PEARL CITY—No. 10 Pearl City's stifling defense turned a close game into a 40-24 rout of Mililani last night in an elimination bracket game of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red girls basketball tournament at the Chargers' gym.

The Chargers (13-2) stayed alive in the elimination bracket and will host Moanalua (9-6) at 6 tonight.

The Trojans (11-4) host Kapolei (10-5) for fifth place also at 6 tonight. Both teams already clinched Division I state berths.

A crowd of 190 saw the Chargers hold the Trojans without a field goal for about a 14-minute stretch from the end of the first quarter until 2:52 left in the third period. The Trojans were able to pull to 16-15 at the half on 8-of-10 free throws. But they had no field goals in the second quarter.

"Our offense struggled, but we played really good defense in the second half," Pearl City coach Michael Morton said. "I'm proud of our defense."

The Trojans' dry spell in the third quarter allowed the Chargers to open a 28-18 lead entering the fourth quarter. Mililani's only field goal was a 3-pointer by Tiff Lagua.

"We were forcing a lot (of shots)," Trojans coach Pat Basilio said. "But credit their defense. They always had a hand in our face, too."

The Trojans also might have lost their focus.

"We stopped attacking," Basilio added. "We were settling for too many jump shots outside. We stopped trying to penetrate. That kind of stalled our offense little bit."

The Chargers' offensive struggles — they had only three field goals in the second quarter — might have been the after effects of losing to Roosevelt earlier in the tournament. But Morton feels his team is ready for the challenge surviving the elimination bracket to reach the title game of the double-elimination tournament.

"Our energy was a little down after the loss from Roosevelt, but the girls want to come back and play (tonight)," Morton said.

Chargers senior guard Jordan Ahakuelo was the only player in the game with double-digit scoring with 17 points, scoring 11 of her team's 12 third-quarter points. She opened the half with a 3-pointer and closed the third quarter with a layup after a steal at the buzzer.

Ahakuelo said the team feels it's playing at an even keel and not putting extra pressure in the elimination bracket.

"We feel leveled," she said. "If we win, we win. We lose, we lose. We're very team-oriented and we're just together. Whatever happens will happen."

Pearl City athletic director Reid Shigemasa said Moanalua historically travels large, so a crowd of 250 is anticipated tonight.

MILILANI (11-4) 7 8 3 6—24

PEARL CITY (13-2) 10 6 12 12—40

MILILANI — Kellie Sakai 7, Tiff Lagua 3, Jacque Agbayani 0, Sam Yuki 2, Amber Ogata 0, Cory Ramos 0, Abby McKoy 0, Darcey Goulsby 5, Courtney Senas 0, Khyla Alcantra 5, Pomai Grube-Hose 0, Kaylee Torres 2. Totals 5 13-20 24.

PEARL CITY — Adrienne Jean Sylva 2, Sabrina Angle 2, Shanice Gabriel-Yones 0, Victoria Victor 0, Glacen Florita 6, Shawna Angle 2, Jordan Ahakuelo 17, Alana Kaili 0, Keshia Manning 2, Leina Basques 6, Tearaina Meyer 3. Totals 11 17-18 40.

3-point goals — Mililani 1 (Lagua). Pearl City 1 (Ahakuleo).

Reported by Jenn Cadiz

MOANALUA 46, KAPOLEI 42

Jasmine Funtanilla scored 14 points and A.J. Verdida added 12 as Nā Menehune rallied from a 26-23 halftime deficit with a 12-4 third quarter to beat the Hurricanes.

Leilani Tauani-Fifita scored 14 points and Kaity Wills had 11 to lead Kapolei.

MOANALUA (9-6) 8 15 12 11—46

KAPOLEI (10-5) 13 13 4 12—42

MOANALUA — Britney Calucag 0, Kristy Tamashiro 0, Kiley Lau 2, Joanna Nicolas 7, Jasmine Funtanilla 14, Meleane Smith 0, Jaiden Rego 2, A.J. Verdida 12, Shaunteus Ramos-Dias 7, Kelci Quinabo 0, Jasmine Young-Gusman 2. Totals 17 11-22 46.

KAPOLEI — Krystal Jacobs 2, Kaity Wills 11, Rhilee Soriano 0, Tamar Rodrigues 0, Daimond Carter 7, Kawehi Hagi 8, Jo-Ann Payongayong 0, Noel Gerland 0, Vanessa Banogan 0, Leilani Tauani-Fifita 14, Paige Kaea 0. Totals 16 9-17 42.

