Going steadily to "twin towers" Violet Alama and Rhianna Farm and coming out with effective pressure defense in the third period, Kalani raced past visiting Roosevelt, 50-37, last night in a key O'ahu Interscholastic Association girls basketball showdown.

The Falcons, ranked No. 4 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 8-1 in the OIA's Red Conference Eastern Division. The two-time defending league champion Rough Riders, ranked No. 9, fell to 6-3.

"We prepared as a team, and at halftime our coach (George Weeks) talked about heart," said Alama, a 6-foot senior post, who finished with a game-high 18 points. "It doesn't matter who makes the basket, as long as we work together as a team."

Roosevelt, led by point guard Dianna Zane, used an 8-0 run to erase a 12-9 deficit and eventually led 21-18 at halftime. But Kalani opened the second half with a 14-0 run, as Farm scored seven straight points to begin the third period and Alama's three-point play put the Falcons up, 32-21, with 1:59 remaining.

Defensively, Kalani's full-court pressure forced the ball out of Zane's hands and caused the Rough Riders to rush shots outside of their normal offense.

"We made mistakes and put ourselves into bad situations," Roosevelt coach Bobby Keanini said. "The pressure forced us to take quicker shots, and against a bigger team we're not going to get a lot of rebounds."

The Falcons took a 37-23 lead into the fourth period, but the Rough Riders closed it to 39-33 after Tiyana Nakasone's free throw with 4:32 left.

Free throws by Iwalani Rodrigues and Chloe Martin pushed the lead back to 43-33 with two minutes remaining, and Roosevelt could not get closer than eight points the rest of the way.

"All we wanted was for them to play with more heart and play together as a team," Weeks said.

Farm, a 6-foot post, finished with 14 points. Zane led the Rough Riders with 15 points.

ROOSEVELT (6-3) 9 12 2 14 — 37

KALANI (8-1) 12 6 19 13 — 50

ROOSEVELT — Dianna Zane 15, Tiana Sugui 4, Jayna Tasaka 0, Tiyana Nakasone 6, Keely Bitanga 5, Tasia Kamakawiwo'ole 4, Cierra Kapea 2, Mikela Thoemmes 1. Totals 13 8-12 37.

KALANI — Chloe Martin 5, Iwalani Rodrigues 5, Ashlyn Onaga 8, Rhianna Farm 14, Kim Balsai 0, Jamie Higa 0, Violet Alama 18. Totals 18 13-15 50. 3-point goals: Roosevelt 3 (Zane, Nakasone, Bitanga). Kalani 1 (Martin).

JV — ROOSEVELT 49, KALANI 27

FARRINGTON 62, KAIMUKI 42

Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo scored 16 points, Lucina Otineru had 14 and Natalie Mata 11, leading the host Governors (6-2) over the Bulldogs (0-8) and Olivia Phommachanh, who hit four 3-pointers en route to 23 points.

KAIMUKI (0-8) 6 8 15 13 — 42

FARRINGTON (6-2) 15 20 12 15 — 62

KAIMUKI — Sasha Tokuda 4, Brooke Borce 0, Olivia Phommachanh 23, Dininhah Faasoa 5, Yunnis Rubrico 2, Brittney Anglin 6, Letisha Faasoa 0, Antonina Atiga 0, Leti Mikaele 0, Lani Mikaele 2. Totals 15 8-11 42.

FARRINGTON— Honour Stone 6, Amanda Cadiz 0, Natalie Mata 11, Nicole Argel 4, Precious Maave 0, Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo 16, Janell Nance 6, Valerie Lesu 5, Lucina Otineru 14. Totals 22 13-19 62. 3-point goals: Kaimuki 4 (Phommachanh 4). Farrington 5 (Mata 3, Tatupu-Leopoldo, Lesu).

JV — FARRINGTON 47, KAIMUKI 39

Reported by Donna Tatupu

MOANALUA 48, KALAHEO 29

Britni Ronolo scored 16 points and host Na Menehune (6-3) took a 30-13 halftime lead and were never threatened in the second half of their victory over the Mustangs (2-7), who were led by Nicole Cobb's 14 points.

KALAHEO (2-7) 8 5 10 6 — 29

MOANALUA (6-3) 14 16 12 6 — 48

KALAHEO — Nicole Cobb 14, Hii Olson 0, Kamele Perry 0, Caira Pires 8, Hoku Malama-Custer 0, Angela Wozniak 2, Kaua Cale 0, Kourtni Thomas 0, Latasia Franklin 2, Rachel Kahlbaum 3. Totals 14 0-4 29.

