Jalen Tanuvasa and Mahalo Akaka scored 14 points each as No. 4 Maryknoll outlasted No. 3 Kamehameha 62-52 on Saturday afternoon at Clarence T.C. Ching Gym.
Aloha Akaka added seven points, eight rebounds and four blocks, and Serenity Moananu tallied 12 points as Maryknoll improved to 7-3 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (18-3 overall).
Kalina Obrey poured in 24 points and hauled in 10 rebounds to lead Kamehameha, which saw its slim chances of catching first-place ‘Iolani diminished. The Warriors dropped to 6-3 in ILH play (12-5 overall). ‘Iolani entered Saturday’s game with Sacred Hearts at 7-1 in league play.
The Lady Spartans opened with a 9-0 lead and never trailed. The margin opened to 21-12 in the second quarter and Maryknoll led 25-19 at the break. Moananu had 10 of her 12 points by the break.
In the third quarter, Mahalo Akaka stole a pass and fed Tanuvasa for a layup, and Tanuvasa sank a 3 as Maryknoll opened the lead to 45-28 with 42 seconds to go. Tanuvasa added six rebounds, six assists and six steals.
“Jalen is learning how to become a consummate point guard,” Maryknoll coach Chico Furtado said.
Maryknoll limited Kamehameha to 35-percent shooting from the field and forced the Warriors into 18 turnovers.
Not long after the girls game, Maryknoll’s boys outlasted Punahou to make it a homecoming sweep.
“It was a good day for Maryknoll basketball all the way around. We have one game a year when we play together and that’s homecoming. Nice pep rally yesterday and a lot of activities here before the games, and the matchups were really good,” Furtado said.
It was a second-ever matchup between Furtado and Kamehameha coach Pua Straight, his niece. Kamehameha won their first matchup in overtime, 68-64, on Dec. 12. The Spartans learned from that experience.
“Kalina had 24 and I thought we played her tough. We wanted to play everyone else tough. Malie (Marfil) had 19 the last time we played them,” Furtado said.
Marfil finished with three points this time and attempted only two 3-point shots.
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