HondaReport.com - Girls State Tournament, Day 1 extras

Most of what I wrote for the Star-Bulletin about yesterday's opening round didn't make it to print. If you're a fan of girls hoops, read below and enjoy.

More from the Hawaiian Airlines Girls Basketball State Championships, which tipped off with opening-round play yesterday.

Punahou hasn't played Lahainaluna this year, but Taylor has a long memory and remembers what Lady Lunas coach Todd Rickard likes to do.

"Todd always does a good job of spacing the floor. They've always liked to press," Taylor recalled.

Punahou is the two-time defending state champion, but playing without twins Shawna-Lei and Shaena-Lyn Kuehu, who sustained ACL injuries in the off-season. Guard Ciana Aiwohi is also out after sustaining an ACL injury in mid-season.

Oahu Interscholastic Association runner-up Radford (23-4) will play Iolani in today's quarterfinals. "They're a pretty good team. We're gonna go hard the whole game," Baravilala said.

The Rams struggled early, shooting 4-for-12 in the opening quarter. They trailed by four at halftime, but extended a man-to-man defense across the floor and caused serious problems for Maui. Baravilala scored eight quick points, and Ta Nitra Byrd's steal for a layup gave Radford the lead for good.

Brittini Fuller added a steal and fed Baravilala for a layup, and then hit a 3-pointer to cap a 16-2 run. Radford led 34-24 with 2 minutes left in the third quarter.

Maui was within 40-34 after Cheyla Vega hit a pair of foul shots with 3:37 to play, but the Sabers got no closer.

Radford's fullcourt pressure was the same as the one it unleashed on the Sabers during a preseason tournament at Seabury Hall. "It was not to get steals. We just wanted to grind them down," Rams coach David Lane said.

Byrd scored her team's final six points and finished with a game-high 15. The 6-foot freshman added nine rebounds and two blocks.

"We needed to play our game. We needed to slow down and calm down," said Brittini Fuller, who scored six of her nine points in the final quarter.

Hotia Vaaimamao paced MIL runner-up Maui (13-8) with 12 points and eight rebounds. The Sabers finished with 23 turnovers.

"We just got frustrated with each other," senior forward Lilieni Laloulu-Saleimoa said. "We know we can play better."

Kahuku was within 23-20 early in the third quarter, but Kalani's fullcourt press took a major toll. After Kacie Gushiken hit a baseline jumper and followed it with a drive and dish to Rhianna Farm, the Lady Falcons had a 35-22 lead with 3 minutes to play in the third quarter.

Martin closed out the third with back-to-back 3-pointers to give Kalani a commanding 48-24 lead. The Lady Raiders, who committed 38 turnovers, got no closer than 21 the rest of the way.

Adjustments at halftime were key. "The fouling was killing us," Kalani coach Darold Imanaka said. "The players decided to step everything up, be a half-step quicker, jump six inches higher."

Taeja Afalava led Kahuku (5-11), the sixth-place team from the OIA, with 11 points.

After shooting 6-for-12 from the foul line in the first half, Kalani shot 17-for-21 in the second.

Kahuku gave Kalani a scare in their most recent OIA matchup, losing 49-47. Kalani, the OIA third-place team, will play second-seeded Konawaena today.

"We lost to them in preseason," Gaddis said. "We know they're tough, but we've improved a lot. Their halfcourt traps are hard to break."

Jamie Ronolo paced Moanalua (6-11) with 13 points and Britni Ronolo added eight, but no other player scored more than two. Na Menehune committed 25 turnovers.

"Turnovers hurt us," Moanalua coach Rick Gonsalves said. "All year, we've had a supporting cast. If they take away Jamie, everyone else has to step up. We missed seven or eight layups."

Kanekoa, a University of Hawaii recruit, was scoreless in the first half. "I was stressing. My shot wasn't dropping," the senior said. "But coach said to keep attacking, keep looking for my teammates."

Jamaika Lorenzo scored four points during a pivotal run late in the first half as the Dragons soared past Na Menehune in a turnover-plagued game.

Honokaa trailed by a point when Lorenzo got offensive, and a 3-pointer by April Cano helped the Dragons take a 15-7 lead into halftime.

Moanalua got within 15-10 on Britni Ronolo's three-point play in the paint, but the Dragons scored eight unanswered points. Their man-to-man defense kept Moanalua scoreless for more than 7 minutes in the third quarter, and Nicole Ancheta's 13-foot bank shot gave Honokaa a 23-10 lead.

Moanalua chipped away and got within 25-17 after a free throw by Britni Ronolo, but got no closer. Kanekoa fed Kawehi Correa for a pair of layups, and then drove the baseline for a 5-foot floater to give Honokaa a 31-21 lead with 1:53 to go.

A perturbed fan continued to berate a team that was down 10 points. "Quit standing around and move!"

Finally, one of the players turned at midcourt and quipped back, "Yeah, that's the point!"

She was right. Her team was running a set on offense, and some players waited for teammates to make their cuts.