The 'Iolani School girls basketball team pitched a first-period shutout last night and then held on to defeat Punahou, 37-27, in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu showdown before a home crowd of about 500.

The Raiders improved to 4-0 in the ILH after a two-week-plus break; the two-time defending state champion Buffanblu fell to 1-1.

Punahou, of course, is playing without reigning Advertiser State Player of the Year Shawna-Lei Kuehu and her twin sister Shaena-Lyn, an All-State second-team selection in 2006. Both juniors are coming off surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament in their knee.

But even without the Kuehus, Buffanblu coach Mike Taylor did not expect his team to be down 15-0 almost midway through the second quarter last night.

"I don't ever remember us not playing our style of basketball for almost two quarters," said Taylor, who is in his sixth season as Punahou's head coach and 15th overall in the program. "We were like deer in headlights. We didn't run anything on offense, people just tried to do things on their own."

The Buffanblu finally scored their first points with 4:36 remaining in the half on Janelle Nomura's running banker in the lane. But 'Iolani answered with a 3-pointer by Tami Konishi to make it 18-2, and then headed into the break with an 18-5 lead.

"That gave us a lot of motivation," said Raiders junior Jamie Smith, a 6-foot forward who finished with a game-high 15 points, 15 rebounds and two assists. "Even without (the twins), Punahou still is a really good team and we didn't take them lightly. Unfortunately for them they missed a lot of shots in the first half."

'Iolani took a 23-11 lead into the fourth period, but the Buffanblu chipped away and cut it to 28-23 after Dara Tompkison's 3-pointer from the left corner with 2:50 left and Chelsea Deptula's putback 43 seconds later.

Following two free throws by Smith, Punahou closed to 30-25 on Nomura's two free throws with 1:04 remaining. But Smith led Alana Matayoshi with a long pass against the Buffanblu's full-court pressure and Matayoshi scored a layup while being fouled. She sank the free throw to make it 33-25 with 56 seconds to go, and the Raiders made four of six free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

"I was just waiting for (the Buffanblu) to make their run, and I told our team that they were going to keep coming at us harder," 'Iolani coach Glenn Takara said. "But this was good for our girls, because they hit a rough spot and fought through it."

Shaena-Lyn Kuehu suited up, but did not participate in warm-up drills. She was injured on Nov. 1, five weeks prior to when her sister tore her ACL.

Taylor said Shaena-Lyn's knee is at "about 75 percent" strength.

PUNAHOU (1-1) 0 5 6 16 — 27

'IOLANI (4-0) 13 5 5 14 — 37

PUNAHOU — Ciana Aiwohi 0, Rebecca Lau 0, Melanie Fieldman 8, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane 0, Dara Tompkison 6, Erin Moon 1, Ashley Satterwhite 0, Janelle Nomura 4, Anna Merrifield 2, Chelsea Deptula 4, Devon Yamauchi 2, Taj'a Wong 0, Tressa Torres 0, Tiera Jenson 0. Totals 5 16-21 27.

'IOLANI — Chelsea Unemori 1, Tami Konishi 5, Kylie Ahlo 2, Alana Matayoshi 7, Chanel Hirata 3, Dayna Jandoc 4, Jamie Smith 15, Raechele Takara 0, Sarah Turgeon 0. Totals 9 17-24 37. 3-point goals: Punahou 1 (Tompkison). 'Iolani 2 (Konishi, Hirata).

ILH DIVISION II

PUNAHOU 49, WORD OF LIFE 25

Aubrie Lau scored nine points to lead a balanced offense and the Buffanblu raced to a 29-19 halftime lead and blew the game open with an 11-1 third quarter to beat the Firebrands in an Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II game at Punahou.

PUNAHOU (4-0) 16 13 11 9 — 49

WORD OF LIFE (0-3) 8 11 1 5 — 25

PUNAHOU — Aubrie Lau 9, Kelsie Gomes 2, Ashley Galacgac 6, Kailee Kealoha 6, Alyson Ayers 3, Megan Ching 3, Sam Howell 6, Jessica Letoto 4, Katie Bourke 1, Cherie Ng 0, Fransina Savusa 7, Brooke Ehrman 2. Totals 17 14-29 49.

