Girls Basketball
Punahou holds off Lahainaluna in bounce-back win


  



Thu, Nov 14, 2019 @ McKinley


Final 1 2 3 4  
Punahou (2-11, 11-12) 9 2341248
Lahainaluna (12-2, 14-9) 14 8 13 944
A. Baguyo 10 pts  3 3pm  1/1 FTs
M. Lum 10 pts  2 3pm  0/0 FTs

KAKAAKO — Mel Lum hit a pair of first-half 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 10 points to help Punahou hold off Lahainaluna 48-44 in the McKinley Black and Gold Classic Thursday night.

The Buffanblu rebounded from a 15-point loss to Konawaena in the first day of the 10-team tournament to even their record at 1-1, while the Lunas, who lost by 14 to Iolani Wednesday, fell to 0-2 in the preseason.

Lum was a perfect 4-of-4 shooting on field goals and was the lone Punahou player to score in double figures. Heaven Hense-Dorroh and Tara Kaneshiro added six points apiece, Shania Moananu and Laynee Torres-Kahapea added five each and the pair of Caitlyn Andrade-Tomimoto and Taylor Hange each chipped in four.

Punahou trailed 14-9 after the opening quarter, but outscored Lahainaluna 23-8 in the second stanza to take a 10-point lead into the halftime break.

The Lunas cut the Buffanblu lead to 36-35 after three quarters and took the lead early in the fourth, but Lum scored both of her second-half field goals in the final quarter to help her team deny the perennial-MIL powerhouse.

"That's it and that's the biggest thing that we're talking now is finishing — that's what it's all about — and how to create that finish at the end, so it was a great way to finish for the kids and a great team win for us," Punahou coach Gary Pacarro said.

Pacarro said that while he and his coaching staff are still tinkering with the lineup, it was important for his players to put forth a strong showing after Wednesday's lopsided loss.

"It was more about the bounce back for one, that's the first one, but we're still trying to figure out our match-ups, knowing that there's some games that we're gonna have to maybe not play as many of our bigs as we have and go smaller, like we did tonight," said Pacarro, who played 13 of the 15 available bodies he had Thursday.

"Lahainaluna, they're fast, great ball-handling team and credit to them, man, this was a great game — but for us, this was a chance for us to kind of refocus, that was the biggest thing," Pacarro said.

Aira Baguyo came off the bench to score 10 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead the Lunas. Kiera Kaniho added eight points in the loss.

The Black and Gold Classic continues Friday and concludes Saturday at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium.



Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


IMAGE GALLERY



MORE STORIES

Le Jardin, University Lab advance to set up all-ILH state D2 final

The Bulldogs rallied from a 2-1 set deficit to eke past Konawaena, while the Jr. Bows swept past Molokai.

Wade powers Kamehameha past Moanalua, into D1 finale

Kainoa Wade poured in 36 kills in a four set win over Na Menehune, setting up a rematch with ILH nemesis...

Balanced Buffanblu attack proves too much for Trojans

Adam Haidar and Brody Badham put down 10 kills apiece and Punahou had six players finish with at least...

Moanalua set to clash with Kamehameha in D1 semifinals

Na Menehune and Warriors dominated their quarterfinal matchups, setting up a rematch of last year's semifinals.

Molokai, University Lab post sweeps to reach D2 semis

Jericho Adolpho put down 18 kills to help take down Bulldogs in Farmers' first state tourney appearance...

Lacar's versatility paying off for Bulldogs; Wildcats ride Lebrun-Ward to clinch state berth

The senior libero-turned-setter played a pivotal role to lead Waialua to its first OIA D2 title, while...