Kahuku outlasts Campbell to advance, 43-40

Kahuku's Aja Tapusoa scored a season-high 14 points in a win over Campbell in the opening round of the OIA Division I playoffs. CJ Caraang | SL

WAHIAWA — Kahuku's full-court press and size down low was too much for Campbell to overcome in its 43-40 Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I first round playoff win at Richard Townsend Court Friday night.

The Red Raiders, the OIA East's fourth seed, will move on to face Radford, the top seed in the OIA West, in the first quarterfinal matchup at Mililani Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.

"It feels really good because we worked really hard this week to prepare for this game," junior post Brittini Blake said on the win. "We feel really proud and accomplished and we're ready for tomorrow."

Kahuku tormented OIA West fifth seed Campbell all night with its length and energy on defense. The Sabers had no answer with Kahuku's press and gave up 33 turnovers, 22 coming on steals, in the contest.

"We do an effort chart," said Kahuku coach Marlene Zeug. "The thing that we look at the most is deflections and steals. Those are the things that we celebrate because we'll press you for 32 minutes and we'll force you to play us 94 feet."

The strong defensive effort helped the Red Raiders climb back from a 22-13 halftime deficit to take a 28-25 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Campbell was forced into taking rushed shots and went 0-for-18 from the field in the third period.

"We had more energy and we're happy," Blake said on the second half difference. "In the first half we were feeling down and not as intense. We weren't talking and our communication was off. We went into the locker room and put it together and came out with the win."

Kahuku also got a big boost from reserve Aja Tapusoa, the lone freshman on the team, who scored a season-high 14 points and had five steals in the win.

"We rely on her for her defense," Zeug said on Tapusoa. "That is one thing that we know we can always count on her for. If she can contribute for us offensively like she did tonight, even better."

Blake bulldozed her way in the paint and finished with a double-double of 13 points and 17 rebounds while registering three blocks. She scored seven of her 13 points in a back-and-forth fourth quarter that had five lead changes and four ties, and also knocked in the go-ahead points from the free throw line with 38.5 seconds left in regulation.

Cheyenne Teo also shouldered the load on the glass and had 13 rebounds, eight coming on the offensive end.

Campbell jumped out to an early 7-3 lead before giving up a 9-0 run to close out the first quarter as they had no answer for the Red Raiders' pressure. Most of the turnovers that the Sabers committed was from throwing passes to areas down the court in hopes for a easy basket.

"We didn't do the job that we needed to do with adjusting to their press," said Campbell coach Summer Aona. "We just threw it away too many times. That happens when you want to push the pace to get some fast breaks. High risk, high reward."

The Sabers changed up their defense in the second quarter and stymied Kahuku for a spell as the Red Raiders shot 0-for-11 from the field in the period.

Gieanni Balino led Campbell in the loss with 11 points and Cydney Curran added nine points and 14 rebounds.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].