Much like how they traveled, the Kahuku Red Raiders went from one end to the other to win the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White girls basketball championship.

Vaimalama Tito and reserves Jessica Falemalu and Jovan Falemalu scored 10 points each, and Kahuku's defense pressed the entire length of the floor to beat Kaimuki, 61-48, last night.

Kahuku (14-1), ranked No. 10 in The Advertiser's statewide poll of coaches and media, traveled from the North Shore to McKinley's Student Council Gym and likely secured a seed for next week's Division II state tournament.

"Sometimes when the opposite team crosses halfcourt and dribble further down, they think the press is off, but in our press, we don't," Kahuku coach David Te'o said. "(Other teams) go all the way to the sideline, we go all the way down to the baseline. Our trap never ends right there."

Reserves Olivia Phommachanh scored 19 points and Tanya Villanueva added 11 for Kaimuki (13-4), which went 1-3 against Kahuku this season.

"We got to work on a lot of things," Phommachanh said of the state tournament. "We got to learn how to get open and create and work together. Especially the shoot-outs, that's the main thing that's been killing us against Kahuku."

The Red Raiders used an 11-0 run midway through the third quarter to extend a 36-33 lead to 47-33 on Rachel Tailele's basket with 1:36 left.

"Everybody helped each other," Tito said. "Everybody was a team player, getting everybody open for their shots."

The Bulldogs cut the deficit to eight twice in the fourth quarter and trailed 56-46 after Phommachanh's three-point play with 2:20 left. But Kaimuki went cold from the field the rest of the game until Phommachanh's basket in the game's closing seconds.

Te'o said his team's offense looked disoriented, but the Red Raiders' press frustrated the Bulldogs, forcing seven turnovers midway through the first quarter. Jessica Falemalu's basket made it 9-4 with less than three minutes remaining.

"It was definitely a big improvement from the last time we played Kaimuki on Saturday (in the tournament)," Tito said of her team's defense.

Villanueva scored six straight points to give Kaimuki a 10-9 lead and Phommachanh's basket with 30 seconds remaining put the Bulldogs ahead 12-11 at the end of the first quarter.

Tito and Lavinia Latu each hit a 3-pointer to start the second quarter to give Kahuku a 17-12 lead. Alysha Cummings' steal and layup made it 21-14 and Jessica Falemalu's 3-pointer gave Kahuku a 26-17 lead with less than three minutes left. Phommachanh hit two 3s to help Kaimuki cut the deficit to 30-25 at halftime.

"Hats off to Kaimuki; they gave us a run for our money," Te'o said. "Our girls were offensively disoriented for two quarters out of four."

NOTES: Also qualifying for the Division II state tournament are Kamehameha-Hawai'i, Moloka'i, Kapa'a, Maryknoll Kaiser, Hawai'i Prep, Seabury Hall, University High and St. Andrew's. The ILH's final berth will be determined in tonight's postseason tournament final between Hawai'i Baptist and Hanalani.

KAHUKU (14-1) 11 19 17 14 — 61

KAIMUKI (13-4) 12 13 11 12 — 48

KAHUKU — Nile Te'o 8, Vaimalama Tito 10, Temutisa Te'o 2, Lavinia Latu 6, Maria Tonga 0, Jessica Falemalu 10, Jovan Falemalu 10, Uluakimata Tonga 0, Rachel Tailele 7, Alysha Cummings 8. Totals 25 7-11 61.

KAIMUKI — Olivia Phommachanh 19, Pua Akaka 5, Sasha Tokuda 0, Brooke Borce 0, Tanya Villanueva 11, Dinishah Fa'asoa 1, Nikki Chipen-Ii 0, Letisha Fa'asoa 6, Dejah Fa'asoa 2, Leti Mikaele 0, Ashley Fortson 4, Lani Mikaele 0, Keana Paez 0. Totals 19 5-14 48.

3-point goals: Kahuku 4 (Je. Falemalu 2, Tito, Latu). Kaimuki 5 (Phommachanh 2, L. Fa'asoa 2, Akaka).