Seei's buzzer-beater lifts Rams by Mules in OT


Kalani Takase | ScoringLive
January 5, 2019, 10:11pm

Radford's Manutagi Seei knocked in the game-winning 3-pointer from the left wing to lift the Rams over host Leilehua in overtime. Michael Lasquero | SL

WAHIAWA — Manutagi Seei hit a 3-pointer from the left wing as time expired in overtime to lift Radford to a 38-37 win over previously-undefeated Leilehua at Paul T. Kobayashi Gymnasium Saturday night.

The Rams (8-1) rebounded from their first loss of the year — just two nights prior, against No. 7 Mililani — to pull even with the Mules (8-1) in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I West standings with one game to play in the regular season.

Radford can clinch second place in the West and one of the four first-round byes up for grabs in the league tournament with a victory over Nanakuli coupled with a win by the Trojans (9-0) over the Mules Tuesday.

"It was huge. This was a game for bouncing back, but it was also for seeding in the playoffs," Rams coach Charles Chong said. "I told the girls that this game is actually more important than the Mililani game."

Leilehua held a 37-35 lead after Angelina Dela Cruz hit a tough shot under the basket off an assist from Kaylen Kamelamela. On Radford's next possession, Seei was hurt while attempting to grab an offensive rebound and momentarily came out of the game.

The Mules ended up with possession of the ball and called a timeout with 25.3 seconds left. However, they turned it over due to a carrying violation and Radford got the ball back with 17.2 seconds.

Emily Eter dribbled from near midcourt to just inside the 3-point line before finding an open Seei on the left wing, whose shot rattled in at the buzzer.

"I was just moving around with (Eter). I knew she'd get the ball to one of us, so I tried to get open as much as I could," Seei said. "I wouldn't have been able to do this without my team; it was all of us."

Chong said he drew inspiration for the final play while watching the NBA on ESPN.

"Get the ball to the ball handler and let her create off a screen, (but) it fell apart, so it became scramble and Manu got open, but Emily did a great job of finding her on that cross-court pass," Chong said. "Emily is a great point guard, she can see really well and she got that shot for us and Manu knocked it down."

Before her late-game heroics, Seei got tangled up with a Leilehua player and went down to the court on the Rams' penultimate possession. She was tended to by athletic trainers and eventually helped off the floor, but checked back into the contest shortly thereafter.

"I think she accidentally fell and when I fell I already hit my head and she landed on my neck on accident, but it was fine," Seei said. "I feel fine. I mean, I was just trying to stay calm for my team, because a calm point guard brings a calm team."

Chong took note of the toughness Seei displayed down the stretch.

"She's a warrior, you know, she battles. I don't question anything about her heart, she's got a big heart. This team is showing a lot of heart. I'm really proud of them," Chong said.


Reach Kalani Takase at [email protected].