Kamehameha-Hawaii Earns Return Trip to League Final

Bobbi Montibon was in the zone Friday afternoon, nailing five threes to help lift Kamehameha-Hawaii to a 54-36 victory over Hawaii Prep in the semifinals of the KTA Super Stores / BIIF Girls Basketball Tournament at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Montibon was a key component in the Wahine’s 12-0 run over the first 4:50 of the first quarter. After missing her first three pointer of the game, the long range specialist continued to offer up shots from beyond the arc, and as it always seems to happen with shooters, they find a way to drop. Montibon swished the next four shots from distance, the last one coming early in the second quarter. The senior finished with 17 points on the evening.

When Montibon wasn’t dialing long distance, fellow senior Chelsea Poe was charging her way to the rim. The older Poe sister on the team finished with 19 points on the night, making 7-of-13 shots from the field, playing agressive defense, and dishing out a few dimes in an all-around effort.

It was a struggle for Ka Makani from the field throughout the game. While the Wahine were hot from the field in the first half, Hawaii Prep was ice cold, making 6-of 26 shots. Somehow, the West 2nd seed found a way to hang around, forcing 11 Kamehameha-Hawaii turnovers in the second quarter to close the deficit to 11 at halftime, and stay within twelve by the end of the third quarter.

HPA could not hold on to enough steam to complete the comeback, as the Warriors controlled the ball in the fourth quarter, used a little more clock in their half court offense, and worked the ball in the paint to seal the 17 point victory.

Kamehameha-Hawaii will head to the Hawaiian Airlines / HHSAA Girls State Basketball Tournament next week in Oahu, but before that, they will face West top seed Honoka’a for the BIIF Division II championship at 6 pm. Meanwhile, Hawaii Prep still has a chance to reach the state tourney. They take on Ka’u at 4:30 pm on Saturday, with the winner getting the third and final berth at the state tournament.

Hawaii Prep 4 13 12 7 – 36

Kamehameha-Hawaii 18 10 13 13 – 54

TEAM STATS:

HPA: 14-49 FG (28.6%), 1-9 3PT (11.1%), 7-9 FT (77.8%)

KS-HAWAII: 19-46 FG (41.3%), 6-15 3PT (40.0%), 8-17 FT (47.1%)

Leading Scorers: HPA – Shayla Ignacio 10, Leahi Lindsey 7, Chancis Fernandez 6, Eliyah Fernandez 6, Tiana Tabac 4, Nani Lum 3. KSH – Chelsea Poe 19, Bobbi Montibon 17, Casey Poe 9, Shaila Apele 4, Shaylyn Kahawai 4, Namele Naipo-Arsiga 1.