Iolani teammates embrace Abrianna Johnson-Edwards after her successful layup to break the 35-35 tie and take the lead, 37-35, with 22 seconds left in the 4th quarter. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Punahou's Samantha Alakai puts up a shot over the defense of Iolani's Taimane Passi. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Punahou's Kaitlyn Waki drives to the against Iolani. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Iolani's Abrianna Johnson-Edwards completed this layup to break the 35-35 tie and give the Raiders the lead over Punahou, 37-35 in the 4th quarter. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Wed, Jan 30, 2013 @ Iolani

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Punahou

35

Iolani

38

Final	1	2	3	4
Punahou (6-6, 9-6)	8	9	9	0	35
Iolani (9-3, 12-7)	7	10	6	0	38

A. Johnson-Edwards 22 pts  1 3pm  5/5 FTs

T. Moe 12 pts  0/0 FTs

Coming off yesterday's victory over Sacred Hearts, the Punahou girls basketball team gave everything 'Iolani could handle.

Upset-minded Punahou held an 8 point lead with just over 5 minutes to play, but 'Iolani rallied and then hung on to defeat Punahou 38-35.

"The girls played well, they played all the way to the end. Punahou had a good game plan and they played well, give them credit," said 'Iolani head coach Eddie Maruyama.

'Iolani's Abrianna Johnson-Edwards scored a game high 22 points to lead the Raiders past the Buffanblu.

"I went in there and we really wanted that state berth. We played Punahou a couple days ago so we knew they were going to give us a fight and had to match them or come out stronger," said Johnson-Edwards.

In the first quarter, Punahou's Tyra Moe scored all of the Buffanblu's 8 first quarter points off of rebounds and put-back layups.

In the second quarter, Johnson-Edwards stole the ball and was fouled on the layup. Her free throws put 'Iolani up, 11-8. Punahou's Kaitlyn Waki cut the deficit to 2, 13-11 after draining a three pointer in the right corner. However, baskets by Johnson-Edwards and Jade Botelho put the Raiders up, 17-11. Punahou rallied to tie the game at 17 heading into halftime.

In the third quarter, Alex Masaquel scored a basket to go up, 19-17. Johnson-Edwards stole the ball from Punahou point guard Turner Wong and converted it for an easy layup to go up 4, 21-17.

Punahou's Keaupono Fey hit a baseline jumper to tie the game at 21.

Johnson-Edwards answered with a jumpshot to make it, 23-21.

Punahou's Astra Kidani hit a three pointer to put the Buffanblu up by 1, 24-23. Fey hit a long jumpshot before the buzzer sounded to give the Buffanblu a 3 point cushion, 26-23 heading into the fourth quarter.

Punahou extended the lead by 5 points after Hailey Motooka found Kidani, 28-23. Johnson-Edwards hit 'Iolani's only three pointer to cut the deficit to 2, 28-26.

Despite a scoreless game from Turner Wong, other players found ways to step up and contribute.

"That's what our team is about, it's about having each other's back. When one person is down a little bit, it doesn't matter as long as we stuck together," said Punahou head coach Courtney Robinson.

Wong distributed the ball and found Fey who converted a point-blank basket to give Punahou its largest lead, 35-27 and 'Iolani called timeout with 5:17 remaining.

"We got some things going and we were playing great defense," said Robinson.

Johnson-Edwards put her team on her back and rallied the Raiders with a jumper in the lane and two free throws to bring them within 2, 35-33 and Punahou called timeout.

Her two steals late in the quarter that led to layups were huge for the Raiders. She stole the ball and made the layup to tie the game at 35. She had another steal and was fouled by Motooka as she converted the layup. Her free throw gave 'Iolani a 3 point lead, 38-35.

"My coaches told me to play aggressive, go for the ball because we only had one foul. We had room to foul and stop the clock and every time they inbounded the ball, I just wanted the ball and went for it," said Johnson-Edwards.

"She was aggressive in the end and we needed it," said Maruyama.

Punahou called timeout and drew up a play with 6.6 seconds left. However, a desperation three point attempt fell short and 'Iolani prevailed.

Punahou freshman forward Tyra Moe led the Buffanblu with 12 points and Keaupono Fey added 8 points and 9 rebounds.

'Iolani will travel to Kamehameha on Friday to determine the ILH elimination bracket champion. The Warriors have already clinched a berth in the state tournament