'Iolani Prep Classic GIRLS BASKETBALL: No. 11-ranked Dr. Phillips (Orlando) denies 'Iolani

By Wes Nakama
HHSAA

Jade Cheek scored 15 points and Hannah Schaible added 13 points Friday night to help Dr. Phillips (Orlando) deny 'Iolani, 54-43, in the 'Iolani Prep Classic girls basketball semifinals.

The Panthers, who are ranked No. 11 in USA Today's Super 25, will face Oregon City (Ore.) in Saturday's 8 p.m. title game at 'Iolani Gym. The host Raiders will face Southlake (Texas) Carroll for third place at 6:30.

Dr. Phillips brought only eight players to this tournament, and standout guard Taryn Griffey is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Griffey had averages 16 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season.

But the Panthers came out aggressively anyway, pressing 'Iolani with full-court pressure from the outset, and it resulted in an 11-0 run that put them ahead, 11-3, two and a half minutes into the game.

The Raiders cut it to 11-8 after Jade Botelho's three-point play a minute later, but Dr. Phillips finished the period with a 6-2 run to take a 17-10 lead into the second.

"We're conditioned to run and press, and we wanted to prepare for tomorrow's game (against Oregon City)," Panthers coach Anthony Jones said. "I think it disrupted (the Raiders) a little bit."

Pua Kahalehoe opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer to cut it to 17-13, but that was as 'Iolani would get the rest o the game as Dr. Phillips extended the lead to 31-22 at halftime and 41-29 heading into the fourth.

"We saw them (Thursday) night, so we kind of knew what to expect," Raiders coach Eddie Murayama said. "But they cover a lot of ground, and since we were chasing early, we extended our defense and that led to easy layups for them."

The Panthers grabbed 11 offensive rebounds in the first half alone.

Abrianna Johnson-Edwards led 'Iolani scorers with 14 points.