The Mid-Pacific girls basketball team figures it added the one component missing from last year: the ability to finish games.

It did so last night in a 47-36 win over host Kamehameha to improve to 2-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

"We're finishing games now, we're actually finishing the game until the end," Mid-Pacific senior guard Jordan Kealoha said. "That's the difference this year. Our chemistry is there this year. We're playing as a team more."

The Owls finished strong for the second consecutive game, including a season-opening overtime win against Punahou. Last night, the Owls outscored the Warriors 16-5 in the fourth quarter to break a 31-all tie.

Mid-Pacific came back from a five-point halftime deficit after focusing on Kamehameha senior guard Noe Mikami, who scored eight points in the first quarter to give the Warriors a 16-11 advantage.

"We needed to play defense, we needed to get rebounds," Mid-Pacific first-year coach Wes Masuda said. "Up until that point they were beating us on the boards, and we wanted to establish that.

"We wanted to get the ball out of (Mikami's) hands."

With both teams playing intense defense, the second quarter was scoreless through the first five minutes and final two. Each team took away what was working for the other in the first quarter: the inside presence of the Owls and outside shooting by the Warriors (1-1).

A pair of free throws by Mid-Pacific senior Jenna Savusa and short jumper by Warriors guard Tia Perreira were the only points of the quarter.

In the third quarter, the Owls found their outside shooting, hitting four 3-pointers to outscore the Warriors 18-13 and tie the game at 31.

"I think from halftime our coaches told us to keep shooting," said Kealoha, who hit a 3-pointer in the run. "Once Paige (Young) hit that one 3 then our intensity went up and that's when all of us started hitting our threes."

Kealoha scored six of her 11 points in the fourth quarter to hold off the Warriors. The Owls made 8 of 12 free throws in the period.

"We're finishing games now to the end, and playing hard defense," Kealoha said.

Mikami and Perreira scored eight points each for Kamehameha.

MID-PACIFIC 11 2 18 16—47

KAMEHAMEHA 16 2 13 5—36

MID-PACIFIC—Kirstie Sugimoto 0, Paige Young 6, Ashley Yamachika 5, Mahina Docktor 0, Kiana "Kiki" Robertson 8, Kelli Shibata 0, Shanon Nishimura 3, Jordan Kealoha 11, Taylor Babbitt 2, Keaton McFadden 7, Jenna Savusa 5. Totals 15 13-20 47.

KAMEHAMEHA—Maile Krampert 0, Krystal-Lei Mills 0, Noe Mikami 8, Tia Perreira 8, Deja Tafiti 2, Manu Noa 2, Kala Crowell 4, Haley Paakaula 5, Makana Borden 1, Kennedi Akana 6, Lilia Maio 0. Totals 17 2-4 36.

3-point goals—Mid-Pacific 4 (Young 2, Nishimura 1, Kealoha 1). Kamehameha none.