As if facing the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals wasn't motivation enough, the Kapa'a players were playing with an extra incentive last night.

Kapa'a coach Terry Maguire told her players that if they knocked off Kahuku, they would be allowed to dye their hair green.

The Warriors can break out the coloring after topping Kahuku, 60-56, in the HHSAA/Hawaiian Airlines Girls DIvision II State Basketball Championship quarterfinals last night at Kalani High School.

"Shhhh....we're actually dyeing it all colors tomorrow," said senior guard Mai'lika Napoleon, who scored 20 points.

Kapa'a erased a 26-21 Kahuku halftime lead by outscoring the Red Raiders, 24-10, in the third quarter to put away the Red Raiders.

"Kahuku, they were the No. 1 team, and they have strong girls," Napoleon said. "Our girls come from a small island but we have lots of heart."

That heart and determination have been hallmarks for Kapa'a.

"The hustle, our defense, all year," Maguire said.

The Warriors tied it at 27 on a lay up by Napoleon and took the lead for good at 29-27 on a jumper by Mahea Hanie-Grice with 5:12 to go in the third quarter.

The Warriors extended their lead on back-to-back 3-pointers by Napoleon to close out the third period with a 45-36 lead.

Kahuku managed to come within two twice, pulling to 53-51 at the 1:59 mark. But Kapa'a grew its lead to 60-51 on a pair of free throws by Jondi Das with 35 seconds to go.

It wasn't pretty at times. Kapa'a had 44 turnovers and Kahuku committing 32.

"That's our bread and butter; our defense," Kahuku coach David Te'o said. "But when we started missing easy shots, the coaches looked at each other and said, 'We're in for a long night.' "

KAPA'A (10-0) 13 8 24 15 — 60

KAHUKU (14-2) 16 10 10 20 — 56

KAPA'A — Leinaala McCabe 4, Jondi Das 17, Leihua McCabe 5, Mailika Napoleon 20, Kira Nakamura 0, Victoria Tuttle 0, Lahela Creamer 0, Jessilyn Artaho-Aki 7, Shalyn Tupou 2, Layna Christian 3, Mahea Hanie-Grace 2. Totals 23 9-21 60.

KAHUKU — Nile Te'o 5, Vaimalama Tito 11, Temutisa Te'o 0, Lavinia Latu 15, Mata Tonga 0, Jessica Falemalu 0, Jovan Falemalu 3, Malia Tonga 5, Rachel Tailele 7, Alysha Cummings 10, Vaunelle Hingano 0. Totals 21 10-26 56.

3-point goals: Kapa'a 5 (Artaho-Aki, Napolean 4). Kahuku 4 (N. Te'o, Tito, Latu, Mal. Tonga).

MOLOKA'I 35, UNIVERSITY 30

In its first close game of the season, Moloka'i responded at the end, advancing to the semifinals of the state tournament.

The fourth-seeded and undefeated Farmers defeated University High in the quarterfinal round at Kalani High School.

The Farmers nursed a one-point lead going into the fourth quarter, something they hadn't faced all season.

"In our league we didn't really have any close games," Moloka'i (13-0) coach Douglas Furlong said. "I think the closest was nine points. It obviously had us a little worried, given that we're not accustomed to it."

Moloka'i junior guard Danna-Lynn Hooper-Juario scored 20 points, including 11 of the Farmers' 13 points in the second half. Four of those points came late in the game on free throws, including two with 4.8 seconds left that sealed the win for Moloka'i.

"She was just drilling her shots," University High coach Bryan Nakamura said. "She's probably one of the better guards we've played against. You don't see too many players hitting jump shots."

After a 9-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Farmers climbed to leads of 18-14 and 20-15 before the Junior Rainbows scored five straight to tie it at 20 on a basket by University High junior forward Ruthie Tusi with 40 seconds left. Hooper-Juario gave the Farmers a 22-20 halftime lead with 11 seconds remaining.

Each team had runs in the third quarter — the Farmers to go up 27-20 on five points by Hooper-Juario — and then the Junior Rainbows tied it at 27 with five of the points from junior guard Angie Yoshizu. Another score by Hooper-Juario and free throw by University High's Ruthie Tusi made it 29-28 in favor of the Farmers at the end of the third quarter.

In the low-scoring fourth quarter, punctuated by turnovers by both teams, Moloka'i held University High to two points — on a pair of free throws by Quynne Eharis at the 7:25 mark to give the Junior Rainbows their final lead at 30-29.

"Our big thing is defense," Furlong said. "Any time we can hold a team to 30 points we stand a good chance."

A putback by Abbigale Adolpho and four three throws by Hooper-Juario preserved the win for the Farmers.

"The game was back and forth," Hooper-Juario said. "Coach Mike (Hooper) told the team to settle down and control the ball.

"It was all scramble. When I hit the free throws I thought it was sealed because there was only four seconds left."

