Kamehameha 22 17 14 4 — 57
BY EDWARD JACKSON | STEPHENS MEDIA
HONOLULU — Chelsea Poe and Casey Poe finally turned Kamehameha-Hawaii’s title game tears into triumph.
The Poe sisters took over early Friday night at Blaisdell Arena and the Warriors’ four-year span of uncertainty ended with a dream come true: an easy 57-36 victory over Kauai in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II girls basketball title game.
Sophomore forward Casey Poe scored 16 points at Blaisdell Center and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, while senior guard Chelsea Poe added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in her third bid at a state title.
“We achieved our goal. From the start of the season I sincerely believed that our team could win states. I had envisioned this day in my dreams for months,” Chelsea Poe said. “I worked so hard since my freshman year to win a state title. Each of the past two attempts was disappointing for me, but now I’ve been rewarded for not giving up.”
The five-time Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion Warriors (15-2) avenged narrow losses in the 2009 and 2011 state finals, winning the school’s third title and first since 2007.
With a determined expression on their faces as they stepped on the court, Kamehameha wasted little time jumping out to a sizable early lead behind the firepower of the Poes. They scored Kamehameha’s first 14 points of the game with a series of driving layups and jumpers. Each had eight points en route to a 22-5 first-quarter advantage.
“We just took it to the hoop. We didn’t want to take any chances of this being a close game at the end like our last two state final appearances,” said Chelsea Poe, who shot 6-of-12 from the field. “The loss to Molokai (in 2009) by three and on top of that another three-point lost to Radford last season stayed in the mind constantly.”
The Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Red Raiders (13-3) never recovered from the early onslaught, and Kamehameha coach Garrett Arima got all 12 of his players into the game.
Freshman Riana Arima scored seven points, senior Shaylyn Kahawai added six and sophomore Shaila Apele and junior Namele Naipo-Arsiga each had five for the Warriors, who shot 51 percent
“The girls really wanted it,” Arima said of his team’s quick start. “That fortitude and desire is something that you cannot teach. Every game we always try to get off to a positive start, but tonight our team had that extra focus.
“I think that over the last four seasons that our players, especially our seniors, realized that playing for a state championship is special.”
Casey Anacleto and Kawehi Louis-Diamond each scored 11 points for Kauai, which shot just 33 percent.
Kamehameha steadily added to its advantage, leading by as much as 30 late in the third quarter.
“We knew that if we wanted to win we had to come out strong,” said Casey Poe, who shot 7-of-11 from the field. “Among the starters we bonded together with a pact that we would give it all that we had from the start of the game to the end.”
Kamehameha loses only four seniors — Bobbi Montibon (two points) and Britni Napihaa are the other two — and any repeat hopes for the Warriors next season will undoubtedly center around Casey Poe, who averaged 17.7 points in three games at states.
“It’s a great feeling to win states. I know that my sister has been waiting for this moment since her freshman year,” she said. “I guess I’m fortunate to be able to win early in my high school career. Now my goal is to return to states and have this opportunity perhaps two more times.”
Notes: Chelsea Poe was also named to the all-tournament team. Other members of Kamehameha are juniors Keanu Kaohimaunu (two points), Tiffany Pacheco, Britni Kenui and Makamae Gabriel.
Kauai 5 13 8 10 — 36
Kamehameha 22 17 14 4 — 57