Capitalizing on its chance to make history, Lahainaluna ran past Roosevelt, 58-44, last night in the Hawaiian Airlines/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Girls Basketball Division I Championship quarterfinals.

Boosted by a vocal fan base at Farrington, the No. 4 seed and Maui Interscholastic League champion Lunas improved to 15-0 in the regular and postseason and advanced to their first semifinal appearance today against No. 1 seed and defending state champion Punahou (12-1).

Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. at Blaisdell Arena, followed by the other semifinal between No. 2 seed and Big Island Interscholastic Federation champ Konawaena (13-0) against No. 3 seed and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion Farrington (19-1).

"We came here to win, and hopefully we can do it," said Lahainaluna senior center Milika Taufa, who scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds last night.

The Lunas, who won all 14 MIL games by at least 20 points each, were in a first-half battle against the Rough Riders before finishing the second period with a 7-0 run to lead 28-22 at the break. They started the second half with another 7-0 run to go up, 35-22, after a layup by Taufa with 6:15 remaining.

Eight of Lahainaluna's 14 points in those runs came off layups, many in transition as Taufa would grab defensive boards and get the ball to guards releasing on the fast break.

"We rushed our shots on offense, and that made the pace fast," Roosevelt coach Clint Chikamori said. "But (the Lunas) are real aggressive and scrappy on defense."

Tasia Kamakawiwo'ole finally broke the string on a free throw with 5:59 left, starting the Rough Riders on an 8-2 run that closed it to 37-31 four minutes later. Lahainaluna took a 42-33 lead into the final quarter, but Roosevelt closed to 42-41 with an 8-0 run capped by Mikela Thoemmes' two free throws with 5:48 to play.

The Rough Riders, however, would go the final six minutes without a field goal as the Lunas opened up their transition game again.

"In the past, we've been in that situation (a one-point game late), and I told our girls this is where the MIL teams have faltered," Lahainaluna coach Todd Rickard said. "I just asked them to dig down one more time and make one more run, and they did."

Kelsea Cabrera added 12 points and Maiki Viela had 10 points and six assists for the Lunas.

Thoemmes led Roosevelt with 16 points and 11 rebounds, Joshy Noga added 13 points and Kamakawiwo'ole had seven points and 10 rebounds.

ROOSEVELT (12-8) 12 10 11 11 — 44

LAHAINALUNA (15-0) 13 15 16 16 — 58

ROOSEVELT — Charisse Tanabe 0, Kelcie Namba 6, Samantha Murakami 0, Kathleen Nakata 0, Nicole Ramirez 2, Abcde Furuta-Harada 0, Rachel Gomes 0, Mikela Thoemmes 16, Joshlyn Noga 13, Tasia Kamakawiwo'ole 7. Totals 13 18-24 44.

LAHAINALUNA — Maiki Viela 10, Trina Akima 0, Rachael Rickard 4, Mele Filikitonga 2, Milika Taufa 24, Kelsea Cabrera 12, Hiilei Bacalso 0, Ana-Marie Lauese 2, Matenoa Taufa 2, Ofa Namoa 2. Totals 24 10-19 58.

3-point goals: Roosevelt none. Lahainaluna none.

PUNAHOU 53, 'AIEA 36

Janelle Nomura scored a game-high 28 points, including 11 in the first period, as the Buffanblu led from start to finish.

Punahou led 15-4 after one period and closed the half with an 8-3 run after Na Ali'i closed to 22-14 with 3:02 remaining after a steal and layup by Natasha Helsham.

Carol Sio opened the second half with a layup to close it to 30-19, but that was as close as 'Aiea would get.

Helsham led Na Ali'i with 13 points and five rebounds, and Sio added 10 points and five rebounds.

'AIEA (12-6) 4 13 10 9 — 36

PUNAHOU (12-1) 15 15 10 13 — 53

'AIEA — Celeste Fong 0, Natasha Helsham 13, Natasha Fong 4, Crystal Tagudin 6, Rayna Strom-Okimoto 3, Emily Tausaga 0, Kaui Kuehu 0, Carol Sio 10. Totals 14 6-14 36.

PUNAHOU — Kaylin Okuma 4, Rebecca Lau 2, Julianne Nomura 2, Janet Li 2, Anna Merrifield 0, Brittnie Lau 0, Mysha Sataraka 2, Janelle Nomura 28, Ashley Feria 0, Jennifer Ching 3, Julia Brand 2, Kysa Ludviksen 2, Tressa Torres 6. Totals 15 18-29 53.

3-point goals: 'Aiea 2 (Helsham, Fong). Punahou 5 (Ja. Nomura 4, Okuma).

KALANI 81, WAIAKEA 64

Violet Alama scored 19 points and Jamie Higa added 18, hitting three of Kalani's 10 3-pointers, to lead the Falcons to a consolation-round victory at Farrington gym.

WAIAKEA (8-6) 19 12 18 15 — 64

KALANI (10-9) 24 20 14 23 — 81

WAIaKEA — Jamielynn Moe 2, Kanisha Bello 20, Kamie Imai 22, Amanda Hubbell 7, Tricia Amuimuia 0, Ciera Pacheco 0, Tracie Sakane 0, Alyssa Ferreira 13, Cassandra Morigaki 0. Totals 25 11-21 64.

KALANI — Kelsie Maslanka 3, Tiffany Liao 0, Corie Kuia 10, Ashlyn Onaga 13, Kiera Iinuma 7, Cristine Sasano 0, Kristi Belshe 5, Hikaru Kumagai 6, Jamie Higa 18, Tiare Maafala 0, Loretta Misaalefua 0, Loraina Misaalefua 0, Violet Alama 19. Totals 23 25-34 81.

3-point goals: Waiakea 3 (Bello, Hubbell, Ferreira). Kalani 10 (Maslanka, Onaga 2, Kumagai 2, Kuia, Iinuma, Higa 3).