Matched against bigger competition, the Kalakaua Wahine basketball club team still found a way to win.

Kalakaua, which is composed of players from Hawai'i high schools, defeated Southridge Elite (Ore.), 51-43, to capture the National Elite Friendship bracket at the MidSummer Nights' Madness National Championships in Seattle on Sunday. The win wrapped up an eight-day road trip to Washington and Oregon, where the team went 9-4.

"Everyone knows about the Hawai'i teams and how hard they play," coach Mike Taylor said. "I don't think we're a mystery to many teams anymore. A lot of them marvel at how we can play that kind of pace and tempo every single game. We don't really pace ourselves. If we have another game, we just go. We just do our thing and get better."

Kalakaua started the trip at Oregon's End of the Trail Tournament, a club tournament that attracts many college coaches. Kalakaua, which was invited to play, went 3-2 and finished seventh in its bracket.

Punahou's Janelle Nomura and Rebecca Lau, and Waiakea's Kanisha Bello received considerable attention from college coaches. All three will be seniors this fall, but Taylor said the experience of playing in these tournaments will open doors for the entire team. Nomura, a point guard, was named to the all-tournament team in Oregon.

"All of our kids will get something," said Taylor, the Punahou head coach. "They all proved they can hang with the Mainland kids."

Then it was off to Seattle, where Kalakaua went 1-2 in pool play before winning five straight to capture its bracket.

"Everybody had great moments and we played really consistent and steady — something that's hard with a mix-match crew coming in," Taylor said. "Off the court, they got along and respected each other. That's what really carried us through these tournaments."

The Big Island All-Stars also played in both tournaments and finished with a 3-6 record. Tayler Wang, who will be a junior at Hawai'i Prep, led the team with 13.1 points per game. Wang hit the winning basket to defeat Next Level Elite, 43-42, in Seattle.