In a symbolic and statement-making victory, Mid-Pacific rallied past defending state runner-up Punahou, 34-31, in overtime last night in Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls basketball action.

It was the Owls' ILH season opener; Punahou fell to 1-1.

MPI had come close to beating the Buffanblu the past couple seasons, only to fall short at the end. Last night's win at Hemmeter Fieldhouse is believed to be the Owls' first over Punahou in at least 10 seasons.

"We're ecstatic," said Mid-Pacific senior post Keaton McFadden, whose driving layup with 1:28 remaining put the Owls ahead, 32-31. "Hopefully this sets the tone for the rest of the season — it shows that we can finish games."

After McFadden's layup, MPI came up with two defensive stops, the second one leading to a fast break layup by Jenna Savusa as time expired.

"It was kind of scary at the end, but we played team defense and pulled through," said Savusa, a senior post who finished with a game-high 12 points and nine rebounds, including four points and three rebounds in overtime.

The Owls also showed finishing ability during regulation, overcoming a 26-19 deficit with 5:03 left in the fourth period to force overtime. Freshman guard Khaliya Thompson had put the Buffanblu up by seven with a baseline jumper, but Jordan Kealoha answered with a 3-pointer to make it 26-22 at the 3:37 mark.

Savusa then scored on a driving layup 38 seconds later to cut it to 26-24, and guard Ashley Yamachika tied it on a runner in the lane with 1:37 remaining.

"Up to that point (with the seven-point lead), we were trying to shorten the game a little, take care of the ball and take some air out of it," Punahou coach Mike Taylor said. "That's not to say we were passing up open shots, and the drives we had were great looks, but we just didn't finish."

Mid-Pacific had an open 3-point attempt glance off the rim as time expired, forcing overtime.

Kealoha opened the extra period with a layup, but Thompson answered with a jumper to tie it at 28-28. Savusa scored on a putback to make it 30-28 with 3:02 left, but Thompson again responded with a fast break layup. She then made one of two free throws to put the Buffanblu ahead, 31-30, with 1:45 remaining.

But 17 seconds later, McFadden caught a pass in the high post, spun to her right and drove down the left side of the lane, finishing the layup.

"Usually I look for Jenna on the (low post), I don't take it to the basket much," said McFadden, a 6-foot forward who has signed a letter of intent to play for Portland State University next season. "But this time I saw (the open lane), and I thought I'd take this."

Wes Masuda, the Owls' first-year coach, said the victory is significant in several ways.

"It's big in the sense they overcame a lot," Masuda said. "The way they came back shows a lot of character and mental toughness, which is what we need.

"It's huge."

MID-PACIFIC (1-0) 4 10 4 8 8—34

PUNAHOU (1-1) 5 8 8 5 5—31

MID-PACIFIC — Kirstie Sugimoto 2, Paige Young 0, Ashley Yamachika 2, Mahina Docktor 2, Kiana Robertson 0, Kelli Shibata 0, Shanon Nishimura 2, Jordan Kealoha 5, Taylor Babbitt 2, Keaton McFadden 7, Jenna Savusa 12. Totals 15 3-10 34.

PUNAHOU — Kaylin Okuma 2, Khaliyah Thompson 9, Turner Wong 0, Brittnie Lau 0, Demi Suzuki 0, Mysha Sataraka 6, Julia Brand 1, Ashley-Anne Feria 0, Jennifer Ching 3, Kysa Ludviksen 4, HaileyAnn Maeda 6. Totals 12 7-15 31.

3-point goals — Mid-Pacific 1 (Kealoha). Punahou none.

Reported by Scott Metcalf

ILH GIRLS DIVISION II

SACRED HEARTS 52, LANAKILA BAPTIST 25

Vanessa Freitas and Sara Souza each scored 10 points, and the host Lancers raced to a 21-2 first-quarter lead in rolling past the Warriors to remain unbeaten in Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II girls play.

LANAKILA BAPTIST (1-4) 2 12 5 6—25

SACRED HEARTS (5-0) 21 7 15 9—52

LANAKILA BAPTIST — Erika Ellis 11, Jessica Sonson 3, Cheri-Anne Goodknecht 0, Crystal Sonson 9, Lyndsey Helgeson , Elisha Butler 0, Maikalani Eli 2. Totals 9 6-18 25.

SACRED HEARTS — Kara Vause 0, Rayna Munos 5, Lynsey Overstreet 4, Vanessa Freitas 10, Anjela Kim 7, Sara Souza 10, Darcy Ebato 0, Hunter Wilson-Pena 1, Basha-Lei Almadova 1, Tess O'Connor 4, Naihe Paikai 8, Paris Johnson 2. Totals 20 11-16 52.

3-point goals — Lanakila Baptist 1 (Ellis). Sacred Hearts 1 (Munos).

Reported by Gail Juan

PUNAHOU 44, LA PIETRA 29

Jasmine Kauka scored 11 points and the visiting Buffanblu opened up a 32-14 halftime lead in cruising past the Lady Panthers.

PUNAHOU (3-1) 19 13 10 2—44

LA PIETRA (2-3) 8 6 6 9—22

PUNAHOU — Kourtney Wong 0, Brittany Pacarro 2, Ashley Choy 3, Kayla Murata 0, Elisabeth Ushigome 0, Sarah Ann Ota 2, Kira Bayley 6, Jasmine Kauka 11, Rashelle Nagata 2, Natalie Portwood 4, Daena Mau 6, Stacey Lin 2, Michelle Tam 0, Nicole Shelton 4, Hilary Nakaya 2. Totals 20 2-4 44.

