MILILANI - Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo and Kirsten-Marie Liana each scored 20 points as Farrington rolled over Kapolei, 61-44, Thursday night to capture its third consecutive O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red girls' basketball crown.

The Governors (14-2), who will take their league's top berth into the Division I state tournament, remained the only unbeaten team in the double-elimination tournament. The Hurricanes (16-2) suffered both of their losses to Farrington, each in this tourney.

'It's a dream come true to get three OIA championships in a row," said the senior forward Liana. "It was a blessing."

She was a blessing for the Governors, pulling down 10 rebounds and blocking four shots, while making four steal and four assists.

Farrington fell behind 6-0 before turning up the heat and taking a commanding 21-10 lead after the first quarter. The closest the Hurricanes got to the Governors was 26-17 with 3:18 left in the first half after one of four 3-pointers by Krystal Jacobs, who led Kapolei with 17 points. The Hurricanes never got closer than to within nine after Diena Peterson's putback made it 28-17 at 2:09 before the half.

It was very unlike their previous meeting in the tourney, when Farrington had to go overtime in a 66-55 win after squandering a 17-point lead at one juncture of that game.

"We made a mistake that first time, letting the lead get away," Farrington coach Caroline Tatupu said. "We made sure we didn't let it get away again."

Farrington chipped away at its early 6-0 deficit by scoring 14 of their 21 first-quarter points after turnovers.

"Defense is the key for us," Tatupu said. "So we changed it up on them, switching from man to a different full-court press, half-court press, to get them to try and force turnovers."

It was rough night for the Hurricanes.

"We turned the ball over 23 times in the first half," Kapolei coach Jesse Baugh said. "We can't do that and win the game. We let things get away from us. Everybody was in a rush to do something."

After its first loss to Farrington, Kapolei had to play two games in the last six days to reach the title game. And even it won Thursday, it would have had to beat Farrington again Saturday.

"They don't get the rest they need," Baugh said. "You gotta keep playing. But I thought it was better for us because they were resting and we were playing. It was a first time playing all these games. It was a good experience."

It was a good experience for Farrington's coach as well.

"Every title is great," Tatupu said. "Three years now, so it's an even greater feeling."

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