It's not very often a two-time defending state champion needs a win to get back into contention.

But that's the situation the Punahou girls basketball team was in last night against Kamehameha, and the Buffanblu came through with a close victory.

Chelsea Deptula scored 17 points and Janelle Nomura hit two free throws with 7.8 seconds remaining as host Punahou beat Kamehameha, 47-43, last night.

Punahou improved to 5-3 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. Kamehameha fell to 6-2. 'Iolani is in first at 7-1.

"The season is a journey," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "All we want to do is be better today than we were yesterday. That's our motto."

The Buffanblu's largest lead was 33-19 after a field goal by Nomura with five minutes left in the third quarter.

Punahou led 44-34 early in the fourth, but Tiana Abbley hit three 3-pointers from the right wing over a 3:40 span to get Kamehameha within 45-43 with just under two minutes remaining. She banked in the final one.

Punahou had possession with about 30 seconds remaining and played keep away until Nomura was fouled.

Deptula scored nine points in the third period as she and Kamehameha's Analee Viena Lota, who also had nine in the period, carried their teams.

"Different people step it up at different times and tonight was my night," Deptula said. "I stepped it up as a shooter."

In the first half, the Warriors were 5 of 18 from the field and committed 14 turnovers.

"From the beginning we wanted to be patient. We weren't patient," Kamehameha coach Clay Cockett said.

Punahou was 18 of 48 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line. The Buffanblu committed nine turnovers, while the Warriors finished with 20.

"We made some good shots, we took care of the ball in key situations," Taylor said. "We persevered even though we missed some chippies. We got it back on our press and on defense."

KAMEHAMEHA (6-2) 10 7 17 9 — 43

PUNAHOU (5-3) 13 13 16 5 — 47

KAMEHAMEHA — Alexis Furtado 5, Analee Viena Lota 10, Pomaikai Kalakau 0, Shaleese Javillo 3, Lindsey Wong 4, Tiana Abbley 10, Rhani Kaneaiakala 5, Alexandres-Joan Akana 0, Kylle Roy 6, Casey Lum 0. Totals 15 9-15 43.

PUNAHOU — Ciana Aiwohi 0, Melanie Feldman 7, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane 0, Dara Tompkison 7, Erin Moon 0, Janelle Nomura 11, Anna Merrifield 2, Chelsea Deptula 17, Devon Yamauchi 3, Taj'a Wong 0, Tressa Torres 0, Tiera Jenson 0. Totals 18 9-11 47. 3-point goals: Kamehameha 4 (Abbley 3, Furtado). Punahou 2 (Tompkison, Nomura).

'IOLANI 57, MID-PACIFIC 31

Jamie Smith led all scorers with 18 points and Chanel Hirata added 11 to lead the host Raiders (7-1) past the Owls (2-6).

MID-PACIFIC (2-6) 6 7 8 10 — 31

'IOLANI (7-1) 9 13 21 14 — 57

MID-PACIFIC — Paige Young 2, Kayla Gomes 1, Johnnelle Kapua 11, Erin Nishimura 0, Jordan Kealoha 6, Keaton McFadden 8, Jenna Savusa 3. Totals 10 6-10 31.

'IOLANI — Chelsea Unemori 0, Tami Konishi 3, Kylie Ahlo 0, Alana Matayoshi 9, Chanel Hirata 11, Dayna Jandoc 7, Jamie Smith 18, Raechele Takara 3, Sarah Turgeon 6, Lori Yamashita 0, Lauren Brown 0. Totals 22 7-8 57. 3-point goals: Mid-Pacific 5 (Kapua 3, Kealoha 2). 'Iolani 6 (Turgeon 2, Konishi, Hirata, Jandoc, Takara).

Reported by Stu Masutani

ILH DIVISION II

SACRED HEARTS 39, PUNAHOU 37

Nalani Bayne hit a layup off an assist from Kuhina Luis with three seconds remaining as visiting Sacred Hearts beat Punahou, 39-37, last night to remain unbeaten in ILH Division II.

Bayne scored 14 of her 20 points in the second half, including her team's final 10 points as the Lancers improved to 10-0. Punahou fell to 9-1.

SACRED HEARTS (10-0) 4 17 10 8 — 39

PUNAHOU (9-1) 9 13 8 7 — 37

SACRED HEARTS — Kapo Lupenui 0, Cara Smith 0, Nalani Bayne 20, Ashley Ordenstein 4, Maya Clark 3, Raecha-Ann Kauahikaua 5, Samantha Valle 0, Montana Neyra 0, Kuhina Luis 7. Totals 15 8-10 39.

PUNAHOU — Aubrie Lau 5, Kelsie Gomes 3, Ashley Galacgac 2, Alyson Ayers 0, Megan Ching 2, Sam Howell 2, Jessica Letoto 2, Katie Bourke 0, Fransina Savusa 7, Brooke Ehrman 4, Charney Heimuli 10. Totals 13 10-12 37. 3-point goals: Sacred Hearts 1 (Clark). Punahou 1 (Lau).

