Iolani led by as many as 33 points and was led by Kyra Tanabe's 15 points Thursday night. CJ Caraang | SL

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Thu, Nov 14, 2019 @ McKinley

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Iolani

54

Konawaena

26

Final	1	2	3	4
Iolani (13-1, 23-2)	16	16	8	14	54
Konawaena (12-0, 19-4)	4	6	6	10	26

C. Kaupu 8 pts

K. Tanabe 15 pts  2 3pm

KAKAAKO — Kyra Tanabe scored a game-high 15 points and was one of three players to score in double-figures to lead Iolani to a decisive 54-26 win over Konawaena in day two of the McKinley Black and Gold Classic Thursday night.

The Raiders improved to 2-0 in the preseason, while the Wildcats fell to 1-1.

The game served as a rematch of a Division I state semifinal from last February that Iolani won by a score of 43-22 en route to its fourth state title and first since 1996, which halted a string of four straight state championships by Konawaena.

The Raiders never trailed Thursday and separated early on in a rare rout of the Wildcats. They held a 16-4 lead after the opening quarter and stretched it to a 32-10 advantage by halftime.

Just before the intermission, Iolani held the ball for the final 50 seconds before Jovi Wahinekapu Lefotu made a 10-foot runner from the left baseline as time expired.

Iolani's lead grew to 40-16 after three quarters. It led by as many as 33 points after Lily Lefotu Wahinekapu's steal and transition layup to make it a 49-16 spread with 4:32 left to play.

Lefotu Wahinekapu finished with 12 points and Wahinekapu Lefotu added 10. Alexis Huntimer added eight points and Kylie Yung seven for the Raiders.

Iolani coach Dean Young was happy to see a balanced effort on the offensive side of the floor.

"I really hope (we continue to see that), because that means we're sharing the ball and that's what we want them to do," said Young, who is trying to replace two graduates from last year's team, including All-Hawaii first team guard Taylor Wu.

As good as the offensive execution was, the Raiders were even better on the defensive end.

"That's what we stressed in pre-game, just about being smart defensively, working together defensively and communicating," Young said. "It's early in the season but i was pretty happy with the defensive effort today."

Young pointed to the work ethic of his returning players over the offseason as a key factor in his team's defensive efficiency early on this preseason.

"I think just the work we put in in the summer," Young said. "We're really working on our communication and I think it's paying off now. We didn't necessarily mix-up our defenses, but just being able to be versatile on defense, guard different positions, switch if we want to switch on screens — just being versatile like that."

Young was especially pleased with the play of Tanabe and Alexis Huntimer, who each hit two 3-pointers. The duo of junior guards also had a number of assists after penetrating and dishing to open teammates. They also had their hand in a number of steals and even a block or two on the defensive end of the floor.

"They were outstanding today. The effort and the ball movement and being unselfish, it was nice to watch," Young said.

The Raiders played without starting post Alexsandra Huntimer, who pulled a muscle in practice last week, according to Young.

But it was of little consequence.

"They lost Taylor, which is a big loss, but all these girls got an extra year under their belt and they're playing really well even though they're missing of their players, too," Konawaena co-coach Bobbie Awa said.

"They're solid, these girls play all year-round in club ball and stuff, so they're good. I think maybe some of the younger ones are more confident now out there playing, but don't get me wrong, they lost Taylor and that was a big loss, but the rest of the girls they just step right in and fill that spot so they're very good, they're a state contender," Awa said.

The Wildcats did not return to the locker room during halftime and instead remained on their bench. In lieu of shooting around or a lay-up line in the minutes leading up to the start of the second half, Awa used the time to talk to her team about what she perceived as a lack of effort.

"Tonight was a learning experience, (but) you know, even if you're down, you gotta play hard and I saw girls giving up on the court, so it's just not a good thing and we gotta work on things like that. If the girls work hard, work smart the whole game, play hard and they lose, that's different, (but) when you go out there and you start giving up, then I have a problem with that right, so we can work on that," Awa said.

Braelyn Kauhi and Caiyle Kaupu scored eight points apiece and Kaliana Salazar-Harrell added six in the loss for Konawaena, which played without starting guard Kayla Pak. Awa said that Pak was injured in Wednesday's win over Punahou and is in the concussion protocol.

Pak is not expected to play in either of the Wildcats' remaining two games in the Black and Gold Classic: versus Maryknoll Friday and against Kamehameha Saturday.

Iolani will play Kahuku Friday before concluding the 10-team tournament against Kalani Saturday.