WORD OF LIFE — Jasmine Saquilon 2, Marietta Ranche 6, Rayanne Alvarado 6, Tali Goeas 0, Janna Kaopuiki 5, Sanoe Aina 4, Monique Jackson 0, Brittany Iwamoto 2. Totals 8 9-27 25.

3-point goals: Punahou 1 (Lau).

Reported by Scott Metcalf

SACRED HEARTS 51, HAWAI'I BAPTIST 36

Nalani Bayne scored 12 points, Raecha-Ann Kauahikaua added 10, and the Lancers led 22-14 at halftime en route to beating the Eagles to remain unbeaten in league play.

SACRED HEARTS (3-0) 11 11 10 19 — 51

HAWAI'I BAPTIST (2-2) 6 8 10 12 — 36

SACRED HEARTS — Kapo Lupenui 2, Rayna Munos 0, Cara Smith 4, Jessica Lindsay 0, Kamri Lin 0, Nalani Bayne 12, Ashley Ordenstein 0, Maya Clark 2, Raecha-Ann Kauahikaua 10, Samantha Valle 9, Charnelle Pires 3, Montana Neyra 0, Nicole Vierra 0, Kuhina Luis 9. Totals 18 12-19 51.

HAWAI'I BAPTIST — Jennifer Young 11, Adrienne Kishimoto 2, Jamie Iha 2, Sharon Kim 0, Ashley Salado 3, Keline Yoshimura 7, Carissa Onuma 9, Stefanie Sueda 0, Kaitlin Miyashiro 0, Leah Shizuru 2. Totals 13 9-19 36. 3-point goals: Sacred Hearts 3 (Smith, Valle, Pires). Hawai'i Baptist 1 (Yoshimura).

Reported by Deren Oshiro

ST. ANDREW'S 46, REDEMPTION ACADEMY 15

A 19-4 opening quarter lead and a game-high 13 points from Sarah Kleinschmidt propelled Priory past the Warriors to remain tied with Sacred Hearts and St. Francis at 3-0.

REDEMPTION ACAD. (0-4) 4 8 0 3 — 15

ST. ANDREW'S (3-0) 19 8 10 9 — 46

REDEMPTION ACAD. — Ashley Dieron 0, Kristen Nakama 4, Gabriella Sussman 2, Rachael Ballesteros-Makua 0, Blessing Miyamoto 1, Hi'ilani Pila 0, Leimana Pila 8. Totals 6 1-2 15.

ST. ANDREW'S — Laura Do 7, Angela Loh 4, Sarah Kleinschmidt 13, Raquel Sevil 4, Ginger Grimes 2, Minna Watanabe 6, Andrea Wong 2, Yasmin Saban 6, Noelani Kawashima 0, Shelley Wong 0, Maile Tua 2. Totals 22 1-10 46. 3-point goals: Redemption Academy 2 (L. Pila 2). St. Andrew's 1 (Do). Reported by Ashley Elliazar

ST. FRANCIS 49, UNIVERSITY HIGH 34

Jamie Iwashita scored 13 points, Bryanna Batts added 10, and the Troubadours used a 16-2 first quarter and a 16-3 third quarter to beat the Junior 'Bows and remain unbeaten.

UNIVERSITY HIGH (0-1) 2 17 3 12 — 34

ST. FRANCIS (3-0) 16 9 16 8 — 49

UNIVERSITY HIGH — Melanie Cortez 15, Kristen Higa 2, Sianha Gualano 0, Sarah Cockett 1, Ku'ulei Baba 10, Brittany Kopp 6, Chanel Casina 0, Kyleena Lamadrid 0. Totals 13 6-12 34.

ST. FRANCIS — Kristen Enemoto 0, Shakira Mitchell 3, Krysten Kawamata 1, Alesa Ramaila 0, Kaui Berinobis 8, Nicole Perry 5, Azalea Fritz 0, Bryanna Batts 10, Melissa Allen 0, Tracey Yamamoto 3, Danielle Tanaka 6, Jamie Iwashita 13, Janelle Nance 0. Totals 19 10-19 49. 3-point goals: University High 2 (Baba 2). St. Francis 1 (Yamamoto).

'IOLANI 63, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 47

Jessica Sasaki scored 13, Kaz Masutani 12 and Allison Nojima 11 to lead the Raiders past the Patriots and Ashley Medcalf, who poured in a game-high 28 points.

