Clovis West (Calif.) is coming off a 32-4 season, fourth in the CIF, and features two D-I recruits. Incarnate Word of Saint Louis (Mo.) features three D-I recruits. Yes. It’s that kind of tourney where Hawaii teams are, once again, a long, long shot to win it all.
Friday’s games
>> Sacred Hearts vs. Kalani, consolation, 3:30 p.m.
>> Kaiser vs. Lahainaluna, consolation, 5 p.m.
>> Clovis West (Calif.) vs. Incarnate Word (St. Louis, Mo.), semifinal, 6:30 p.m.
>> ‘Iolani vs. Pinewood (Los Altos, Calif.), semifinal, 8 p.m.
Thursday’s scores
>> Clovis West (Calif.) 72, Sacred Hearts 30
>> Incarnate Word (St. Louis, Mo.) 70, Kalani 42
>> ‘Iolani 66, Kaiser 40
>> Pinewood (Los Altos, Calif.) 55, Lahainaluna 19.
Pinewood 55, Lahainaluna 19, FINAL
The Panthers advance to the 8 p.m. semifinal on Thursday and will meet host ‘Iolani. Hannah Jump led Pinewood with 14 points and Klara Astrom added 11. Susitina Namoa led the Lady Lunas with eight points.
Pinewood 40, Lahainaluna 18, end Q3
The Panthers rotate their reserves in, and the tough man defense doesn’t lose a shred of intensity. Klara Astrom swishes a 22-footer from the top just before the buzzer. Panthers in control.
Pinewood 23, Lahainaluna 9, halftime
This game slowed down big time in the second quarter, which is probably good for the Lady Lunas. Pinewood still got good looks out if its constant, virtual-motion offense. It’s neat to watch.
Pinewood 21, Lahainaluna 7, 4:18, Q2
Namoa returns to the game early in the second quarter with the Lunas down 17-4. Coach Todd Rickard couldn’t afford to wait any longer. She stabilizes the offense as basically a point forward, and they get a post-up bucket from Taioalo Wolf, who is strong and hungry on the block. Will they feed her again?
Namoa commits her fourth foul with 5:03 left in the half on a drive by Klara Astrom. Rickard decides to leave Namoa in the game. She goes off ball and the Lunas turn it over again near halfcourt.
Pinewood (Los Altos, Calif.) 14, Lahainaluna 4, end Q1
Major development in this game.
Lunas standout Susitina Namoa was beginning to get untracked against the Panthers’ tight man defense. She was whistled for an offensive foul on a drive to the bucket, possibly for a bit of a push off? Her second foul. Less than 10 seconds later, she fouled a Panther on a drive to the bucket, which is her third personal. She sits with less than 4 minutes left in the first quarter. She is, by far, Lahainaluna’s best weapon against this big, strong, physical man defense.
Interesting tidbit. The Panthers have a unique way of shooting 3s. Before the catch, the shooter dips down and sets both feet just as the ball arrives. Then the ball is shot as the shooter springs back up. Lunas coach Todd Rickard questioned this during a polite conversation with one of the officials. He said the “jump stop” occurs before the ball is caught, so it is legal. I agree. It looks unusual, but man, their 3s get off really quick.
Concession stand review:
Hot dog: 3 stars (out of 4)
Kalua pig plate: 3.5
Air-conditioned confines: 4.0
Player review:
So far…
Incarnate Word (St. Louis, Mo.) has been the most impressive and balanced team. The best two guards have been Marissa Warren (IWA) and Taylor Wu (‘Iolani). Warren scored 18 points, including 13 in the third quarter as IWA pulled away from Kalani. Wu scored 18 in a win over Kaiser, splashing four treys.
Best post: IWA’s Rickie Woltman, a 6-4 banger who had 20/7 against Kalani.
Also notable: Kiki Britzman of IWA (14 points); Nikki Tom, Aari’yanna Sanders, Champney Pullliam and Madison Campbell of Clovis West (Calif.); Jovi Lefotu, Alexsandra Huntimer and Alexis Huntimer of ‘Iolani; Kalena Halunajan, Kamalu Kamakawiwo‘ole, Kandyce Woods of Kalani.
More coming after the Pinewood-Lahainaluna game.
‘Iolani 66, Kaiser 40, FINAL
Fairly solid showing by Kaiser, which challenged everything in the paint and got ‘Iolani’s “bigs” into some foul trouble early. In the process, however, the Raiders simply kept the fullcourt pressure on, ran the floor like gazelles and won handily.
Taylor Wu finished with 18 points, including four treys. Jovi Wahinekapu Lefotu added 14 points and Kyra Tanabe tallied 10. Again, no Lily Lefotu Wahinekapu (ankle).
Trinadee Kahunahana led Kaiser with 10 points. Macy Hill finished with eight.
‘Iolani 54, Kaiser 27, end Q3
3-pointer by Kaiser sophomore Macy Hill is one of the highlights for the Lady Cougars.
