A crowd of about 250 at Kaimuki gym watched the Spartans -- who finished third in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu -- improve to 13-2 in the regular and postseason and advance to today's 5 p.m. semifinal against No. 3 seed and Big Island Interscholastic Federation DII champ Kamehameha-Hawai'i (12-4) at Farrington.

Moloka'i, the Maui Interscholastic League's DII champ and defending DII state runner-up, fell to 8-1 and into tonight's 7 o'clock consolation bracket game against University High (12-3).

Maryknoll opened the second period last night with a 7-0 run to take a 21-14 lead and went into halftime ahead, 25-18. The Farmers closed it to 33-30 entering the fourth quarter but the Spartans pushed ahead to 39-32 after Kimiko Mitchell's free throw with 5:40 remaining.

Moloka'i fought back, however, and had a chance to take the lead when Adolpho -- a 6-foot senior who will play volleyball and basketball at the University of Hawai'i next year -- was fouled with 9.5 seconds remaining and went to the line for two free throws with the Farmers trailing 42-41.

But she missed both, and Ciana Ochoco sank one of two free throws to put the Spartans up, 43-41, with 4.6 ticks left.

Moloka'i then pushed the ball up the court but was not able to get a shot off before the buzzer.

Ashlee DeSantos led Maryknoll with 12 points and Taylor Wong added 11 points.

Adolpho finished with nine rebounds and five blocks but went 1-for-7 from the line. The Farmers connected on only one of 10 free throw attempts overall. 

KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 65, UNIVERSITY HIGH 41

Casey Poe scored a game-high 22 points and Katelynne Paleka-Kennedy added 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Warriors past the Junior Rainbows at Kaimuki.

Poe, a 5-9 senior guard, scored eight points in the first period as Kamehameha-Hawai'i jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the first 3 and 1/2 minutes and led 20-8 heading into the second. A 10-2 run stretched the lead to 30-12 late in the half and the Warriors entered the break up, 34-17.

University High later cut the lead to 44-34 on Chanelle Maldonado's mid-range jumper with 6:17 remaining in the game, but Poe's layup midway through the fourth sparked a 9-2 run that made the score 53-36, effectively sealing the victory.

Quynne Eharis led the Jr. 'Bows with 19 points and five rebounds, and Maldonado added 10 points. Poe was the high scorer with 22 points and sister Chelsea Poe added 10 points. Maldonado contributed 10 points for UHS.

KALANI 46, WAI'ANAE 41

Corie Kuia scored 18 points and the Falcons (13-5) overcame a 13-point deficit early in the second half to win a consolation bracket game against the O'ahu Interscholastic Association rival Seariders (7-10) at Kaimuki.

Kalani (13-5) will play Hanalani (10-7) in today's 3 p.m. consolation final at Kaimuki.  

The Falcons trailed from the opening series all the way until midway through the fourth period, when a 3-pointer by Kuia tied it at 37-37. Taylor Wong's jumper with 3:03 left gave Kalani the lead for good.

Lacy Manuel and Maccyn Samisoni each scored 10 points to lead Wai'anae, which ended its season.