Kailua, McKinley to play for OIA White girls crown
By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer
With the game on the line last night against Campbell, Kailua coach Ramona Takahashi called on her most experienced player. And Kristen Corrales came through.
Corrales hit a jumper from the left side of the free-throw line as time expired and Kailua beat Campbell, 30-28, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Girls Basketball White Conference semifinals at McKinley.
"We set it up for Kristen to take the dribble penetration," Takahashi said.
Corrales, a four-year varsity member, took the inbounds pass near half court with 7.8 seconds left, dribbled down the clock and calmly drove to the spot where she nailed the game-winner.
"Coach told us to run the play; run a 1-4 low," Corrales said. "She told me to watch the clock and take it to the hoop, and I did."
Kailua, the East runner-up, will play McKinley for the title tomorrow at 6 p.m. at McKinley.
The pace was slow for most of the game and the Sabers led just 16-13 with 2:45 left in the third period. The Sabers' largest lead was 20-13 with 2:18 left in the third.
Corrales scored 13 points and Ashley Jacobs added nine for Kailua, which switched from a 2-3 zone to man-to-man to open the fourth.
Jacobs scored seven points, including two 3-pointers, during a 13-4 run, which put Kailua (13-2) up 26-24 with 44 seconds left.
"I told myself I have to shoot this game," Jacobs said. "I haven't been shooting good these past few games. I tried my best and did it for the team."
Campbell (13-2), the West champion, was 9 of 45 from the field and 9 of 21 from the line.
"Tonight our shots just didn't drop and of course our free throws ..." said Campbell coach Nathan Macadangdang.
CAMPBELL (13-2) 3 13 6 6 — 28
KAILUA (13-2) 7 6 5 12 — 30
CAMPBELL — Ama Lui 0, Jazmin Brown 2, Ariel Medlin 2, Vai Confer 9, Aloha Dias-Kekahuna 4, Amber Kaulia 7, Kaitlynn Simmonds 2, Oli Kila 2. Totals 9 9-21 28.
KAILUA — Kristen Corrales 13, Tawnny Kiko 0, Sola Williams 3, Aui Williams 0, Tianna McKeague 0, Zsalei Kamaka 2, Ka'u Kohatsu 0, Ashley Jacobs 9, Tia Navarro 2, Kahealani Chang 1. Totals 11 5-10 30.
3-point goals: Campbell 1 (Kaulia). Kailua 3 (Corrales, Jacobs 2).
Reported by Tammy Sanekane
MCKINLEY 41, CASTLE 34: Pearly Togiai scored 13 points, Jackie Tihano added 12 and Kylie Sato had 11 as the host Tigers beat the Knights.
McKinley (14-1), the East champion, went on an 18-0 run over the final five minutes of the first half to take a 27-15 lead.
"We got some shooters and it's a matter of attempts," said McKinley coach Abel Werner. "They got their attempts and they're going to go in sooner of later."
Castle (8-7), the East's No. 3 team, scored the final 10 points of the third to get within 29-25. Kori Berinobis hit two 3-pointers during the Castle rally.
The Tigers scored the game's final four points from the free-throw line.
Campbell will play Castle for third place Friday at 4 p.m. at McKinley.
CASTLE (8-7) 12 3 10 9 — 34
MCKINLEY (14-1) 9 18 2 12 — 41
CASTLE — Brandee Sasaki 0, Kori Berinobis 19, Candy Ames 0, Niki Kobashigawa 5, Kelsea Berinobis , Skyla Feather , Leisha Li'ili'i 2, Leesha Domingo 2, Ashley Ballesteros, Nicole Aberilla 6, Kree Espinda . Totals 15 0-6 34.
MCKINLEY — Jackie Tihano 12, Crystal Tafai 0, Kylie Sato 11, Pearly Togiai 13, Tatiana Dinson 2, Chelsea Taele ,Hanna Yoo, Jorina Faletoi , Allyson Villanueva 3, Jaylynn Baoit. Totals 14 9-15 41.
3-point goals: Castle 4 (Ko. Berinobis 3, Kobashigawa). McKinley 4 (Tihano 3, Villanueva).
Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.