‘Iolani 42, Kaiser 16, halftime
The Raider press is causing big problems for Kaiser, which is a step or two slower now. Wu is on fire. She drills another 3, this one from NBA range and loses her left shoe in the process. Raiders call time out with 1:03 left, leading 42-16.
‘Iolani 23, Kaiser 9, 6:24, Q2
Two steals for uncontested layups, and Taylor Wu drills a corner 3 in transition. Raiders have their track shoes on.
‘Iolani 17, Kaiser 9, end Q1
The Cougars are proving very tough in the paint with posts Taeya Blakeney and Stephanie Cannon. Kawai Kahalehoe drives and feeds Alexsandra Huntimer for a layup at the buzzer to open the Raiders’ lead to eight points.
Incarnate Word 70, Kalani 42, FINAL
The Red Knights will play Clovis West (Calif.) in the semifinals tomorrow. My gut says Incarnate Word will handle CW’s 2-2-1 press because of Marissa Warren and the court vision of their bigs.
Rickie Woltman led the Red Knights with 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. More impressive is the chemistry between the seniors, Woltzman (signed with Purdue), Marissa Warren (DePaul) and Kiki Britzman (Belmont). Warren was unstoppable in the third quarter with 13 of her 18 points. She shot 8-for-16 from the field, all good shots except maybe one, but she is clearly the best PG in the tourney at this point. I compared her to Rajon Rondo, and Incarnate Word coach Dan Rolfes said, “She shoots a little better.”
Good one. Britzman is the glue, though. She hustled from start to finish for every possible board and finished with 12 points and seven caroms.
Kalena Halunajan, the freshman PG, led Kalani with 11 points. Kamalu Kamakawiwo‘ole was terrific defensively. She finished with seven points and eight rebounds.
Incarnate Word 60, Kalani 34, end Q3
The first minute of the third was interesting enough. Kamakawiwo‘ole got to the line after a post-up, but missed both FTs. Then Warren went to work. She hit a pull-up J in the lane, then an NBA-distance 3. She kept driving and scoring on a variety of spin and crossover moves, and scored 13 in the third. She now has 18 for the game. DePaul got a good one.
Incarnate Word 43, Kalani 25, 5:22, Q3
Warren opens the second half with a pull-up J in the lane, then swishes a 23-footer for 3 and the lead is 18 for the Golden Eagles.
Incarnate Word 38, Kalani 25, halftime
The Falcons rally with some rugged play in the paint by Kandyce Woods (six points, five rebounds). PG Kalena Halunajan splashes back-to-back 3-pointers, and Halie Birdsong’s 3 cuts the lead to 13 before intermission. Halunajan, a freshman, has a team-high nine points. Kamalu Kamakawiwo‘ole has four points on 2-for-7 shooting.
IWA has a 6-4 center, Rickie Woltman, who has signed with Purdue. Their PG, Marissa Warren, is a 5-8 senior who moves up and down the floor, sees the court like a Rajon Rondo. Warren has signed with DePaul. Kiki Britzman has been the most consistent and active Red Knight. She has 10 points and five rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. Woltzman also has 10 points (three boards). Warren has five points.
Incarnate Word (St. Louis, Mo.) 24, Kalani 10, end Q1
Efficiency in motion. The Red Knights have a great starting five, a PG who reminds me of Rajon Rondo.
CLovis West 72, Sacred Hearts 30, FINAL
Madison Campbell led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 16 points on 5-for-20 shooting. They simply crashed the boards and moved the ball well against the Lancers’ man and zone defenses, utilizing a significant height advantage. Champney Pullliam added 14 points (4-for-8 from the field) and Nikki Tom, a sophomore, added 12. Aari’yanna Sanders hustled for 10 points and seven boards.
Sade Mizusawa led the Lancers with 10 points. Dallas Medeiros was scoreless for three quarters and finished with six points.
Clovis West 62, Sacred Hearts 18, end Q3
More of the same for the Golden Eagles, who aren’t shooting great, but moving the ball and crashing the offensive glass. Aari’yanna Sanders has 12 points and seven rebounds, five on the offensive board.
Clovis West 45, Sacred Hearts 15, halftime
Champney Pullliam, a signee with Idaho, and Nikki Tom have been steady for the Golden Eagles. Tom has 12 points, five rebounds and an assist. Pulliam has nine points, including two treys, three steals and two dimes. Madison Campbell connected on a couple of 3s in the second quarter and has 11 points on 4-for-15 shooting. She’s going to keep launching as long as she’s open.
Te‘Hiwa Medeiros leads SHA with five points. The Lancers have 15 turnovers so far.
Clovis West 21, Sacred Hearts 3, Q1
It was 13-3 with about 45 seconds when the Golden Eagles went on a tear. Their 2-2-1 press has led to 11 turnovers by the Lancers. CW’s signee with USC, Madison Campbell, hasn’t caught fire yet. She has five points on 2-for-7 shooting.
I’m ashamed of kalani’s coaches! The girls do what they are asked and play hard but there is no leadership from them”coaches” The lineups are senseless and no offense to speak of; talent is the only thing they rely on. They need to do better; it’s not too late but who knows???