Leilehua holds off Kaimuki to advance

Leilehua's Kaylen Kamelamela puts up a runner in the lane over Kaimuki's Mele Loo-Godinet in the second quarter. Michael Lasquero | SL

Leilehua is moving on in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I playoffs.

The Mules held off a late Kaimuki rally for a 53-45 first round win Tuesday night at Paul T. Kobayashi Gymnasium & Richard Townsend Court.

Leilehua (8-3), the third-seeded team from the West, will now travel to take on East second seed Kalani (8-2) Wednesday night at 6 p.m.

Kaimuki, the East's sixth seed, saw its season end with a 6-5 record.

The Mules led by as many as 12 points in the third quarter, but had to withstood a sharpshooting barrage by Kaimuki's Kaelyn Espinda, who scored a game-high 26 points on five made 3-pointers.

The Bulldogs were able to trim down Leilehua's lead to as low as three points in the fourth quarter, but the Mules were able to sink free throws and regain possession multiple times in the final minute to deny Kaimuki.

Kaylen Kamelamela led the Mules in the win with 23 points and two made 3-pointers. She also sank a trey at the buzzer of the first quarter and drove in for an athletic layup just before the end of the third period.

Asia Castillo was also key for Leilehua, as she scored 13 points and went 7-for-9 at the free throw line.