HHSAA Division II GIRLS BASKETBALL: Kailua runs past Kohala, 56-43

HHSAA

Kahoa Mikaele scored 15 points and Patria Vaimoana added 14 points Tuesday night to help Kailua run past Kohala, 56-43, in the first round of the Hawaiian Airlines/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Division II Girls Basketball State Championships at Kalani Gym.

The O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference runner-up Surfriders improved to 8-7 in the regular and postseason and advanced to Wednesday's 5 p.m. quarterfinal vs. No. 2 seed Kaua'i (8-0). Kohala fell to 4-8 and will face McKinley (8-6) in a 3 p.m. consolation bracket game.

Vaimoana, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, and Taufau Williams, a 5-8 freshman, combined to score Kailua's first 13 points as the Surfriders jumped out to a 13-2 lead in the opening six minutes. The Cowgirls later closed it to 24-16 on a jumper by Sheana Cazimero with 1:37 remaining in the second period, but Mikaele, a 5-9 junior, scored six straight points as Kailua ended the half with a 10-0 run to lead 34-16 at the break.

The Surfers maintained the big lead in the third period despite 11 points by Cazimero, a 5-6 senior guard. Cazimero finished with a game-high 18 points.