MOANALUA — Bri Dacoscos 0, A.J. Verdida 3, Dena Dela Cruz 7, Michelle Hardy 2, Amanda Selvey 0, Janelle Uncangco 1, Qwineysha Wheeler 9, Britni Ronolo 16, Indah Widyakusuma 6, Justine Aguas 2, Joanna Nicolas 2. Totals 20 6-12 48. 3-point goals: Kalaheo 1 (Kahlbaum). Moanalua 2 (Dela Cruz, Wheeler).

JV — KALAHEO 53, MOANALUA 44

Reported by Moanalua Athletics

OIA GIRLS RED WEST

RADFORD 53, KAPOLEI 25

The third-ranked and host Rams (9-0) raced to a 23-1 first-quarter lead and never looked back as TaNitra Byrd scored 14 points and Bui Baravilala added 12 in an OIA Red West victory over the Hurricanes (3-6).

KAPOLEI (3-6) 1 6 4 14 — 25

RADFORD (9-0) 23 9 8 13 — 53

KAPOLEI — Loleina Lapina 3, Ashley Dela Cruz 3, Leilani Tuami-Fifita 6, Tahnee Foki 7, Charlei Jackson 0, Jay Abbomdanza 0, Victoria Afoa 0, Danniel Tapat 2, Cherece Beyer 0, Rhilee Soriano 2, Jessica Cone 0, Carmen Lalau 2. Totals 10 2-6 25.

RADFORD — Melany Alofaituli 0, Itali Lindsey 2, Bui Baravilala 12, Antionette Carradine 3, Disa Brown 0, Marlena Malepeai 6, Brittini Fuller 5, Chelsea-Ann Villanueva 6, Gakira Leggett 0, Marsharen Dupont 4, Jasmine Mailo 1, TaNitra Byrd 14. Totals 21 11-20 53.

3-point goals: Kapolei 3 (Tuami-Fifita, Dela Cruz, Foki).

JV — KAPOLEI 38, RADFORD 25

Reported by Jessica Beck

'AIEA 51, PEARL CITY 35

Capri Holiona scored 12 points, Natasha Fong added 10 and host Na Ali'i (6-2) led 8-6 after one quarter, then pulled away in the final three quarters to defeat the Chargers (3-5).

PEARL CITY (3-5) 6 11 7 11 — 35

'AIEA (6-2) 8 19 11 13 — 51

PEARL CITY — Ariel Riveria 0, Glacen Florita 0, Kasie Kunishima 0, Ariel Komomua 3, Seanelle Esperanza 2, Markeshia Manning 2, Kalei Adams 10, Sanoe Aina 0, Jordan Ahakuelo 2, Patricia Langi 13, Kaiona Auyong 3. Totals 10 15-21 35.

'AIEA — Pi'ilani Boner-Lee 0, Salome Liilii 0, Natasha Helsham 8, Natasha Fong 10, Danielle Ashley Grace 2, Crystal Tagudin 0, Rayna Strom-Okimoto 0, Maria Holtzman 0, Shayla Kuehu 6, Emily Tausaga 5, Capri Holiona 12, Caroline Sio 5, Jennifer Yuen 3. Totals 18 15-22 51.

3-point goals: none.

JV — PEARL CITY 37, 'AIEA 33

Reported by Rayna Meyer

NANAKULI 44, LEILEHUA 34

Sasha Montez hit three 3-pointers and finished with 22 points, leading the host Golden Hawks (5-4) past the Mules (0-9), who got 13 points from Ashley Gonzales.

LEILEHUA (0-9) 6 7 5 16 — 34

NANAKULI (5-4) 12 7 14 11 — 44

LEILEHUA — Ashley Gonzales 13, Patricia Lindo 6, Ja'lon Mason 2, Chelsey Fontes 2, Lei Paikai 2, Claudia Veikune 0, Vanessa Bocobo 0, Mariyah Tamaalemalo 0, Tatiana Tautau 1, Michelle Fletcher 4, Ciara Paracuelles 4. Totals 10 12-29 34.

NANAKULI — Kamil Keawe 1, Sasha Montez 22, Haven McShane 5, Kristie Rosa 0, Potsia Toli 0, Britney Wolf 8, Grace Brack-Warner 2, Stephanie Kalili 0, Kelsi Noah 0, Violet Mao 2, Sheila Argayoso 4, Nainuiolealelei Kakiva 0. Totals 16 9-23 44.

3-point goals: Leilehua 2 (Lindo 2). Nanakuli 3 (Montez 3).

JV — LEILEHUA 52, NANAKULI 14

Reported by Kristie Sasamura

OIA GIRLS WHITE

CAMPBELL 45, WAIPAHU 21

Aloha Dias-Kekahuna scored a game-high 14 points and the host Sabers (9-0) led 14-4 after one quarter and 24-10 at halftime in rolling past the Marauders (1-8) in an OIA White Conference game.

