The semifinal round is underway at Father Bray Athletic Center, where the girls ‘Iolani Prep Classic has powerhouses Incarnate Word (St. Louis, Mo.) and Clovis West (Calif.) matched up in the first semi. Host ‘Iolani and Pinewood (Los Altos Hills, Calif.) will meet in the nightcap. Pinewood is ranked No. 12 in the USA Today Super 25. Incarnate Word is ranked No. 22 by MaxPreps, which predicts a title run by the Red Knights.
Pinewood 79, ‘Iolani 55, FINAL
The Panthers got 20 points apiece from Hannah Jump and Klara Astrom in a dominant win over Hawaii’s No. 1 team. Kyra Tanabe and Jovi Wahinekapu Lefotu had 12 points each for ‘Iolani, and Taylor Wu added 10.
Pinewood will square off against Incarnate Word in the title game on Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ‘Iolani will meet Clovis West in the third-place game, 5 p.m.
Pinewood 68, ‘Iolani 40, end Q3
The Panthers finally cooled off, shooting 1-for-9 from the arc, but Coach Scheppler had his team slow the tempo, advising his team to “catch your breath.”
Pinewood 52, ‘Iolani 28, halftime
When Pinewood coach Doc Scheppler said his team didn’t shoot all that great in Thursday’s opening round, he wasn’t kidding. By Pinewood standards, Friday’s first-half performance is up to par, it would seem. The Panthers have shot 9-for-15 from the arc, pushing the ball every opportunity and constantly attacking the rim. Klara Astrom is 5-for-6 from deep and has 17 points to lead the Panthers. Hannah Jump, who won the tournament’s 3-point contest, has scored 16 points, mostly on tough drives to the bucket. Annika Deicker, a sophomore, has five assists already.
Kyra Tanabe has eight points, including two 3-pointers, as does Kylie Yung. Taylor Wu has six points. The Panthers did their scouting and aren’t allowing Wu many easy looks. She has just five shot attempts so far.
Pinewood 37, ‘Iolani 16, 5:28, Q2
Quite a performance by the Panthers, who remain red-hot from deep. ‘Iolani is leaving the stretch-5, Klara Astrom, wide open at the top again and again. She has rained in from deep, 3-for-3 from the arc. What a show.
Pinewood 27, ‘Iolani 13, end Q1
The Panthers opened an 11-2 lead with some quick 3s, but Kyra Tanabe drilled two treys to bring the Raiders within 16-12. Then Pinewood caught fire and finished the quarter 5-for-9 from the arc. The constant drive-and-kick is drawing the Raider defense into the paint, and the Panthers are making them pay.
Pinewood is a “giant killer,” according to MaxPreps, which has the school from Cali unranked and predicted a title run by Incarnate Word Academy here. ‘Iolani is meeting its match in style, speed, pace, 3-point shooting. Should be entertaining.
Incarnate Word 56, Clovis West 47, FINAL
Center Rickie Woltman (Purdue signee) led the Red Knights with 14 points. Kiki Britzmann (Belmont) scored 13 points and Kate Rolfes added 12. PG Marissa Warren (DePaul) finished with eight points. USC-bound Madison Campbell led the Golden Eagles with 24 points.
Incarnate Word 55, Clovis West 47, :29.3, Q4
Two FTs brought the Clovis West within 53-47, and then IWA barely got the ball over the midcourt line in time to beat the 10-second count. That led directly to a Rickie Woltzman layup for an eight-point IWA lead.
Incarnate Word 53, Clovis West 45, 1:05, Q4
The Golden Eagles have had their chances. In a four-minute span, they missed three wide-open shots from the arc until Aaliyah Sevell sank one from the right wing, cutting the lead to eight with 2:20 remaining.
Incarnate Word 45, Clovis West 35, end Q3
The Red Knights can’t quite shake the Golden Eagles, who are scrapping and hustling to stay within range.
Incarnate Word 36, Clovis West 23, halftime
The Red Knights are getting smooth execution with PG Marissa Warren in charge. They opened the lead to 11 points early in the second quarter, and Clovis West cut it to seven at one point.
Incarnate Word 17, Clovis West 14, end Q1
Though the Golden Eagles of Clovis West play in one of the few states that uses a 30-second shot clock, the Red Knights of Incarnate Word seem perfectly comfortable with the shot clock, as well.
Sacred Hearts 45, Kalani 44, consolation
Dallas Martinez and Te‘Hiwa Medeiros scored 10 points each as the Lancers surprised the Lady Falcons. Sade Mizusawa added nine points. Shelby McDaniel scored 11 points to pace Kalani. PG Kalena Halunajan added 10 points. Leading scorer Kamalu Kamakawiwo‘ole did not play.
Lahainaluna 46, Kaiser 33, consolation
In the other early game, Susitina Namoa poured in 24 points to lead the Lady Lunas. Trinadee Kahunahana led the Lady Cougars with 17 points. Kaiser shot 5-for-27 from the free-throw line.
Kalani giving away games now!? Why isn’t the center #23 playing? The coaching or lack of is the problem; how can you have so much talent and give away games? Mok and victorino get over yourselves y’all bout to lose your locker room.