Sacred Hearts pounces on Kailua, 52-37
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
Sacred Hearts made its first appearance in the state tournament a successful one.
Nalani Bayne and Ashley Ordenstein scored 11 points apiece and the Lancers cruised past Kailua, 52-37, last night in the quarterfinals of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Division II Basketball State Championships at McKinley.
"It's a little nervewracking at first," Ordenstein said of the Lancers' historic appearance. "But once you get into the game, you get more comfortable."
Sacred Hearts, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, will face Campbell (14-2) at 8 tonight at McKinley. The teams split two games this season.
Sacred Hearts pounced on Kailua with an 11-0 run to take a 13-6 lead in the first quarter. Ordenstein hit two 3-pointers and Samantha Valle added one during the surge in Sacred Hearts' first game since May 1.
"Defense, you're always going to have," Sacred Hearts coach Alan Matsui said. "We came out rusty, we weren't blocking out. I brought the second unit in, they hit a few shots, and everyone calmed down."
Ordenstein's layup capped an 8-0 run to start the second quarter, and Sacred Hearts (14-0) enjoyed a 27-17 lead at intermission.
"We wanted to get it done in the beginning, rather than fight for it in the end," Ordenstein said.
The Lancers increased their lead to as many as 19 points late in the final quarter.
Sacred Hearts forced 28 turnovers with its 1-2-2 press and trapping defense against youthful Kailua (11-6).
"We didn't handle the ball in the first half," Kailua coach Ramona Takahashi said. "Our girls got caught up in the tempo. But we're a young team. We only have two seniors."
Ashley Jacobs led Kailua with nine points.
Kailua outrebounded Sacred Hearts, 30-18, but was just 8 of 30 from the field. The Lancers made 18 of 43 shots.
Ordenstein said the Lancers scrimmaged against current and former Kalaheo players, and former University of Hawai'i player and alum Brittney Aiwohi to prepare for last night's game.
CAMPBELL 45, HAWAI'I PREP 35
Oli Kila scored a team-high 12 points and Campbell hit two crucial 3-pointers in the second half to pull away from Hawai'i Prep last night in a quarterfinal game at McKinley.
The Sabers hit three 3-pointers last night after making none in their first-round victory over La Pietra Tuesday.
"We don't discourage our girls to shoot the 3, but we're not a 3-point shooting team," Campbell coach Nathan Macadandang said. "If it's there, we'll take it. But they stepped up. We needed that."
Campbell led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but Hawai'i Prep (9-6) cut the deficit to 24-21 on Kela Fitzgerald's putback late in the third quarter.
But that's when Campbell's outside shooters got hot.
Valerie Quintana responded with a 3-pointer from the right wing with 1:08 to go in the third quarter, and Cheyna Tagura added a 3 from the right wing to start the fourth as the Sabers extended their lead to 30-21.
"I felt like I had to step up a little since I got injured," said Tagura, who returned to the game in the third quarter after injuring her ankle in the second quarter. "It was good."
Ka Makani sliced the lead to six twice — the last at 32-26 on Cecily Kimura's basket with 4:04 left — but that's as close as they would get.
"Campbell is big and strong," Hawai'i Prep coach Craig Kimura said. "The key thing that hurt us was offensive rebounds, and we didn't shoot too well on the inside."
Hawai'i Prep shot 10 of 49 from the field, but was 4 of 26 in the first half. Campbell was 14 of 38.
"It was a struggle today," Macadangdang said. "We had foul problems and some injuries, But the girls made some plays. I'm proud of them."
Fitzgerald led Ka Makani with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Tayler Wang added 12 points. Campbell's Vai Confer had 12 rebounds despite playing only 19 minutes because of foul trouble.
Hawai'i Prep, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, will play Kailua at 6 tonight at McKinley in a consolation game.
Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.