Pearl City holds off Campbell, 52-44


'EWA BEACH - Out-manned Pearl City cashed in a lane violation by converting 13 of its last 15 free throws in the last three minutes to pull away from Campbell, 52-44, Tuesday night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red girls' basketball at the Sabers' gym.

Trailing 39-37 with 2:50 left, Pearl City's Sierra Mendiola missed her two free throws, but the second miss was negated by a lane violation. Mendiola redeemed herself by making her next shot, igniting the Chargers' free-throw fest in the closing minutes to hold off the Sabers. Both are 2-1 and share second place in the Red West.

Sabrina Angle led the Chargers with 19 points, including 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line, all during the 13-point stretch toward the end. Adrienne Jean Sylva added 16.

The Chargers were down to eight available players because of illness and injuries. Among the injured was 5-foot-9 center Dani Magana, who would've been a nice counter to Campbell's posts - 5-7 Chantay Samante and 5-9 Cassie Ernst - who were among the top six scorers in the Red entering last night.

"The eight played tough," Pearl City coach Michael Morton said.

The Chargers jumped to a 16-9 lead after one quarter, but watched the Sabers take over the paint with Samante and Ernst to pull to with 24-22 by the half. Samante had 12 of her game-high 21 points and Ernst had seven of her 13 by the half.

But Pearl City went into a zone defense in the second half, collapsing on the Sabers' two big scorers. The Chargers outscored the Sabers, 12-4 in the third quarter to take a 36-26 lead. The Sabers would pull to within 39-37 with 3:08 left in the game, but fouls put the Chargers to the line, where they scored their final 13 points.

While the Chargers got a 42 of their points from their back court, the Sabers were the opposite, managing just 10, as they tried to rely on Samante and Ernst.


Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].