Campbell girls power past Kalani, 39-26, to win OIA title

By Wes Nakama

Effectively using its advantage in size and experience, Campbell powered past youthful upstart Kalani, 39-23, Wednesday night to win the OIA Girls Basketball championship.

A vocal and supportive estimated crowd of about 750 at McKinley's Student Council Gym watched Makana Kameke'eaina score a game-high 15 points as the Sabers improved to 19-5 overall and earned the league's No. 1 seed and first-round bye in next week's Pacific Century Fund Team Aloha/Flying Hawaiian Foundation HHSAA State Tournament. The Falcons, who had three freshmen and one sophomore in the starting lineup, fell to 16-7 and will begin state tourney play at 6 p.m. Monday against visiting OIA sixth-place finisher Radford (10-11).

Kalani had entered Wednesday night at 12-0 in league play led by freshman sensation Jordin Baker, a poised and speedy guard who had been averaging over 20 points per game. But Campbell established its size and physical advantage early against the smaller Falcons, who had trouble with backcourt pressure and getting into their offense, while struggling with the Sabers' inside play at the other end.

Campbell jumped out to a stunning 17-1 lead before Izzy Baker's free throws closed it to 17-3 at the end of the first period.

"It's hard to simulate their experience, their physicality, their ball pressure, their outside shooting," Kalani coach Tyler Tsukazaki said. "They have everything, and that's why they're one of the best. A lot of them already had OIA championships, so ... they're really good."

The Falcons finally got their first field goal on Jordin Baker's pull-up jumper with 5:34 remaining in the second period to close it to 19-6, and they settled down on defense by holding the Sabers scoreless over the final five minutes of the half. Kylie Awakuni's 3-pointer from the top of the key cut it to 20-9 just before halftime.

Kalani got as close as 25-20 on Jordin Baker's free throw with 2:19 remaining in the third, and it was 29-24 after Hasina Robinson's layup with 5:52 left in the fourth. But that would be as close as the Falcons could get, as Kameke'eaina responded with two free throws to ignite a 10-0 run and Kalani could only manage a Jordin Baker free throw the rest of the game. 

"Jordin Baker is a really great player and she is still upcoming," Kameke'eaina said. "But we just trusted our guards to keep her under her average. She can split through defenders, but I think holding her to (nine) points tonight was a big win for us. I'm very grateful we get to bring this (title) back to 'Ewa Beach."

Campbell held the Falcons to just 25 percent shooting from the field, on just 28 attempts. By comparison, the Sabers took 45 shots and made 14 (31.1 percent).

"A lot of it (defensively) was just playing disciplined, and hat's off to Cayden Parado," Campbell coach Jazmine Corpuz said. "You didn't see her much on the offensive end as usual, but it's because she worked her butt off playing defense against Jordin. That's not an easy task, because she attacks all the time. Cayden had to know when to play disciplined, and when to put a little pressure on her. She definitely made it hard for her, but hat's off to Jordin, too. She stayed in it."

Corpuz said the Sabers' senior leadership played a big role in winning the OIA title, after losing to Kahuku the previous two years.

"They deserved it," Corpuz said. "We have seniors who were part of our last championship (in 2023), so for them to be able to close out their senior year like this is awesome."