Two games in, the Lady Spartans of Maryknoll are still alive in the title hunt.
Serenity Moananu scored 12 of her team-high 18 points in the third quarter as Maryknoll rallied past Yucaipa (Calif.) 64-57 on Friday at the Glendora tournament.
Mahalo Akaka tallied 13 points and Aloha Akaka added 12 for the Spartans, now 8-4 overall. They left the islands ranked No. 6 in the Star-Advertiser Girls Basketball Top 10. They got clutch play while Aloha Akaka sat with four fouls during the third quarter. Coach Chico Furtado is hoping for more consistency.
“We had a good first quarter today. We played a team with good shooters. We were up 20-12 after the first quarter, but we gave up 20 points in the second quarter,” Furtado said by phone. “Aloha picked up four fouls, some silly fouls, so she had to sit the entire third quarter.”
The Spartans picked it up with a 25-point fourth period, led by Moananu, who was 4-for-4 from the field and 4-for-4 from the line to help keep her team close.
“It’s still too roller-coaster for me, but the kids are playing hard. We’re down four in the fourth quarter, playing possession by possession. Serenity dominated the post,” Furtado said.
The Spartans also saw the Maryknoll boys win their quarterfinal game at The Damien Classic (Silver Division) earlier in the day. That tournament is four miles away from Glendora. Later tonight, they will get a look at their next opponent, Murrieta Mesa.
The Maryknoll girls won their opener on Thursday, 67-22, against Garfield (Calif.). Aloha Akaka, Mahalo Akana and Moananu each scored 11 points. Mahea Choy Foo led the Spartans with 12 points. Kyla Neuman added eight and Taimane Faleafine-Auwae scored seven.
COMMENTS