The Warriors' bench celebrates after defeating Iolani in overtime. John Lujan | SL

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Wed, Jan 25, 2017 @ Kamehameha

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Iolani

61

Kamehameha

64

F/OT	1	2	3	4	OT
Iolani (7-6, 12-8)	8	14	22	11	6	61
Kamehameha (9-5, 21-6)	15	17	12	11	9	64

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

M. Maio 24 pts  3/5 FTs

T. Wu 18 pts  1 3pm  3/3 FTs

K. Obrey 13 tot  7 off  6 def

T. Maeda 6 tot  1 off  5 def

K. Obrey 1 ast

T. Maeda 1 ast

KAPALAMA HEIGHTS — Mikiala Maio did not want Kamehameha's season to end on Wednesday night.

The senior scored 24 points and sophomore Kalina Obrey added 17 to help the fourth-ranked Warriors knock out fifth-ranked Iolani, 64-61 in overtime of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu single-elimination postseason tournament Kekuhaupio Gymnasium.

"I wanted to do everything for my teammates. It came down to leadership and the support of my teammates really helped me," said Maio.

"Miki used every skill that she has to will us to win. She's a mismatch and you can't say enough about Kalina as well. They both made crucial baskets at crucial times," said Kamehameha coach Joe Cho, on Maio and Obrey.

The Warriors (9-4) advance to play Maryknoll (12-1) in the single-elimination final. Kamehameha clinches a state tournament berth for the first time since 2013—the same year it won the state championship. Maio was a team manager that year, but now she gets to lead her team to states after nearly a four-year drought.

Raiders end the season at 7-6. Skylar Nakata (illness) and Kawai Kahalehoe (knee injury), Kayla Malta (pilot interview) did not play.

"We had an opportunity for us to do something special with only seven bodies and they played their hearts out. I'm so proud of them and we were one basket away from moving on," said Iolani coach Dean Young.

"Of course I'm impressed. Those girls aren't going to quit. We knew they (Iolani) were going to come and play and the season's on the line," said Cho.

Despite only suiting up seven players, Taylor Wu came off the bench to score a team-high 18 points—all in the second half. Emily Nomura and and Camy Aguinaldo scored 12 and 11 points respectively to push Kamehameha to the brink.

Princy Paaluhi-Caulk hit Maio on a cut for two of her four overtime points to put Kamehameha up, 61-57.

"I was being patient and waiting for the right moment to cut to the ball. Coach tried to get me the ball every play and I knew I was taking the big shot and I had to hit it," said Maio.

The Raiders and Warriors traded layups until Wu brought it within two, 63-61. Maio missed the one-and-one free throw, but Iolani could not capitalize as Kelsi Ikeda's 3-pointer fell short and Kiana Vierra (13 points) grabbed the rebound. Vierra sank 1-of-2 free throws with 13 seconds remaining and Iolani called timeout with 10 seconds left. Wu had an open 3-pointer near the right wing, but it was too long as time expired.

"Taylor has been a spark plug off the bench. She's athletic and quick so she provides an incredible burst of energy. She did exactly what we wanted to do tonight," said Young, on Wu.

Kamehameha led 32-22 going into halftime, but the Raiders roared to life in the third quarter to outscore the Warriors 22 to 12. Aguinaldo's 3-point play brought it within one, 36-35 and Wu's layup gave the Raiders their first lead since the first quarter. Wu hit a 3-pointer and one of her four steals led to a layup to make it, 44-41 to force the Warriors to call timeout. Maio tied the game at 44 heading into the fourth.

"At halftime we were down by 10, but we told them that's where we want to be, they were playing the tempo we want to play in the first half and they were getting tired. We told them to keep pushing and believing and we got them," said Young, as the Raiders looked different in the second half.

"They were coming off double picks and our girls had a hard time getting around. Dean was smart and was taking advantage of it. We pulled together and when it counted and got the job done," said Cho.

The Raiders held a 55-53 lead with 33 seconds remaining in the fourth after Aguinaldo hit 1-of-2 free throws. Paaluhi-Caulk's would-be tying basket was waved off after she was called for traveling. However, Kellie Okamura stepped on the baseline after the inbounds with 20 seconds left. The Warriors inbounded the ball to Obrey, who finished from the left block to tie the game at 55. She also grabbed 13 boards to patrol the paint. With 8 seconds left, Aguinaldo got free with a backdoor cut, but her shot was too hard as the game went to overtime.