UNIVERSITY HIGH (12-2) 8 12 8 2 — 30

MOLOKA'I (13-0) 9 13 7 6 — 35

UNIVERSITY HIGH — Melanie Cortez 4, Angie Yoshizu 7, Quynne Eharis 2, Piilani Mahoe 6, Ruth Tusi 11. Totals 11 6-8 30.

MOLOKA'I — Danna-Lynn Hooper-Juario 20, Kalei Adolpho 9, Puna Kawamae 4, Kyle Joe Mawae 2. Totals 14 6-10 35.

3-point goals: UHS (Yoshizu, Mahoe). MOLO (Hooper-Juario).

KS-HAWAI'I 58, KAISER 51

Senior guard Joelle Cabasa scored 16 points and sophomore center Katelynne Paleka Kennedy contributed 11 points with 10 rebounds for the Warriors (11-1), the second-seed and Big Island Interscholastic champion.

Kaiser senior guard Keely Bitanga scored a game-high 17 points, and senior guards Bailey Miller and Chelsy Okuma added 14 and 10 points, respectively.

The Warriors will play Kaimuki tonight at 7 at Radford. The Cougars will face Maryknoll tonight at 5, also at Radford.

KAISER (12-7) 8 11 17 15 — 51

KS-HAWAI'I (11-1) 8 13 18 19 — 58

KAISER — Krysta Yasui 2, Alaiza Del Andre 0, Haley Durham 1, Lijah Bowerman 4, Chelsy Okuma 10, Keely Bitanga 17, Kaitlyn Nakano 0, Bailey Miller 14, Daryn Vorderbruegge 1, Shelby Pa 2. Totals 16 16-28 51.

KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I — Chelsea Poe 8, Joelle Cabasa 16, Kayla Lacaran-Costales 8, Shanley Apele 2, Kimberly Palea 8, Lilinoe Heaukulani 0, Bobbi Montibon 3, Megan Waiki 2, Katelynne Paleka-Kennedy 11. Totals 24 9-23 58.

3-point goals: Kaiser 3 (Bitanga 2, Okuma). Kamehameha-Hawai'i 1 (Cabasa).

KAIMUKI 52, MARYKNOLL 33

Olivia Phommachanh scored 15 points and Leti Mikaele added 12 as the Bulldogs beat the Spartans at Radford.

Kaimuki will play Kamehameha-Hawai'i tonight at 7 at Radford. Maryknoll will face Kaiser tonight at 5 p.m., also at Radford, in a consolation contest.

KAIMUKI (15-4) 9 9 16 18 — 52

MARYKNOLL (12-1) 5 7 2 19 — 33

KAIMUKI — Olivia Phommachanh 15, Pua Akaka 0, Brooke Borce 0, Tanya Villanueva 0, Dinishah Fa'asoa 9, Justell Arthur 0, Nikki Chipen-Ii 0, Brittney Anglin 0, Letisha Fa'asoa 0, Dejah Fa'asoa 2, Leti Mikaele 12, Ashley Fortson 6, Lani Mikaele 8, Keana Paez 0. Totals 21 10-19 52.

MARYKNOLL — Kristen Canencia 3, Shuilina Wu 0, Nicole Lee 0, Kayla Godinet 0, Ashley Agcaoili 12, Corine Gushikuma 1, Melissa Ching 8, Soana Fifita 6, Tiana Kawai-hoa-Marquez 3. Totals 12 6-10 33.

3-point goals: Kaimuki none. Maryknoll 3 (Canencia, Ching, Kawaihoa-Marquez).

CONSOLATION

HAWAI'I BAPTIST 53, SEABURY HALL 44

Keline Yoshimura scored 27 points and Narissa Fujii added 11 as the Eagles topped the Spartans in a consolation game at Radford High School.

Hawai'i Baptist (11-6) will face Hawai'i Prep today at 3 p.m. at Kalani High School. Seabury Hall ends its season at 9-5

SEABURY HALL (9-5) 13 14 6 11 — 44

HAWAI'I BAPTIST (11-6) 13 10 18 12 — 53

SEABURY HALL — Charlotte Burns 2, Lesley Smith 7, Sierra Jacob 11, Ariel Duell 6, Taylor Rudow 13, Allicia Imada 5, Samantha Sullivan 0, Samantha Monge 0. Totals 16 10-23 44.

HAWAI'I BAPTIST — Stefanie Sueda 0, Sharon Kim 0, Amber Au 0, Keline Yoshimura 27, Narissa Fujii 11, Reana Lee 6, Jordin Ramos 0, Kayla Yamamoto 0, Lindsay Strach 1, Jennifer Young 8, Rebecca Dang 0, Kimberly Au 0, Jami Grumling 0. Totals 15 18-26 53.

3-point goals: Seabury Hall 2 (Jacob, Imada). Hawai'i Baptist 5 (Yoshimura 3, Fujii 2).

HAWAI'I PREP 42, ST. ANDREW'S 29

Taylor Wang scored 20 points as the Kamakanis ousted the Priory at Kalani High School.

Minna Watanabe led St. A