Iolani overcomes Lauvao's 31 points to advance, 69-58

Iolani's Alex Masaquel grabs a rebound against Kaimuki. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Iolani wore down Kaimuki with superior height and depth to overcome the herculean 31-point effort of Princess Lauvao and defeat the Bulldogs 69-58 in the opening round of the 37th Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA State Girls Basketball Tournament at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium.

The ILH runner-up Raiders advance to the quarterfinals against 4th seeded MIL champion Lahainaluna, which had a bye in the opening round. Kaimuki will meet Kaiser in a consolation match.

Kaimuki hung tough for two and a half quarters, tying the score for the fifth and last time at 34 on Lauvao's three-pointer with 4:10
left in the third quarter against the Raiders second unit. A half minute later she was lying on the floor during a TV time out. "I took a charge and hit my head on the floor" Lauvao explained.

She returned a minute later, along with Iolani's first unit just in time to see the Raiders go off on a 10-0 run to pull ahead 44-34. During that critical span, Iolani grabbed four offensive rebounds.

Kaimuki never got closer than seven again, but it wasn't for a lack effort in the fourth quarter. Despite trailing most of the way by double figures and by many as 17 59-42, the Bulldogs continued to foul attempting to catch up. Iolani had 24 free throw attempts in the final quarter, making 13 after being a perfect 10 for 10 over the first three quarters.

"Many doubted us, but here we are" said an exhausted Lauvao afterward, barely able to talk, after a performance that came within six points of the state tournament record of 37, set by current UH-Wahine player Shawna Lei Kuehu in 2008.

"Turnovers killed us" said Kaimuki coach Mona Fa'asoa.

After a slow start - Iolani trailed by as many as seven, 11-4, midway in the opening quarter - the Raiders substituted their second unit and rallied to tie the score at 11, boosted by four points from Taimane Passi. Lauvao, who had already scored five points drew her second personal foul with 2:36 left and sat out the rest of the quarter.

With Lauvao back, the second quarter saw five lead changes Again the Raiders substituted their second unit midway through quarter, while Kaimuki went mostly with their starting five. Iolani led by as many as six points, but Lauvao's basket with two seconds left cut their halftime lead to 29-25.

"She is the complete player", said Iolani coach Eddie Maruyama about Lauvao. Asked about a strategy, he modestly said, "We had none. This is the state tournament and somehow we found a way."

Leading the way were Alex Masaquel and Sheyla Pua Kahalehoe with 15 points each. Masaquel grabbed three offensive rebounds to score six of her eight second half points during the decisive third quarter 10-0 run. Kahalehoe had a pair of three-pointers Abrianna Johnson-Edwards and Jade Botelho added 8 points apiece. Eleven players saw action for Iolani and ten scored.

Both teams shot well from the free throw line. Iolani was 23 of 34 (68%), including 13 of 15 (87%) by the starting five. Kaimuki was 20 of 26 (77%).