No. 2 Konawaena dominates KS-Maui, 64-27

Konawaena's Tanniya Uchida drives to the hoop against KS-Maui in a fast break situation. Sylvia Lee | SL

KAKAAKO – Top-seeded Konawaena opened the game with a 20-0 run and closed with 25 fourth-quarter points to sink Kamehameha-Maui, 64-27, in a quarterfinal of the Snapple state girls' basketball tournament Thursday at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium.

The two-time defending state champion Wildcats (13-0), second in the Hawaiian Electric Girls' Basketball Power Rankings, advance to Friday's semifinals against the winner of fourth-seeded Farrington and Kamehameha-Kapalama 7 p.m. at the Neal Blaisdell Center Arena.

Four Wildcats scored in double figures: Mikayla Tablit and Cherilyn Molina with 14 points each; Celena Molina with 12 and Caiyle Kaupu with 11.

Kaylee Cambra led KS-Maui with 11 points, while 6-foot forward/center Kimani Fernandez-Roy led all with 10 rebounds.

The Warriors turned over the ball 25 times with Konawaena getting 17 steals, five from Tanniya Uchida.

Konawaena turned over the ball 10 times, five coming in a sloppy third period when it was outscored, 14-9.

The Wildcats scored off of five of 10 first-half turnovers to take a commanding 30-6 lead into the break. The Warriors (10-5) did not get on the scoreboard until 3:45 left in the half when Angel Pauole made 1 of 2 free throws. They did not score field goal until 2:06 when Ashley Peralta scored and ensuring free throw to complete the three-point play.

Konawaena, on the strength of three 3-pointers, poured on 25 points in the fourth to pull away.