Leilehua players celebrate after an overtime win over Kaiser in the OIA Division I quarterfinals. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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01311643_LeiKai__0505.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Leilehua's Regina Dela Cruz hit a jump shot from just inside the three-point arc with just over seven seconds to play in the first overtime period to lift Leilehua to a 37-35 win over Kaiser in the OIA Division I quarterfinals.

The clutch basket was the only made basket for Dela Cruz in the game, and came after Dela Cruz missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw in the prior possession.

"She's a shooter. When she was at the free throw line (in overtime), I was going 'hey that's who we want at the free throw line,'" said Leilehua head coach Elroy Dumlao. "Unfortunately she didn't hit it, but she came back and redeemed herself."

Dela Cruz set up just below the circle and got an entry pass from the left wing. She caught the pass, raised up for the shot without hesistation, and watched it swish though.

"There's no time to think, the basket was right in front of me so I just threw it up," said Dela Cruz of the shot.

The big jumper from Dela Cruz came just minutes prior to another clutch bucket from Shaylee Todani, who nailed a three from the left corner with just over 40 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 33-all.

Kaiser had a chance to win it with 3.6 seconds left in the fourth, but missed the front-end of a one-and-one trip to the free throw line.

Lyla Kaneaiakala opened the scoring in the overtime with two big free throws, but Twaynna Abbott countered with a point-blank make to knot things up again at the 2:39 mark in the overtime.

The score would remain 35-all for the next 2:32 prior to Dela Cruz's shot, which included four missed throws in the duration.

Leilehua went inside early and often to post Abbott, who finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds and added three steals and two blocks for good measure.

"We wanted to get ball to her a little bit more, but hats off to that team on the other side (Kaiser)," said Dumlao. "They put a lot of pressure on our guards. Even though (Tiana) Hanohano is a pretty tall guard she was being harassed, so entries wasn't as easy as we wanted it."

In direct contrast to the power game applied by Abbott, Kaiser gave the Mules a steady dose of Rose Shimaoka, who slashed and deked her way through the Leilehua defense for a game-high 16 points. She also pulled down seven rebounds and added three steals and two assists in a losing effort.

"She's a great player, she's been a part of this program for a long time. Shoots with a lot of confidence, but is a team player," said Dumlao.

Kaiser led 13-11 after the first quarter, but trailed 21-18 at halftime.

The Cougars closed to within a point at the end of the third quarter, took the lead with 3:11 in the fourth on a Skylar Kimura basket, and held a three point cushion with 50 seconds left in regulation.

To say it was not the prettiest of games for either team would be fair, as both teams combined to shoot 15-of-39 from the charity stripe and turned the ball over 39 times in aggregate.

Next up for Leilehua is a date with Radford, a 39-27 winner over Kahuku, in the OIA Division I semifinals on Feb 3. The game is set for 7 p.m. on the Rams' home court.