Kinnick's McKenzie Johnson drives against a St. Paul defender. (Gracie Farneman/Special to Stripes)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea – Nile C. Kinnick’s girls could hardly be blamed for being a bit unnerved the next time they enter another basketball tournament final against a Guam team.

For the second time in 11 days, the Red Devils lost to a team from Guam in a major tournament final, this time losing 49-27 to island private school champion St. Paul Christian in Wednesday’s Division I Far East final.

“They hit their shots and we didn’t,” said coach David Weiland of the Red Devils, who finished the season 26-2. Their other loss came Jan 20 in the American School In Japan Kanto Classic, 27-19 to Academy of Our Lady of Guam.

Kinnick had beaten the Warriors 35-18 on Monday, went unbeaten at 5-0 in the tournament’s true round robin and won Wednesday’s semifinal easily 42-10 over ASIJ.

But in Wednesday’s final, the Warriors turned on defensive pressure and sank the long-distance shots that eluded them on Monday. Gabreanna Hahn and tournament MVP Ryanna Ngirchomlei combined to hit five three-point goals for St. Paul.

Kinnick's Leona Turner is surrounded by St. Paul defenders. (Gracie Farneman/Special to Stripes)

“Their ball pressure got to some of our wingers; their pressure was just too much to overcome,” Weiland said. “On this day and in that game, they were a better team.”

Ngirchomlei had 15 points and Hahn 12 for the Warriors. Leona Turner led the Red Devils with 10.

St. Paul won the Division II tournament title in 2011, their only other Far East crown. Kinnick was seeking its sixth D-I title and second in a row; the Red Devils beat Kadena 35-34 in last year’s final.