HHSAA Division I GIRLS BASKETBALL: Buffs Rally Past Iolani For 10th DI State Title

By Derek Inouchi
 
HONOLULU – Top-seeded Punahou captured its 10th Hawaiian Airline HHSAA Division I Girls Championship with a 46-41 come-from-behind victory over Iolani Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
Punahou rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit and took its first lead since the early moments at 39-37 with 5:15 left in the game. The Buffanblu outscored the Raiders 13-4 in the final period.
 
Shawna-Lei Kuehu, the tournament’s most outstanding player, scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Buffanblu, who have won three of the last four championship games. Punahou shot only 22.9 percent for the game but out-rebounded Iolani, 39-25.
 
The Raiders led by as many as nine in the first half after building a 16-8 advantage in the opening period. Iolani held the Buffanblu to 19 percent shooting in the first half and limited Kuehu to four points.
 
Chanel Hirata scored a team-high 18 points while Jamie Smith added eight points and grabbed nine rebounds. Both were named to the all-tournament team.