WAIPAHU (1-8) 4 6 6 5 — 21

CAMPBELL (9-0) 14 10 11 10 — 45

WAIPAHU — Nomielyn Esteban 0, Jessica Lozano 3, Amber Javier 0, Lilyan Donley 9, Olafou Pelupelu 6, Brendalyn Brub 2, Mahea Spencer 0, June Fanene 1, Kelcey Viliamu 0, Ashley Garcia 0. Totals 8 5-13 21.

CAMPBELL — Ama Lui 4, Karen Tano 3, Saphyre Eltagonde 4, Jazmin Brown 0, Amber Sanchez 0, Layna Christian 2, Ariel Medlin 6, Vai Confer 2, Aloha Dias-Kekahuna 14, Amber Kaulia 4, Shawny Vera Cruz 0, Randi Wright 0, Kaitlynn Simmonds 6. Totals 20 5-18 45. 3-point goals: none.

JV — CAMPBELL 32, WAIPAHU 22

Reported by Nathan Macadangdang

MCKINLEY 67, KAISER 31

Kylie Sato scored 18 points, Jackie Tihano had 13 and the host Tigers (8-1) opened up a 44-26 lead after three quarters in beating the Cougars (3-6) in an OIA White Conference game. Krristyn Mathewson scored 12 points to lead the Cougars.

KAISER (3-6) 9 8 9 5 — 67

MCKINLEY (8-1) 11 14 19 23 — 31

KAISER — Leandra Poole 2, Kyla Wang 0, Kristyn Mathewson 12, Lisa Sniffen 1, Baily Miller 4, Alyssa Nahein 2, Annie Yang 0, Chelsy Okuma 6, Kelani Uti 4. Totals 10 10-25 31.

MCKINLEY — Jackie Tihano 13, Juri Franzen 2, Crystal Tafai 6, Kylie Sato 18, Pearly Togiai 7, Tatiana Dinson 2, Hanna Yoo 0, Jorina Faletoi 2, Chelsea Taele 9, Allyson Villanueva 8, Jaylynn Baoit 0. Totals 28 6-13 67.

3-point goals: Kaiser 1 (Mathewson). McKinley 5 (Tihano 2, Sato, Togiai, Villavueva).

JV — MCKINLEY 41, KAISER 25

Reported by Melvyne Mitsui

KAILUA 55, THOMPSON 21

Sola Williams scored 10 points and the host Surfriders (7-2) raced to a 23-2 first-quarter lead and never looked back in beating the Sharks (0-9), who were led by Justell Arthur's 14 points.

THOMPSON (0-9) 2 4 7 8 — 21

KAILUA (7-2) 23 16 6 10 — 55

THOMPSON — Justell Arthur 14, Thatyana Vasquez 2, Jessica Pruss 0, Taryn Pacewicz 3, Raquel Vasquez 2. Totals 8 5-8 21.

KAILUA — Kristen Corrales 7, Shantel Johnson 6, Tawnny Kiko 4, Sola Williams 10, Aui Williams 6, Zsalei Kamaka 8, Ashley Jacobs 8, Tia Navarro 2, Kahealani Chang 4. Totals 27 0-10 55.

3-point goals: Kailua 1 (Corrales).

Reported by Roz Ching

CASTLE 30, WAIALUA 28

Leisha Li'ili'i scored eight points and the host Knights (6-3) made 12 of 21 free throws to beat the Bulldogs (4-5), who made just 6 of 7 foul shots.

WAIALUA (4-5) 10 6 10 2 — 28

CASTLE (6-3) 7 10 7 6 — 30

WAIALUA — Kilerr Tuyay 6, Shiree Dela Cruz 0, Cassie Ho 4, Kim Meyerowitz 6, Crystalyn Moniz 0, Salvie Alfanta 2, Savannah Ash 0, Brittney Basilio 2, Angela Whittaker 8, Lauren Shiraishi . Totals 11 6-7 28.

CASTLE — Brandee Sasaki 2, Kori Berinobis 5, Candy Ames 2, Niki Kobashigawa 5, Kelsea Berinobis 4, Leisha Li'ili'i 8, Leesha Domingo 4, Nicole Aberilla 0, Kree Espinda 0. Totals 8 12-21 30.

3-point goals: Castle 2 (Kobashigawa, Kelsea Berinobis).

JV — Castle def. Waialua. Score not available.

Reported by Jeff McKeown

'ANUENUE AT WAI'ANAE

The game between Na Koa and the Seariders at Wai'anae was canceled because 'Anuenue couldn't get to Wai'anae because of traffic problems.

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.