CHRISTIAN ACAD. (1-1) 7 12 18 10 — 47

'IOLANI (2-2) 21 14 11 17 — 63

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY — Ashley Acedo 0, Ashley Medcalf 28, Amber Acedo 7, Megan Salazar-Winters 0, Michel Chon 0, Sarah Godinet 7, Jessica Benito 5, Jasmine Tory 0. Totals 18 10-17 47.

'IOLANI — Elisa Asato 6, Caroline Tamayose 0, Kimberly Hashiba 5, Jennifer Wong 9, Jessica Sasaki 13, Kari Kuboyama 7, Kaz Masutani 12, Krista Speroni 0, Allison Nojima 11. Totals 25 7-14 63. 3-point goals: Christian Academy 1 (Benito). 'Iolani 6 (Asato 2, Masutani 2, Hashiba, Kuboyama). Reported by Stu Masutani

KAMEHAMEHA 48, LA PIETRA 29

Jamie-Marie Ferrigno scored 11 points and the Warriors raced to a 23-12 halftime lead in rolling past the defending Division II champion Lady Panthers.

LA PIETRA (0-2) 4 8 9 8 — 29

KAMEHAMEHA (3-1) 8 15 11 14 — 48

LA PIETRA — Christen Hirai 3, Alex Lake 0, Charity Caracol 3, Chelsea Kiyabu 4, Jasmine Kimura 0, Leah Kaina 7, Tihon Nguyen 5, Megan Giles 5, Stacey Martin 0, Sarah Peoples 2. Totals 12 3-7 29.

KAMEHAMEHA — Jamie-Marie Ferrigno 11, Nicole Lee Akiu 4, Karielle Kohatsu 0, Chayla Sherman 0, Kerilyn Gallagher 0, Zayne Nue Apiki 4, Logan Keala 8, Kapua Chandler 3, Brandi Kohatsu 9, Mara Mukai 4, Claire Owens 4, Naomi Kamakau 0, Brittany Courtney 1. Totals 21 5-11 48.

3-point goals: La Pietra 2 (Caracol, Nguyen). Kamehameha 1 (Ferrigno). Reported by Jadine Urasaki

HANALANI 41, LE JARDIN 11

Janelle Fetui scored 12 points and the host Royals ran out to an 18-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back in cruising past the Bulldogs at McCabe Gym.

LE JARDIN (0-4) 0 2 4 5 — 11

HANALANI (1-2) 18 10 5 8 — 41

LE JARDIN — Nicole Piccotto 0, Chenoa Twogood 3, Lizzy Draime 0, Ryanne Kurahara 3, Jessica Shaiarella 3, Raleigh Frober 0, Katlin Kahahawai 1, Jennifer Lewandowski 1. Totals 2 7-18 11.

HANALANI — Samantha Hyde 8, Mariah Schoniwitz 2, Jackie Earl 4, Amanda Kutaka 0, Noelani Ringor 2, Kaimi Manner 0, Janelle Fetui 12, Taylor Metts 0, Riane Shintaku 2, Rachel Matalau 7, Ruth Matalau 4. Totals 19 3-8 41. 3-point goals: None.

Reported by Gail Juan

OIA RED EAST

MOANALUA 55, KAIMUKI 41

Britni Ronolo scored 17 points, Brianna Lagat-Ramos 12 and Jamie Ronolo 11, leading Na Menehune to their first victory, while keeping the Bulldogs winless.

KAIMUKI (0-6) 6 12 7 16 — 41

MOANALUA (1-5) 16 14 12 13 — 55

KAIMUKI — Olivia Phommachanh 8, Mindy Hirokawa 11, Janell Shimabukuro 0, Melanie Maglaya 1, Maria Colon 5, Dinishah Fa'asoa 2, Sinead Scovil 9, Monica Umeda 0, Louise Fiamate 2, Ashley Fortson 3, Ayesha Sheperd 0. Totals 14 11-23 41.

