HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Roosevelt's Tati Beasley bulled through Honokaa's defense in a semifinal game last night in the state tournament.
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Rough Riders upend Dragons
Roosevelt heads to the state hoops final after shaking off its Big Island foe
Anxiety almost got the best of Roosevelt, but in the end, good old-fashioned work ethic got the job done.
Iwalani Rodrigues and Tati Beasley combined for 24 points and 21 rebounds as the Rough Riders edged Honokaa 40-33 in the semifinals of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championships at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Roosevelt (16-1), the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion, will play Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Punahou today at 8 p.m. for the championship.
Honokaa guard Keisha Kanekoa led her team with 10 points and six rebounds, but struggled with 4-for-25 shooting. Wila Lavea grabbed a team-high 11 boards, but struggled with 3-for-14 accuracy to finish with seven points.
Rodrigues, a 5-foot-8 sophomore, was a big factor for Roosevelt on the glass with a game-high 12 rebounds. She also came through at the foul line, shooting 8-for-10 to turn around her team's struggles.
"We tried to keep each other's heads up. Everybody was trying to rush, so we settled down and did what we had to do," she said.
Beasley tallied 12 points and nine rebounds, and her free-throw shooting was vital to Roosevelt's late push. After struggling early, she made four key foul shots down the stretch.
"Yeah, I was nervous. We had the jitters. It's the first time in D-I that we're going for the state title," Beasley said, alluding to Roosevelt's Division II state crown two years ago. "Winning tonight feels great. Words can't explain it. We knew Honokaa has a great team."
Roosevelt coach Bobby Keanini would have liked a flawless performance, but praised Honokaa's defense.
"They did a good job disguising that 1-3-1 trap and came up with a 2-3 matchup. They do a lot of things well defensively," he said.
The Dragons, who shot 26 percent from the field (13-for-51), pulled within one twice in the fourth quarter. Lavea's putback brought Honokaa within 29-28 with 5:56 remaining, but Roosevelt answered with free throws by Tiana Sugui and Rodrigues' 15-foot baseline jumper -- following an offensive board on a missed free throw.
That gave Roosevelt a 33-28 lead with 4:12 left. Honokaa guard Joliese DeMello rained in a trey to bring Honokaa within two with 2:45 to go, but the Dragons got no closer.
Rodrigues hit three key free throws down the stretch as Roosevelt closed out the game with a 7-2 run.
Honokaa (13-2), the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, will play Konawaena in the third-place game at 6 p.m.
"They played their hearts out, but we couldn't catch a break," Dragons coach Daphne Honma said. "We had some really good looks, but we couldn't hit the shots. Our kids battled for everything they got, but it was just not happening."
Honma gave kudos to the Rough Riders.
"You gotta give credit to Roosevelt. They played well. Rodrigues is a great athlete, a great player. We told the kids to keep her off the boards, but we didn't do a good job with that," she said.
| Honokaa (13-2) |
5 |
9 |
10 |
9 |
-- |
33
|
| Roosevelt (16-1) |
10 |
7 |
10 |
13 |
-- |
40 |
HONOKAA--Joliese De Mello 3, Sythea Franzier 0, Nicole Cann 0, Keisha Kanekoa 10, Kawehi Correa 0, Jessika Lorenzo 6, Wila Lavea 7, Whitney Acdal 7, Amber Siu-Fretias 0.
ROOSEVELT--Dianna Zane 0, Tati Beasley 12, Tiana Sugui 9, Iwalani Rodrigues 12, Shandree Armstead 0, Noelle Kawelo 4, Shannon Miyashiro 3, Kayleen Kaaiai 0.
3-point goals -- Honokaa 2 (De Mello, Lorenzo), Roosevelt 1 (Sugui).
