Nobleza sparks Moanalua in 55-21 playoff win over gritty Nanakuli

Moanalua players thank one of their supporters for providing post-game dinner after a 55-21 playoff win over Nanakuli. Na Menehune secured a state-tournament berth with the win. Paul Honda/Star-Advertiser (Jan. 25, 2025)

Rhea Nobleza bided her time, patiently waiting for her chance on Saturday.

The senior guard pumped in 14 points, including 10 in the second quarter after sitting out the first, as Moanalua ran away with a 55-21 win over a gritty Nanakuli squad in an OIA quarterfinal-round battle Saturday night.

Junior guard Shanti Castillo added 11 points, including 5-for-6 from the free-throw line, and dynamic freshman guard Alofa Simanu had three points and seven assists. Ava Atagi chipped in nine points, and sophomore Serenity Tacgere seemed to be everywhere all at once. The energetic forward had six points, seven rebounds and four steals. Senior post Shailoh Liilii finished with four points and a team-high nine rebounds.


“Rhea is very aggressive. I like that and I told her, I like the intensity and aggressiveness. We’ve just got to learn how to bottle it and control it,” Moanalua coach Kirk Ronolo said. “We’re not where we need to be yet, but we’re getting there. Hopefully, we can start peaking soon.”

Nobleza sat the first quarter after breaking a team rule earlier in the week. Her absence in the opening quarter was impactful.

“It’s definitely an adjustment. Our underclassmen had to learn how to play without her,” Castillo said.

“She did have to pay her consequences,” Liilii said of her senior classmate, Nobleza.

Nobleza will be needed as much as any Menehune against the stellar Trojans of Mililani. Both teams had injury issues when Mililani won, 38-35, on Nov. 30 at the Moanalua Peek tournament.

“Chemistry. Confidence,” Nobleza said. “We’re putting all of it together.”

Senior Maesha Muaau had five points and a game-high 12 rebounds for Nanakuli (10-7 overall). Tiare Hauhio had six points, and Carlee Sausi-Callejo added five points and five rebounds. Clarilynn Mauai-Silifaiva hustled for four rebounds and three steals. Point guard Azurae-Skay Manuel was scoreless, but dished three assists.


East runner-up Moanalua will meet No. 7-ranked Mililani on Monday in the semifinal round. The win on Saturday clinched a spot in the state championships for Na Menehune.

Nanakuli needs a win over Kalani to secure one of the league’s six state-tournament berths in Division I.

Co-captain Nobleza was instant energy for a Moanalua team that struggled in the first eight minutes. Na Menehune had five turnovers, all by Liilii on misfired passes, before they got on the scoreboard. Shanti Castillo’s steal and elbow jumper made it 2-0 with 4:49 left in the first quarter. Moanalua led 4-2 entering the second quarter. Their fullcourt press generated seven Nanakuli turnovers in the first quarter and five more in the second.

Nobleza entered the game and immediately made an impact. The senior guard scored 10 points, including two treys — one from NBA range — as the swarming Menehune stayed in attack mode.

The Golden Hawks stayed in range with a lob pass for a layup by Carlee Sausi-Callejo, who also went coast to coast and dished to Azurae-Skay Manuel for a layup. That brought Nanakuli within 10-6 with 3:44 left in the first half.

Moanalua went on a 13-4 run to close the half. Nobleza connected from the 3-point line twice and Alofa Simanu dished to Ava Atagi for a layup with 22 seconds before the buzzer.

Leading by 13 at intermission, Moanalua opened the second half with a steal by Liilii, who fed Castillo and scored on the give-and-go play. After Nobleza stole the ball near midcourt and fed Castillo for a layup, the lead was 17. A corner 3 by the freshman, Simanu, opened the lead to 20 points and Na Menehune never looked back.


When the teams met on Nov. 21 at Nanakuli’s preseason tournament, Moanalua was saddled with injuries and eked out a 48-40 win.

The difference with a healthy roster was clear, but it was far from a perfect performance. Na Menehune committed 25 turnovers and shot 4-for-14 from 3-point range (29 percent) against Nanakuli’s matchup zone.

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