Falcons use 3-ball to dispatch Red Raiders, 68-48

Kalani's Kaylie Espinas puts up a 3-point attempt against Kauai in a Division II quarterfinal. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Kirstin Kouchi hit six 3-pointers en route to a season-high 26 points to power fourth-seeded Kalani to a 68-48 quarterfinal win over Kauai Thursday night.

The Falcons made 13 of their 30 attempts from beyond the arc to improve to 10-3. They advanced to Friday's semifinal round of the Snapple/HHSAA Division II Girls Basketball State Championships, where they will face top-seeded Mid-Pacific in a 7 p.m. semifinal at Kalani's Earl C. Homer Gymnasium.

Kouchi shot 9 of 17 from the field, including 6 of 8 from 3-point range. Lilehina Oyama added 10 points and Noelle Suzuki added eight in the win.

Taegan Keep led the Red Raiders (7-4) with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Kalani registered 11 steals and forced 21 Kauai turnovers.

The Falcons outscored the Red Raiders 27-8 in the second quarter and held a 45-19 lead at halftime.

Kauai will play Damien in a fifth-place semifinal Friday, 5 p.m. at Farrington's Richard Kitamura Gymnasium.