3-point goals — Moanalua 1 (Nicolas). Kapolei 1 (Willis).

Reported by Kayla Fuataga

OIA GIRLS WHITE

KAISER 53, LEILEHUA 49

Mele Adams scored 24 points and the visiting Cougars rallied from a 17-5 first-quarter deficit to beat the Mules in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Division tournament game.

Patricia Lindo scored 10 to lead Leilehua.

KAISER (6-7) 5 17 11 20—53

LEILEHUA (8-4) 17 6 13 13—49

KAISER — Micaela Bitanga 7, Kiani Ka'aha'aina 4, Mele Adams 24, Krysta Yasui 4, Kiana Nakai 6, Daryn Vordebruegge 3, Shelby Pa 5, Celeste Tsuletenara 0, Tiana Miyashiro 0, Courtney Phillips 0. Totals 18 14-24 53.

LEILEHUA — Vanessa Bocobo 6, Pomai Parker 6, Patricia Lindo 10, Precious Loi-On 0, Carissa McBride 4, Brittany Taufui 0, Shajaira Briones 0, Toe Motu 8, Alexis Johnson 7, Carline Wilson 2, Alandra Hooks 6. Totals 23 0-2 49.

3-point goals — Kaiser 3 (Nakai 2, Vordebruegge). Leilehua 3 (Parker 2, Johnson).

Reported by Kristie Sasamura

OIA BOYS RED

'AIEA 45, WAIPAHU 44

Freddy Taliulu scored nine points, including a free throw to break a 44-44 tie with 3.1 seconds remaining to lift the visiting Nā Ali'i over the Marauders in an OIA Red West game, which was rescheduled from Tuesday night.

Tatupu Tatupu scored 21 points to lead Waipahu.

'AIEA (3-8) 11 10 18 6—45

WAIPAHU (2-8) 13 8 14 9—44

'AIEA — Kory Naeole 8, Chucky Kaahunui 7, Branden Abiva 2, Api Foumai 2, Freddy Taliulu 9, Daniel Chambers 2, Keano Kuia 0, Dylan Dobson 0, Phillip Madriaga 0, Braxton Fukutomi 3, Colin Naito 4, Ilalio Sio 8. Totals 16 11-17 45.

WAIPAHU — Chance Delima 0, Jayvee Cadiente 2, Duketoa Tili 0, Tatupu Tatupu 21, Anthony Agustin 5, Daeniel Cullen Diomanipo 4, Mike Alipio 4, Aselemo Fruean 2, Eric Castro 0, Westley Nagaseu 2, Nathan Bartley 0, Anson Castello 4, Perzie Calucag 0. Totals 15 13-15 44.

3-point goals — 'Aiea 2 (Kaahunui, Fukutomi). Waipahu 1 (Agustin).

JV — Waipahu 64, 'Aiea 48

Reported by Brijette Palaroan

ILH BOYS DIVISION II

LANAKILA BAPTIST 52, SAINT LOUIS 35

Chase Hazelwood scored 19 points, Josh Pananganan added 11 and Jordan Kabato 10 as the visiting Warriors pulled away from the Crusaders with a 16-6 fourth quarter in an ILH Division II boys game at Salt Lake District Park gym.

Ryan Yadao scored 10 points to lead Saint Louis.

LANAKILA BAPTIST (4-8) 16 10 10 16—52

SAINT LOUIS (3-6) 8 12 9 6—35

LANAKILA BAPTIST — Michael Miranda 0, Josh Pananganan 11, Chase Hazelwood 19, Marcus Takahashi 2, Jordan Kabato 10, Zack Ramos 2, Aaron Ono 0, Richard Abbley 6, Joseph Lawson 0, Matt Kakilala 2. Totals 22 6-19 52.

SAINT LOUIS — King Patrocinio 2, Emmett McShane 6, Skyler Sigston 0, Culten Arroyo 8, Jared Tomaszek 0, Ryan Yadao 10, Michael Brum 0, Tony Leineweber 2, K.C. Long 3, Trey Donohue 4. Totals 15 5-22 35.

3-point goals — Lanakila Baptist 2 (Pananganan, Hazelwood). Saint Louis none.

Reported by Michael Schwab