HBA's Alexis Dang defends a shot by Hanalani's Jacie Nava. Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 1 of 40

HBA's Kyley Nakagawa gets a steal and drew two free throws with 15 seconds left in regulation with the Eagles' leading by five, 47 to 42. Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 2 of 40

Hanalani's Keila Tsutsui goes into the lane for a shot attempt. Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 3 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 4 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 5 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 6 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 7 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 8 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 9 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 10 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 11 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 12 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 13 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 14 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 15 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 16 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 17 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 18 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 19 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 20 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 21 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 22 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 23 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 24 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 25 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 26 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 27 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 28 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 29 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 30 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 31 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 32 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 33 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 34 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 35 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 36 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 37 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 38 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 39 of 40

Michael Lasquero | SL

Purchase image 40 of 40

Thu, Jan 17, 2019 @ Hanalani

---

Hawaii Baptist

50

Hanalani

42

Final	1	2	3	4
Hawaii Baptist (12-1, 25-6)	18	16	10	6	50
Hanalani (11-2, 19-6)	7	10	15	10	42

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

K. Tsutsui 14 pts  10/12 FTs

K. Nakagawa 16 pts  10/17 FTs

K. Tsutsui 5 tot

S. Phillip 9 tot

C. Hiers 2 ast

A. Dang 2 ast

MILILANI — The Hawaii Baptist Academy Eagles are champions once again.

Visiting HBA built an early lead in the first half and withstood a furious rally by Hanalani on its homecoming night to win the ILH Division II title, 50-42, Thursday in both teams' final scheduled game of league play.

Because both teams entered the contest tied with a 11-1 record atop the standings — and the top three teams in the league go straight to the state tournament after ILH play — the matchup served as the league's de facto D2 title game.

Junior guard Alexis Dang scored 15 points with eight rebounds and four assists and senior Kyley Nakagawa had a game-high 16 points off the bench with two key steals in the fourth quarter to help the Eagles win their first ILH title since 2016, which was also the same year when the team won its first-ever state title.

Hanalani's Keila Tsutsui goes into the lane for a shot attempt.

×

_19011827_GBKB-1.17.19-HBAvsHAN-0223.jpg - Michael Lasquero | SL

Helping the Eagles keep pace with Hanalani in the second half was Dang, who scored or assisted on all five of HBA’s baskets in the third quarter. The junior guard gave the Eagles their largest leads of the game with a spin-around jumper and a jumper that came after a pump-fake and a dribble.

“She’s our leader as far as guards, and she’s smart enough to pull up (for a shot) because they were trying to take charges under the basket,” Matsui said of Dang.

Hanalani got within five, 47-42, after a corner triple by Kira Matsuda with under a minute to play in regulation, but couldn’t execute in the final stretch to pull off the comeback.

HBA couldn’t convert on the front end of two one-and-one free throw opportunities with 44.5 and 25.4 seconds left, but a steal in the back court by Nakagawa forced Hanalani to foul to bring it into a double-bonus situation.

After Nakagawa split her two attempts at the line with 15 seconds remaining, she stole another pass from near half court and sank two free throws to seal the deal. The 5-foot-7 senior scored all of the Eagles’ points from the free throw line, shooting 10-for-17 at the stripe.

Both teams and University Lab will not play another game until the Snapple D2 Girls Basketball Championships, which begins on Feb. 6. As the ILH champion, HBA will most likely receive a first round bye in the 12-team tournament.

The ILH gets four total berths into the D2 tournament. The other three teams in the league and the ILH Division III champion will battle it out for the final berth in a single-elimination tournament that starts next Thursday.