After trailing for the first three quarters, the Kamehameha Schools Maui girls basketball team allowed nothing in the fourth.
The defensive effort gave the Warriors a 39-23 win over Molokai on Saturday night, capping an unbeaten performance in three Kamehameha Maui Classic games at Kaulaheanuiokamoku Gym.
"Today's game was really good," said Warriors junior forward Ashley Tanoue-Singson. "We were kind of nervous in the first half and played lazy. But in the end, it was our game and we pushed each other and relied on each other to come out with the victory."
Article Photos
Lehiwa Pedro of Molokai High School has her shot blocked by Kamehameha Maui’s Jaylin Seto in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 39-23 win over the Farmers on Saturday at Kaulaheanuiokamoku Gym.
The Maui News / CHRIS SUGIDONO photo
Kamehameha was down 15-14 at halftime, and 23-22 going into the final period. Tanoue-Singson, however, had six of her team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter.
"We want to be known as a defensive team," Tanoue-Singson said. "We're so small in numbers and we know we're going to face a lot of adversity. That's why we want a defense that we know can pull us through in the end."
The Farmers were winless in three tournament games.
"Our goal was to come out to Maui and test ourselves to get ready for our regular season," said Molokai coach Lee Derouin. "We had about four weeks to get ready for this tournament, and as you can see, defensively, we're playing really hard."
In the first half, the Farmers allowed just three field goals, and forced 14 turnovers.
Tiara English finished with eight points for Molokai.
"If we want to win, and have the desire to win, then we'll play like it," said Kamehameha coach David NeSmith. "Molokai definitely had a good effort all night and put us through a lot of stress. It was a good test."
* Chris Sugidono is at csugidono@mauinews.com
