranked Mililani to reach the OIA Division I title game, where it will take on division nemesis Kahuku.
In the two teams' first meeting this season, the Red Raiders won 58-38, in what was both teams' regular season opener. But if tonight's win over the Trojans, who saw a ten game win streak in league play snapped, its a different Na Menehune team that will take the floor come Wednesday for the OIA Division crown.
"We didn't really have that connection yet, but I feel like now we have this team chemistry that can push us through," said Liilii. "We just need to stay disciplined and do what our coach tell us."
Hot shooting helped the Trojans jump out to an early lead that blossomed to as large as nine in the first quarter at 17-8, but saw that margin dwindle to 17-13 after at the end of the opening period, and Na Menehune continued to chip away until eventually tying the score at 26-all on Serenity Tacgere's putback at the halftime buzzer.
The second half rally for Moanalua came despite Liilii being called for her third foul with 5:03 left in the second, and her return in the second half was a difference maker, particularly in Na Menehune's full court press.
"My coach said just play smart (in the second half), stay away from those small tacky fouls, since they (the refs) are going to probably call that for the rest of the game," said Liilii.
In one stretch, her presence helped cause a steal on one possession leading to a bucket and then a ten-second violation call on the next.
With Liilii on the floor, the tide swelled in Moanalua's favor, as they outscored Mililani 17-8 in the third to seize control, taking a 43-34 advantage into the final period.
Mililani did manage to claw their way back to within four as Brooke Kurasaki connected on a fifth triple and Autumn Lagafuaina added 1 of 2 free throws to make it a 45-40 game with 5:31 to play.
The margin however, grew to as large as 12 at 54-42 as Moanalua used a 9-2 spurt down the stretch to put things all but out of reach.
Kurosaki, who finished with 20 points to lead all scorers, hit her sixth triple with 42 ticks left, but it was too little too late.
Throughout the game Liilii's length, coupled with that of Tacgere, gave the Trojans problems on both ends of the floor, but particularly in the rebounding department, where Na Menehune had a plus-17 advantage by game's end.
Nobleza, the leading scorer for the season for Moanalua, was a steady contributor from the opening tip and finished with 17 points and four assists. Tacgere, like Liilii, recorded a double-double, with 11 points and 14 boards to go along with five blocks.
"Its really hard for me just being the only big, but having her as the backside help was really a threat because it was blocks all day for her," said Liilii of Tacgere.
Na Menehune will face off with Kahuku, a resounding 59-41 winner over Campbell, a much different result than a year ago when these teams faced off for the divisional crown and the Red Raiders eked out a 33-31 win.
Led by 22 points from Tailele Wily-Ava and 18 more from Makana Kamakeeaina, the Red Raiders overpowered the youthful Sabers with most of the damage down via transition.
Tailele Wily-Ava was particularly active today as a scorer, making 8 of her 17 attempts and 4 of 6 free throws. The rest of her team shot a collective 13 of 36.
"Everyone on this team, they can go one-on-one, they can handle the ball, they know who's filling it and who's not, so they're obviously gonna try get them the ball," said Tailele Wily-Ava.
Campbell kept things close via the three ball early on, but saw Kahuku adjust defensively in the second half, where the Sabers shot just 3 of 18 from beyond the arc and just 0 of 6 after halftime.
"I think our mindset in the first half it wasn't really there, we were kind of just warming up, I guess," said Tailele Wily-Ava. "But after halftime, you know, our coaches talked to us (about our defense)."
Meanwhile, Kamakeaaina hit all three of her three-point attempts and Tailele Wily-Ava knocked down 2 of her 6 tries, most of which were well beyond the arc.
Jaynalyn Sotelo led the way for Campbell with 19 points and Cayden Parado had 8 more, though both shot just a combined 10 of 29 in the contest.
Kahuku's starters scored all 58 points in the game, and gave way to a platoon of players off the bench in the closing moments.
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