Honolulu ‘Iolani High School’s girls basketball team traveled to Los Angeles on December 23 with two objectives: enjoy Disneyland and secure victories in their tournament. The team embraced the fun at “The Happiest Place on Earth” during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, despite inclement weather.
On December 26, the Raiders showcased their skills by defeating La Costa Canyon 57-41 at Canyon Hills High School. This match was part of the WNBA Gold Division of the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic, a prestigious tournament featuring 102 teams across 14 divisions, including participants from Canada and various states in the USA.
Impressive Comeback
The ‘Iolani Raiders, known for their winning pedigree, aimed to capitalize on their tournament experience. Having clinched the state championship five times over the past six years, they were determined to reclaim their position in this tournament after finishing second in the previous year.
Initially, ‘Iolani faced difficulties on the court. They trailed by 10 points in the first quarter and entered halftime down 26-23. Head coach Cy Ohta acknowledged the team’s sluggish start, attributing it partly to the distractions of Disneyland. However, a shift in strategy during the second half proved pivotal.
Defensive Dominance
The Raiders launched a strong defensive effort in the third quarter, outscoring La Costa Canyon by 24 points to 9. This decisive play enabled ‘Iolani to take a 47-35 lead, marking a significant turnaround from their earlier struggles. The team’s aggressive defense forced La Costa Canyon into mistakes, resulting in turnover conversions into easy points for the Raiders.
- Key Stats:
- LCC (La Costa Canyon) struggled, hitting only 3 of 17 shots in the third quarter.
- ‘Iolani scored 24 points in the third quarter, surpassing their first half total of 23.
- Justice Kekauoha led the Raiders with 15 points.
- Freshman Charlotte Galloway scored a season-high 18 points.
Player Profiles
Justice Kekauoha, a junior guard, emphasized the team’s commitment, saying, “We like to hang banners.” Galloway, a promising newcomer, excelled with her impressive performance, building on her previous scoring high of 11 points.
On the opposing side, La Costa Canyon was led by Keani Brown, who scored 13 points, and freshman Lily Lejeune, who added 10 points off the bench. Coach Malcolm Warfield praised his players for their high energy and commitment to improvement.
Tournament Highlights
In addition to the ‘Iolani vs. La Costa Canyon game, other notable scores from the SoCal Holiday Prep Classic included:
- Cathedral Catholic 43, Victory Christian Academy 37
- Canyon Hills 49, Menifee Paloma Valley 34
- Redondo Union 46, La Jolla Country Day 31
As the tournament progresses, ‘Iolani aims to continue its winning streak and solidify its reputation as a formidable competitor in girls basketball.