CHAMPIONSHIP CONSOLATION
Kamehameha 62, Moanalua 16
Tatriana Lorenzo scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds in just 11 minutes as the Warriors routed the Menehunes. Analee Viena Lota pulled down 10 rebounds and freshman Alexis Furtado tallied nine points for Kamehameha.
| Kamehameha (12-5) |
15 |
8 |
16 |
23 |
-- |
62
|
| Moanalua (8-11) |
8 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
-- |
16 |
KAMEHAMEHA--Miki Nakamura 2, Alexis Furtado 9, Johanna Sai 0, Analee Viena Lota 6, Pomaikai Kalakau 0, Lindsey Wong 4, Piikea Kalakau 2, Tiana Abbley 5, Pualani Kalakau 3, Tatriana Lorenzo 16, Leah Godinet 2, Kauiokeola Todd 4, Kylle Roy 3, Casey Lum 6, Rhani Kaneaiakala 1.
MOANALUA--Brianna Lagat-Ramos 0, Michelle Hardy 0, Jade Miller 2, Kimberly Sato 1, Deena Dela Cruz 0, Janelle Uncangco 0, Jamie Ronolo 5, Indah Widyakusuma 0, Terina Blue 0, Dawn Dela Cruz 1, Britni Ronolo 3, Nikol Felder 4.
3-point goals--Kamehameha 1 (Furtado), Moanalua 1 (J. Ronolo).
Lahainaluna 44, Kahuku 34
Senior guard Tasha Pagdilao poured in 18 points as the Lady Lunas, champions of the Maui Interscholastic League, outlasted the OIA's third-place team.
| Lahainaluna (14-3) |
9 |
10 |
6 |
9 |
-- |
44
|
| Kahuku (12-7) |
10 |
13 |
3 |
8 |
-- |
34 |
LAHAINALUNA--Tasha Pagdilao 18, Tekiri Rickard 0, Rachael Rickard 5, Yasnaya Perez 2, Casey Bartolome 6, Lovelee Tagudin 0, Piilani Uyeda 2, Alise Hatch 8, Natalie Austin 3, Ofa Namoa 0.
KAHUKU--Camilla Ah-Hoy 9, Lenora Nauahi 4, Ane Vea 2, Lily Latu 0, Crystal Manguba-Glover 3, Artevia Wily 9, Nicole Nautu 0, Kaimi Ah Puck 0, Salote Livai 0, Christine Meredith 5, Brittany Fesolai 2, Kendra Moe 0.
3-point goals -- Lahainaluna 4 (Pagdilao 2, Hatch 2), Kahuku 1 (Ah-Hoy).
CONSOLATION
Radford 34, Maui 29
The Lady Rams got 32 of their 34 points from Marlena Malepeai, Brittini Fuller and Chelsea-Ann Villanueva to oust the Sabers.
| Radford (13-4) |
8 |
5 |
8 |
13 |
-- |
34
|
| Maui (11-5) |
10 |
8 |
4 |
7 |
-- |
29 |
RADFORD--Nicole Grebe 0, Ashley Rioux 0, Marlena Malepeai 12, Frances Respicio 0, Brittini Fuller 10, Kiara Dykes 0, Kamia Smith 2, Chelsea Villanueva 10, Marsharen DuPont 0, Chadney Thompson 0.
MAUI--Vanity Tuquero 0, Mia Shimabuku 0, Paea Mataele 4, Ariel Gaoiran 6, Crystal Silva 3, Lilieni Laloulu-Saleimoa 0, Annika Howland 4, Hotia Vaaimamao 10, Jazmine Corpuz 2.
3-point goals -- Radford 0, Maui 1 (Silva).
HHSAA Division I girls
At Stan Sheriff Center
Seeds: 1. Punahou. 2. Roosevelt. 3. Honokaa. 4. Lahainaluna.
Yesterday
10: Radford 34, Maui 29
11: Lahainaluna 44, Kahuku 34
12: Kamehameha 62 Moanalua 16
13: Roosevelt 40, Honokaa 33
14: Punahou 58, Konawaena 43
Today
15: Radford vs. Kalaheo, 2:30 p.m.
16: Kamehameha vs. Lahainaluna, 4:15 p.m.
17: Honokaa vs. Konawaena, 6 p.m.
18: Roosevelt vs. Punahou, 8 p.m.
