BY BOB HOGUE
DIGITAL SPORTS SENIOR CORRESPONDENT
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Bob Hogue
In a battle between the second-place and third-place teams in the OIA
tournament, it was the OIA runner-up Radford Rams who held off upset-minded
Roosevelt in the first round of the HHSAA girls basketball state tournament
Tuesday night, 60-46.
The Lady Rams were led by Marlena Malepeai who poured in 20 points in
a game that started well for Radford, but then got very close in the second
half.
"We knew we had to play smart and finish strong," Malepeai said
afterwards. Radford jumped out to an early 13-0 lead in the first quarter and
led 25-6 midway through the second period. But then the Rough Riders
ralled--big-time.
Roosevelt pulled to within 12 at halftime at 27-15, then scored the
first eight points of the third quarter to make it 27-23, Tasia Kamakawiwiole
led the way for the Riders with 12 points before fouling out with about five
minutes to go in the game.
When Kamakawiwiole fouled out, it was still a six-point game, but
after that, the Rams pulled away. Brittni Fuller and Bui Boravilala each scored
12 points for the Lady Rams.
"I told them at halftime that Roosevelt's a good team, and we had to
play our game," Radford coach Tani Dutro said afterwards. "I'm proud of our
girls; I mean this is the States!"
Dutro's Rams played the final three quarters without all-state center
TaNitra Byrd, who fell ill after the first period. Byrd finished the game with
six points. "She was sick yesterday and missed practice and wanted to try and
go tonight," Coach Dutro said. "We've proven all season long that we've got
other good players, too, and they stepped up tonight."
Radford moves on to the quarterfinals while Roosevelt will play in
tomorrow's consolation round.
|
DI Game 2
@ Farrington
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
Final
|
|
Roosevelt (11-5)
|
4
|
11
|
12
|
19
|
46
|
|
Radford
(15-1)
|
17
|
10
|
12
|
21
|
60
|
High
scorers: Radford – Marlena Malepeai, 19 points; Roosevelt – Tasia
Kamakawiwoole, 12 points.
Stats provided by Natalie Webb of HHSAA- Click here for more!