Trouble with free-throw shooting led to troubleshooting at practices recently for the Kalaheo girls basketball team. It worked.

The Mustangs defeated Radford, 37-23, in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Division semifinal game last night at Mililani High School in front of approximately 250 fans.

"We work a lot on free throws and we've been really inconsistent," Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado said. "We try to shoot 70 percent, but we've been in the 60s and sometimes the 50s."

Last night Kalaheo made 21 of 31 free throws (67 percent), which accounted for more than half of its points. Radford made 7 of 15.

"It was really important (for us to make our free throws)," said Kalaheo junior Shanadee Canon, who scored a game-high 10 points, including 8 of 9 free throws. "If you can't finish you have to pay on the line, that's what coach tells us.

"Our free throws weren't that good (previously). That's all we worked on the past two or three practices. That's how you win games."

After a 5-5 tie to end the first quarter — when the Mustangs scored all their points on free throws — Kalaheo outscored Radford 11-4 in the second.

"We had to attack the basket a lot," Canon said. "Radford was playing good defense. We had to backcut and take it to the basket."

The Mustangs gained a double-digit lead at the start of the second half when Delicia Wilson completed a three-point play to put them up 19-9. Another basket by Wilson made it 21-9.

The Rams scored eight straight points, four by Marlena Malepeai, to close to 21-17, then got within 24-21 on a basket by Brittini Fuller with 39 seconds left in the third quarter.

But Kalaheo outscored Radford 13-2 in the final quarter, sealing the win by making 9 of 11 free throws in the period.

KALAHEO 5 11 8 13 — 37

RADFORD 5 4 12 2 — 23

Kalaheo—Hoku Kaiu-Denning 0, Delicia Wilson 9, Lohi Aweau 1, Anu Ah Yun 2, Shanadee Canon 10, Brianne Villarosa 1, Caira Pires 0, Katie Lintz 0, Kendra Fischer 6, Kaliko Kepa 8. Totals 8 21-31 37.

Radford—Leslie Lazo 0, Nicole Grebe 0, Celina Cruz 0, Ashley Rioux 0, Marlena Malepeai 6, Frances Respicio 0, Brittini Fuller 9, Kiara Dykes 0, Kamia Smith 2, Chelsea-Ann Villanueva 6, Gabby Rellin 0, Marsharen Dupont 0, Chadney Thompson 0. Totals 8 7-15 23.

3-pointers—Kalaheo none. Radford none.

ROOSEVELT 49, KAHUKU 42

Two-time defending OIA Red Conference champion Kahuku can't seem to beat Roosevelt these days.

Iwalani Rodrigues scored a team-high 13 points as the Rough Riders fended off the Red Raiders in a semifinal last night at Mililani.

"There is no secret," said Roosevelt coach Bobby Keanini on beating Kahuku all three times this season. "We had a lead, but typical of Kahuku, they hit some shots and made it exciting."

Roosevelt will play Kalaheo for the title at McKinley tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

"I have to admit, I was really nervous," Rodrigues said. "But I'm proud of my team. Everyone played hard."

Roosevelt led by as many as 16 points in the second quarter, but Kahuku rallied to tie the game at 39 on Artevia Wily's layup in the fourth quarter.

Shannon Miyashiro's layup on an inbounds play put Roosevelt ahead, 41-39, for good.

Kahuku got to within 41-40 on Camilla Ah Hoy's free throw, and closed to two points twice — the last coming at 43-41 on Wily's free-throw with 2:42 remaining.

Roosevelt hit 4 of 8 foul shots in the final minutes, and also got a basket from Miyashiro to hold off Kahuku.

Wily led all scorers with 20 points.

"Like always, Roosevelt played a great game," Kahuku coach Val Anae said. "They really controlled the boards. They were patient on offense, and played great defense. Even when we came back at them, they showed great discipline."

KAHUKU (10-5) 7 11 13 11—42

ROOSEVELT (13-1) 13 16 8 12—49

KAHUKU—Camilla Ah-Hoy 10, Lenora Nauahi 2, Ane Vea 0, Lily Latu 0, Brittney Fesolai 0, Krystal Manguba-Glover 0, Artevia Wily 20, Tayvee Wily 0, Nicole Nautu 0, Kaimi Ah Puck 9, Keisha Moeai 0, Salote Livai 0, Breeah Hatch 0, Kenra Moe 0, Christine Meredith 1. Totals 15 8-14 42.

ROOSEVELT—Iwalani Rodrigues 13, Tati Beasley 7, Dianna Zane 5, Tiana Sugui 10, Noelle Kawelo 0, Melanie Nitakani 0, Shandree Amstead 2, Shannon Miyashiro 12, Kayleen Kaaiai 0, Mahie Rattley 0, Kanani Young 0. Totals 14 19-30 49. 3-point goals—Kahuku 4 (Ah Hoy, Artevia Wily, Ah Puck 2). Roosevelt 2 (Zane, Sugui).

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com and Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.