Reported by Scott Metcalf

'IOLANI 45, LE JARDIN 16

The host Raiders (7-3) raced to a 30-3 halftime lead and the Bulldogs (1-9) never threatened.

LE JARDIN (1-9) 1 2 8 5 — 16

'IOLANI (7-3) 13 17 8 7 — 45

LE JARDIN — Jade Moore 0, Nicole Piccotto 0, Lizzy Draime 0, Ryanne Kurahara 4, Jessica Shaiarella 0, Raleigh Frober 8, Katlin Kahahawai 4, Jennifer Lewandowski 0. Totals 6 4-8 16.

'IOLANI — Elisa Asato 4, Emily Kim 3, Kimberly Hashiba 2, Patricia Carlile 5, Samantha Teramae 6, Jessica Sasaki 8, Kari Kuboyama 4, Kaz Masutani 1, Krista Speroni 4, Allison Nojima 8. Totals 20 3-4 45.

3-point goals: 'Iolani 2 (Kim, Carlile).

Reported by Stu Masutani

HANALANI 55, WORD OF LIFE 34

Janelle Fetui scored 25 points and the Royals (2-7) raced to a 26-14 halftime lead to beat the Firebrands (1-8) at McCabe Gym.

HANALANI (2-7) 11 15 14 15 — 55

WORD OF LIFE (1-8) 3 11 8 12 — 34

HANALANI — Samantha Hyde 5, Nicole Craig 3, Mariah Schoniwitz 0, Amanda Kutaka 2, Taylor Metts 0, Katie Scully 2, Jessica Zahar 0, Sachi Seaburn 8, Janelle Fetui 25, Riane Shintaku 6, Rachel Matalau 4. Totals 18 18-30 55.

WORD OF LIFE — Jasmine Saquilon 4, Marietta Ranche 2, Jaymie Kaopuiki 0, Rayane Alvarado 1, Tali Goeas 0, Victoria El-Swalfy 0, Janna Kaopuiki 0, Sanoe Aina 11, Monique Jackson 0, Brittany Iwamoto 16. Totals 13 8-29 34. 3-point goals: Hanalani 1 (Fetui).

Reported by Gail Juan

UNIVERSITY HIGH 2, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0

The Patriots (3-6) forfeited the game against the Junior Rainbows (2-6) because they did not have enough players.

OIA WHITE EAST

MCKINLEY 44, 'ANUENUE 7

Chelsie Sato scored 10 points and the host Tigers (10-1) routed Na Koa (0-10) in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association White East game.

'ANUENUE (0-10) 0 1 2 4 — 7

MCKINLEY (10-1) 14 12 14 4 — 44

'ANUENUE — Ka'imi Asing 1, Kamaile Grilho 0, Kapela Kahili 0, Kenui Wahilani 2, Leikula Gottleid 2, Nalani Kamano 0, Pua'alekai Kimball-Aikau 2, Ho'onani Wahilani 0, Pikake Conradt-Nunuha 0, Punawai Crawford-Kapanui 0. Totals 3 1-7 7.

MCKINLEY — Jackie Tihano 6, Kaitlyn Ikehara 0, Chelsie Sato 10, Jaelynn Lopez 5, Pearly Togiai 7, Joelle Sagapolu 2, Marybel Hebron 6, Kylie Sato 2, Sasha Hong 1, Jorina Faletoi 0, Christal Tafai 2, Allyson Villanueva 3. Totals 17 6-15 44. 3-point goals: McKinley 4 (Tihano 2, C. Sato 2).

Reported by Melvyne Mitsui

CASTLE 42, KAISER 39

Kori Berinobis scored 11 points to lead the visiting Knights (6-5) past the Cougars (2-8).

CASTLE (6-5) 9 8 11 14 — 42

KAISER (2-8) 5 10 14 10 — 39

CASTLE — Kori Berinobis 11, Candy Ames 8, Niki Kobashigawa 3, Kelsea Berinobis 4, Sarah Phromisiri 3, Brandee Sasaki 0, Chevy Au-Stein 4, Leesha Domingo 1, Ette Ameperosa 4, Tati Dinson 4, Nicole Aberilla 0. Totals 13 14-23 42.

KAISER — Sarah Aila 0, Jessica Dusich 13, Tiare Kepa 0, Kristyn Mathewson 4, Chelsea Okuma 15, Leandra Poole 5, Jewels Ross 0, Lisa Sniffen 2, Kyla Wang 0, Kristi Yakuma 0. Totals 15 8-12 39. 3-point goals: Castle 2 (Ames 2). Kaiser 1 (Okuma).

JV — CASTLE 49, KAISER 27

Reported by Aja Yamamoto

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.