Varsity Girls Basketball Upsets Punahou, 48-35
by Al Linsky
Please don't pinch me. I don't want to wake up from this wonderful dream.
A week ago, the boys' varsity basketball team knocked off the #1 ranked Puns, 43-41.
On Friday, the girls' varsity soccer team beat undefeated and #1 ranked Kamehameha, 3-0.
I had a feeling the boys' basketball team would win that game.
With the girls' soccer team, I figured it would be a battle, but we also had a good shot at handing the Warriors their first defeat.
But, the girls' varsity basketball team at Punahou this year is supposed to be unbeatable, spelled as unbeatable.
If you look at their height it's downright scary. Five girls at 5'10", four at 5'9", well, need I say more.
The Raiders have Jamie Smith at 6'0", but are vertically challenged at all other starting positions. The Raiders have good outside shooting, and when it's clicking, excellent outside shooting.
When I put on my coach's hat (dangerous, I know), I figure the only way the Raiders would have a chance against the Buff N Blue would be to have a hot outside shooting night, exactly like they did against the Warriors a few nights before.
After the Kamehameha game, I said to myself, if they shoot like this they can beat the Puns.
Wrong, wrong, wrong! Sometimes I feel so dumb.
Little did I realize that this team was capable of willing a win by refusing to give an inch, refusing to back down, and playing the Puns straight up. No outside shooting heroics, although it wasn't bad, but almost matching the Puns in rebounding 24-26, passing crisply, making steals, and just playing plain old smart.
The Raiders were able to rattle the Puns on this night. After a huge start, where the Puns looked unstoppable as they moved to a 10-4 lead, the momentum switched to the Raiders.
With 4:35 left in the second, 'Iolani had caught up to tie it at 14-14 and moved to the lead at 21-18 at the half.
With 5:50 left in the third it was still tied at 23-23.
Jamie Smith had her usual big game, 20 points, 11 huge rebounds and 3 massive blocks, but the game was won on an ensuing 17-4 run with the other starters and reserves leading the way.
By the end of the third quarter it was 38-25 and the Puns were reeling. From that point on, the Puns tried frantically to catch up, but the Raiders had the answer every time, finishing the game with a 48-35 advantage.
The Raiders scoring was led by Jamie with 20, Dayna Jandoc with 8, Tami Konishi 6, Kylie Ahlo 4, Lahela Usui 4, Lori Yamashita 2, Chanel Hirata 2 and Hailey Maeda 2.
The Puns were led by Shawna-Lei Kuehu with 21, Shawna-Lyn Kuehu 4, Dara Tompkinson 3, Jenny Ching 3, Tiera Jenson 2 and Tressa Torres 2.
To see more photos, please visit iolani-events.org.
Div IAA Girls Lose To Punahou, 46-39
by Al Linsky
The first time these teams played, the Puns controlled the game throughout only to see the Raiders claw their way back and almost pull it out at the end. The final score was 41-39 but I felt that the Raiders were actually pretty lucky to be that close.
In this game, the Raiders jumped out to a quick lead, making steals, hitting their shots and, well, looking fabulous!
It was 11-5 at the end of the first quarter as everything was clicking.
With 3:33 left in the second quarter, the Puns had regrouped and gotten right back in the game, 16-16. At the half it was 19-18, Puns.
But, the Raiders were playing much better than the first time around, passing better, playing with more intensity and displaying more teamwork.
It remained close right up until about 2 minutes left in the game. At this point, the Puns took over and closed out the game at 46-39.
To see more photos, please visit iolani-events.org.
