Kailua's Keala Kaio-Perez grabs a rebound over Kalani's Tailii Iinuma (14) and Carly Kakuda (3). Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 1 of 4

Taufau Williams makes a shot attempt over Taylor Murai. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 2 of 4

Kalani guard Carly Kakuda drives the ball down the court. Kakuda led her team with 14 points including two 3-pointers. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 3 of 4

Kailua's Patria Vaimaona takes a clear shot at the basket for points against Kalani. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 4 of 4

Sat, Dec 28, 2013 @ Kalani

---

Kailua

62

Kalani

52

Final	1	2	3	4
Kailua (9-5, 12-8)	17	15	12	16	62
Kalani (4-6, 14-15)	12	7	22	11	52

C. Kakuda 14 pts  2 3pm  2/3 FTs

P. Vaimaona 27 pts  3/5 FTs

Despite being soft-spoken, Patria Vaimaona's game did all the talking.

Vaimaona scored a game-high 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Kailua over Kalani, 62-52 in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association East matchup on Saturday night at Kalani's gymnasium. The Surfriders, of the OIA Red East, improved to 5-2 (8-4 overall) while the Falcons, of the OIA White East, fell to 4-2 (10-8 overall). 

"We had the height advantage so I told them at the beginning of the game to make sure we work our game inside and out, and she was finishing tonight so that was good to see. Our wings were also looking inside, it was an overall team win and team effort tonight," said Kailua coach Mandy Llamedo.

Kailua used their size advantage and out rebounded Kalani, 43-17.

"Boxing out, and we needed to box out," said Vaimaona, on their success at controlling the boards.

Kailua led for most of the first quarter and Vaimaona scored 10 of her 13 first half points in the quarter. Kailua called timeout at 1:20 after the Falcons went on a 5-0 run capped by a steal and layup by Samantha Shizuru to make it 12-11. However, Kailua outscored Kalani, 6-1 to end the quarter.

The Surfriders started the second quarter on a 6-0 run and Kalani called a timeout to talk things over. Taili Iinuma scored 5 of the team's 7 second quarter points. Kalani was 2-of-17 from the 3-point line and Iinuma made all of the Falcon's two 3-pointers in the first half and the team made six 3-pointers for the game.

 The Falcons outscored the Surfriders 22-12 in the third quarter and started the quarter on a 7-2 run. Carly Kakuda scored 12 of her 14 points in the quarter and made two 3-pointers. Her 3-pointer from the right wing cut the deficit to 1, 38-37.  

"It's always expected against Kalani and teams that shoot well like this, I told the girls not to let up, we give them the respect that they deserve as team that can shoot. I told them at the half that we needed to continue to play with intensity, I told them to also to make sure we keep our composure and stay calm and they were able to do that so that was good to see," said Llamedo.

Kailua started the fourth quarter on a 10-2 run and outscored the Falcons, 16-11. Kalani tried to make a comeback and scored four straight points following a Kalani full timeout and Tristyn Nishibun made a 3-pointer from the right corner, but the deficit was too large to overcome.

"This was going to tell us a lot of what this team has. We had that heart-breaking loss against Farrington and we fell a little short and I didn't know how they would respond so it was good to see them play and do what they're capable of doing," said Llamedo.

 Keala Kaio-Perez added 11 points and six rebounds, Taufau Williams had 10 points and six rebounds, and Kainani Peters had five rebounds.

Taili Iinuma finished the game with 10 points and Tristyn Nishibun added 8 points and two 3-pointers for the Falcons.

Kailua hosts McKinley on January 3rd at 7 pm while Kalani travels to Kahuku on the same night at 7 pm.