MOANALUA — Brianna Lagat-Ramos 12, A.J. Verida 0, Deena Dela Cruz 6, Michelle Hardy 2, Jalencia Brown 0, Janelle Uncango 3, Jamie Ronolo 11, Indah Widyakusuma 2, Britni Ronolo 17, Dawn Dela Cruz 0, Tahirah Gibson 2. Totals 19 17-34 55. 3-point goals: Kaimuki 2 (Hirokawa, Scovil). JV — Kaimuki 42, Moanalua 33

Reported by Kaylee Chang

OIA RED WEST

RADFORD 52, LEILEHUA 18

Ta Nitra Byrd scored 10 points and all nine Rams who played scored in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West victory over the visiting Mules, who got 16 points from Ashley Gonzales.

LEILEHUA (1-5) 3 4 8 3 — 18

RADFORD (5-1) 11 16 10 15 — 52

LEILEHUA — Ashley Gonzales 16, Ashley Momiyama 0, Kyra Gorton 0, Brittaney Stafford 0, Claudia Veikune 0, Shanee Henderson 1, Te'te Moore 0, Cassey Borromeo 1, Sabrina McBride 0, Josette Bocobo 0. Totals 6 6-13 18.

RADFORD — Leslie Lazo 3, Itali Lindsey 2, Bui Baravilala 3, Celina Cruz 9, Disa Brown 5, Brittini Fuller 6, Kiara Dykes 2, Chelsea-Ann Villanueva 9, Marsh DuPont 3, Ta Nitra Byrd 10. Totals 21 9-25 52. 3-point goals: Radford 1 (Brown). JV — Leilehua def. Radford

Reported by Jeselle Macalma

KAPOLEI 48, MILILANI 42

Ashlee Dela Cruz scored 21 points and the visiting Hurricanes, trailing 23-21 at halftime, took a 39-35 lead into the fourth quarter and held off the Trojans.

KAPOLEI (4-2) 11 10 18 9 — 48

MILILANI (1-5) 10 13 12 7 — 42

KAPOLEI — Loleina Lapina 3, Danniel Tapat 1, Ashlee Dela Cruz 21, Jasmine Gipson 0, Regina Simanu 5, Kesha Miller 2, Tamara Satcher 8, Jay Abbondanza 0, Cassidy Calio 0, Tahnee Foki 8, Leilani Tuani-Fifita 0. Totals 14 16-34 48.

MILILANI — Jordan Sakai 6, Chelsea Basilio 5, Kimi Ebina 3, Glenelle Nitta 1, Brianna Locquiao 0, Jamie-lyn Kaliwahea 8, Haunani Richardson 0, Chantel Tanuvasa 4, Courtney Senas 0, Joleen Realin 8, LaNeiha Lewis 0, Meilin Akiu 7. Totals 12 14-19 42. 3-point goals: Kapolei 4 (Dela Cruz 2, Foki, Lapina). Mililani 4 (Kaliwahea 2, Basilio, Ebina). JV — Mililani def. Kapolei

Reported by Scott DeSilva

OIA WHITE EAST

MCKINLEY 57, CASTLE 35

McKinley's Chelsie Sato hit four 3-pointers en route to 19 points, Jackie Tihano added 10, and the host Tigers broke the game open with a 19-10 third quarter for a 44-24 lead in beating the Knights in an O'ahu Interscholastic Association White East game.

CASTLE (3-4) 6 8 10 11 — 35

MCKINLEY (5-1) 7 18 19 13 — 57

CASTLE — Kori Berinobis 2, Candy Ames 5, Niki Kobashigawa 6, Kelsea Berinobis 6, Sarah Phromisiri 6, Brandee Sasaki 3, Chevy Au-Stein 3, Leesha Domingo 0, Ette Ameperosa 2, Nicole Aberilla 2. Totals 11 12-17 35.

MCKINLEY — Jackie Tihano 10, Kaitlyn Ikehara 6, Chelsie Sato 19, Jaelynn Lopez 0, Pearly Togiai 6, Joelle Sagapolu 0, Marybel Hebron 0, Kylie Sato 9, Sasha Hong 0, Christal Tafai 7, Allyson Villanueva 0. Totals 18 11-18 57.

3-point goals: Castle 1 (Sasaki). McKinley 10 (C. Sato 4, Tihano 2, Ikehara 2, K. Sato 2).

JV — MCKINLEY 55, CASTLE 37

Reported by Melvyne Mitsui

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.