Free throws and shooting woes was the story of yesterday's game between two of the state's top girls basketball teams.

Iolani defeated host Punahou, 29-20, in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls basketball showdown between the two previously unbeaten teams in a rare 1 p.m. time slot.

Iolani made 12-of-16 free throws and took advantage of an off shooting day by Punahou, which made just 9-of-41 shots.

"It's a big win, but we still have another whole round," said Iolani sophomore Jamie Smith, who scored a team-high nine points. "It means something to beat them, but it doesn't make us No. 1. We still need to earn that."

Iolani remained undefeated at 4-0, and Punahou dropped to 4-1.

"The main thing was that we got the monkey off our back," Iolani coach Glenn Takara said of Iolani's first win over Punahou in two years.

Iolani broke away early after the game was tied at 6. Led by its defense, which denied Punahou a basket for a nearly eight-minute period beginning in the first quarter and carrying through to the second, the Raiders took a 13-6 lead. Smith scored four points in the span to lead Iolani.

Punahou sophomore Shaena-Lyn Kuehu broke the scoring drought with 3:25 left to make it 13-8. The Buffanblu closed to 13-10 on a basket by sophomore Shawna-Lei Kuehu for the first-half final.

Punahou started the second half with an aggressive half-court press, trapping the Raiders and denying any outlet passes. It forced three straight Iolani turnovers midway through the third quarter, including two 10-second violations.

"Once we made that first 10-second count, we got kind of rattled," Takara said. "We had to remind them to calm down."

Smith said the Raiders "readjusted to the press by going outside. We learned how to break it. Our point guards did a great job."

But by that time the Buffanblu had closed to 19-17 on a shot by senior Mahina Macfarlane to end the third quarter.

Iolani's Keilyn Fujioka scored to start the fourth, and Shawna-Lei Kuehu answered with a basket with 6:36 remaining to make it 21-19, but it was the last field goal Punahou would score in the game.

A 10-foot jumper from the left by Chanel Hirata gave Iolani a 23-19 lead with 3 minutes left and forced Punahou to foul. Iolani made 6-of-8 free throws with less than two minutes left to seal its win.

"We made our free throws at the end, and that was really important," Smith said.

Punahou coach Mike Taylor said the Buffanblu "got the shots we wanted. We were wide open on the perimeter and had looks on lay-ups."

Iolani's initial game plan was to go inside to its post players. But Punahou was forced to "pick its poison; (their post play) is a huge key to their success" according to Taylor, and shut out that option early on.

"But at the same time, they have three great shooters on the perimeter," Taylor added.

Shawna-Lei Kuehu scored a game-high 11 points for Punahou, which celebrated it's "Senior Game," after the game to for the conclusion of the team's home schedule.

IOLANI (4-0) 8 5 6 10—29

PUNAHOU (4-1) 6 4 7 3—20

IOLANI—Kaz Masutani 0, Hennasea-Sue Tokumura 3, Alana Matayoshi 2, Chanel Hirata 2, Marci Kang 0, Alana Wall 4, Jamie Smith 9, Meilin Akamu 3, Sarah Turgeon 0, Keilyn Fujioka 4, Megan Burton 2. Totals 8 12-16 29.

PUNAHOU—Ciana Aiwohi 0, Elizabeth Abe 0, Melanie Feldman 0, Dara Tompkison 0, Cristen Aona 0, Shawna-Lei Kuehu 11, Mahina Macfarlane 2, Shaena-Lyn Kuehu 5, Janelle Nomura 0, Sophie Merrifield 0, Chelsea Deptula 2, Devon Yamauchi 0. Totals 9 2-6 20.

3-point goals—Iolani 1 (Akamu). Punahou none.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.