LA PIETRA — Kiana Hoohuli 0, Mariana Sewell 5, Sarah Ares 0, Marissa Freeman 0, Salote Lopes-Tuitolo 8, Monique Smith 5, Mackenzie Hoover 11. Totals 9 11-14 29.

3-point goals — Punahou 2 (Choy, Kauka). La Piera none.

Reported by Uilani Pangelinan

HAWAIIAN MISSION 39, UNIVERSITY HIGH 38

Stephanie Valencia scored 18 points, including the game-winning two-point basket at the buzzer, to lift the host Knights over the Junior Rainbows. Samantha Ramos' basket with 45 seconds left closed the Knights to 38-37.

UNIVERSITY HIGH (2-2) 14 10 3 11—38

HAWAIIAN MISSION (2-2) 10 11 9 9—39

UNIVERSITY HIGH — Kimiko Matsuda-Lawrence 6, Shannon Lee 3, Anuhea Memea 10, Quirena Natividad 7, Kiana Lacaden 4, Crystal Wang 0, Kaylenn Fitzgerald 6, Lei Wanstead 2. Totals 15 8-12 38.

HAWAIIAN MISSION — Alana Muller 1, Melissa Mishima 4, Samantha Ramos 6, Caroline Kim 3, Erika Tsubokura 3, Hope Leao 4, Stephanie Valencia 18. Totals 17 3-7 39.

3-point goals — University High none. Hawaiian Mission 2 (Kim, Tsubokura).

Reported by Caroline Kim

'IOLANI 51, ST. FRANCIS 48

Aimee Taniguchi scored 22 points and Ashlyn Yokoyama added 15, helping the Raiders beat the Saints in overtime at La Pietra's gym. The score was tied at 46 at the end of regulation.

'IOLANI (3-2) 6 18 8 14 5—51

ST. FRANCIS (1-3) 6 14 10 16 2—48

'IOLANI — Ashlyn Yokoyama 15, Teru Okamoto 0, Khaydan Gabriel 4, Dana Gibson 0, Jelene Wong 2, Malia Ma 8, Mele Halaifonua 0, Alisha Kodama 0, Stasha Eliu 0, Aimee Taniguchi 22, Katie Sakumoto 0. Totals 15 15-28 51.

ST. FRANCIS — Aja Gamble 6, Kiana Jones 4, Ashley Kupau 10, Kamaka Silva 4, Jasmine Soon 2, Breanne Suyeyoshi 13, Pitisi Tualau 8, Nicole Yuen 1. Totals 20 8-19 48.3-point goals — 'Iolani 6 (Yokoyama 4, Taniguchi 2). St. Francis none.

Reported by Uilani Pangelinan

HAWAI'I BAPTIST 65, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 32

Rebecca Dang scored 14 points and the host Eagles took a 31-14 halftime lead and never looked back in beating the Patriots.

CHRISTIAN ACAD. (0-5) 4 10 5 13—32

HAWAI'I BAPTIST (3-1) 11 20 17 17—65

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY — Leslie Cruz 7, Stephanie Ramos 0, Megan Salazar-Winters 13, Tori Adres 6, Charanne Bonilla 0, Sarah Godinet 1, Rebecca Abergas 0, Briana Zvorack , Cheyenne Kessell 3, Briana Rodrigues 2. Totals 8 14-39 32.

HAWAI'I BAPTIST — Stefany Baker 2, Jennifer Young 9, Rebecca Dang 14, Natasha Travens 0, Amber Au 3, Jamie Iha 4, Kimberly Au 1, Jennifer Uehara 7, Reana Lee 8, Jordin Ramos 2, Jami-Lynn Grumling 4, Kayla Yamamoto 6, Lyndsay Strach 4, Remi Yasui 1. Totals 25 11-25 65.

3-point goals — Christian Academy 2 (Salazar-Winters 2). Hawai'i Baptist 4 (Young 2, Dang 1, Iha 1).

Reported by Deren Oshiro

ILH BOYS DIVISION II

MARYKNOLL 58, HAWAIIAN MISSION 56

Travis Patoc scored 18 points, including two free throws with 29 seconds left, as the visiting Spartans rallied from a 38-28 halftime defict to beat the Knights in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II boys game.

MARYKNOLL (1-2) 12 16 16 14—58

HAWAIIAN MISSION (0-1) 19 19 7 11—56

MARYKNOLL — Travis Patoc 18, Wade Gushikuni 3, Devan Uyeda 6, Bradford Lum 2, Kevin McLain 7, Joshua Bosworth-Cainha 0, Mitchell Mizuchi 4, Conor Palmer 0, Paul Vincent Paz 8, Cameron Whalen 0, Justin Koo 10, Conrad Chong 0, Justin Lee 0. Totals 22 13-19 58.

HAWAIIAN MISSION — Guyson Joseph 4, Kalai Lee 3, Bobby Santiwan 4, Ryan Santos 17, Ryan Asatani 15, Jomell Navales 13. Totals 18 14-26 56.

3-point goals — Maryknoll 1 (Patoc). Hawaiian Mission 6 (Santos 5, Asatani).

Reported by Erika Tsubokura

KAMEHAMEHA 52, ST. ANDREW'S 31

The host Warriors raced to a 20-5 first-quarter lead and were never threatened in beating the Pride. Individual scoring was unavailable.

ST. ANDREW'S (1-4) 5 4 11 11—31

KAMEHAMEHA (5-0) 20 15 11 6—52

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com