KEALAKEKUA — Hilo came up just short of a statement win, but the Lady Viks effort on Thursday night at Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium against Lahainaluna will certainly get people talking.
Hilo fought back to pull within a point of the mighty Maui Lunas with just three seconds left, but saw a game-winning heave come up just short as Lahainaluna escaped with a 43-42 victory.
Lahainaluna was led by 19 points and eight rebounds from Susitina Namoa, who was a terror in the post for the Lunas.
Stellar Hilo freshman Keirstyn Agonias netted 12 points for Hilo and Samantha Richards added eight hard-fought points in the paint.
After falling behind 14-8 after the first quarter, Hilo outscored the Lunas in the final three — albeit by a slim margin in each.
Hilo was bounced from the first round of the state tournament last year, but the result against the perennial contending and big-bodied lineup of the Lunas should serve as a confidence boost that they can hang with some of the state’s best.
Most of the first half — especially the second quarter — was spent at the free throw line, with both teams entering the bonus very early on.
Most notably, it was Lahainaluna at the charity stripe for 26 tries, making just nine. It kept the game close, as the Lunas full court press forced eight turnovers out of the Viks.
Hilo didn’t get into its half-court offense much in the first half, but still managed to find some points thanks to Agonias. The freshman hit the only 3-pointer of the half for the Viks and finished the first two quarters with nine.
It was a much faster pace in the second half, with Hilo hitting a trio of 3-pointers from three different players to open the stanza to draw within two points at 30-28.
After the fast start, the Lunas’ lead grew to as much as seven, but Agonias hit a late mid-range shot to make it 37-34 entering the final quarter.
While Namoa did most her work under the basket for Lahinaluna, on the other side, Richards turned into a monster in the paint for Hilo. The teams traded blows until Agonias rolled in a layup to tie the game for the first time since the opening minutes.
It didn’t last long, as Lahainaluna soon took the advantage back, but Hilo was not done fighting. Veda Galima hit 1-of-2 at the line to make it 41-39, before the Viks were forced to foul Namoa.
The Lahainaluna standout hit both to make it a four-point game. Hilo got a clutch deep 3-pointer from Mindy Kawaha to make it 43-42 late, but dribbled nearly 10 seconds off the clock to get the right look.
The Viks got the foul on the Lunas with three seconds left, sending Namoa to the line again for free throws. She missed the front end of the 1-and-1, giving Hilo life. Jamila Collins-Ebanez pulled down the rebound and launched the potential game winner, but it just rolled off the rim.
Lahainaluna 14 9 14 6 — 43
Hilo 8 11 15 8 — 42
