Defense travels well for the Campbell Sabers.
Makana Kamakeeaina had 15 points and nine rebounds as Campbell fought off Kalani, 39-26, to capture the OIA girls basketball championship on Wednesday night at McKinley Student Council Gymnasium.
This is Campbell’s third league title under coach Jazmine Corpuz, who also led the Sabers to championships in 2022 and ’23. Maturity, poise under pressure and relentless defense helped senior-heavy Campbell (20-5 overall) resist a Kalani comeback that cut the Sabers’ lead to 25-20 in the second half.
“We had a little scare. Hat’s off to Kalani. Those young girls fight. They’re going to be here for the next year so everybody better be ready for them,” Corpuz said. “Our seniors work so hard in the off-season. They have experience and that’s what we look forward to capitalizing on tonight. We can have off offensive nights, but we can’t ever have off defensive nights.”
Jaynalyn Sotelo added eight points and six boards and point guard Aiesha DeWeever added nine points, including a key bank-shot 3 that helped Campbell stifle Kalani’s run early in the second half.
Kalani freshman Jordin Baker had nine points and six rebounds, along with six turnovers against the Sabers’ physical defense. Peyton Frye, another freshman, added seven points and four boards, and sophomore Angel Stephenson had a team-high six caroms for Kalani (16-7).
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“We’ve got to learn how to run things against on-ball pressure. It’s hard to run things when we’re so out from where we want to be. Campbell is so experienced, so good, so well-coached,” Kalani coach Tyler Tsukazaki said. “I’m so proud of our team. They never gave up. Halftime, we were down 11 and we kept chipping away. I’m super lucky to be coaching them. We’re young and this will motivate them. We’ll be back.”
It was a classic matchup the present and the future, a seasoned, senior-heavy squad taking on the young newcomers on the block. Campbell patiently scored the game’s first 13 points and opened a 17-3 lead after one quarter.
The Lady Falcons brought the lead down to 20-11 on a putback by Stephenson to begin the second half, tapping the top of her head as she ran back on defense.
Kamakeeaina then splashed a 3 for Campbell and was assessed a technical foul for her body language.
Baker’s corner 3 cut the lead to 23-15, and the Lady Falcons were in the bonus with 5:03 to go in the third quarter.
Frye’s 3 cut the lead to 25-19 with 3 minutes left in the third stanza. After Baker hit one of two foul shots, it was 25-20 and Kalani’s crowd was roaring.
DeWeever’s bank-shot 3 helped Campbell take a 28-22 lead into the final quarter.
After Kamakeeaina sank two free throws and Sotelo’s stop-and-go drive for a lefty layup, the Lady Sabers led 33-24 with 3:51 remaining.
Sotelo fed Kamakeeaina for a corner 3, opening Campbell’s lead to 36-24 with 3:21 left. After Kamai Lei Ringor scored in the paint, the lead was 17 for the Sabers with 2:42 to go.
Kalani will play in the opening round of the Pacific Century Fund/HHSAA State Championships on Monday. Campbell has a bye before playing Wednesday.
