The Kailua Surfriders wanted to play the role of the tortoise, but the Kahuku Red Raiders wanted to play the hare.
In the end, No. 1-ranked Kahuku never quite got the race going, but dominated No. 8 Kailua in the paint for a hard-earned 53-37 win on Wednesday at Thomas Walker Gymnasium.
Jessiya Villa finished with 14 points and five assists to spark the Red Raiders (2-0 OIA East), doing most of his damage in the late going to stifle a Kailua comeback. Samuta Avea (seven points, 12 rebounds), Dan Fotu (seven points, seven boards, four blocks) and Taimoana Wright (four points, five boards) were crucial for Big Red during a pivotal second quarter.
Kailua (1-1) was behind 11-10 at the start of the second, but shot just 2-for-10 after Fotu entered the game. His 6-foot-7 frame and condor-like wingspan added to Kahuku’s length at rim level.
“I looked at the score and coach (Brandyn Akana) said we could do better,” the New Zealand national team member (U-18) said.
Guards Codie Sauvao and Kesi Ah-Hoy were sparkplugs defensively. Sauvao scored three points off two steals while Fotu went to work on the low post offensively. After Avea followed a missed shot with a mid-air slam dunk, Kahuku had a 21-12 lead late in the second quarter.
“We’ve been preaching rebounding,” said Akana, who was surprised by Kahuku’s 40-23 edge on the glass. “We’re bigger and more athletic, so we’ve got to rebound.”
Twice in the third quarter, Kailua sophomore Everett Torres-Kahapea hit 3-pointers and was fouled. He had 10 of his team-high 17 points in the third, but Kailua couldn’t get consistency. The visiting Surfriders got within 28-21, but Sauvao hustled for a putback and Ah-Hoy scored on a fastbreak to trigger a run that extended Kahuku’s lead to 36-26 at the end of three quarters.
Villa, who hit a floater near the end of the third, added a transition layup, a 3 and two foul shots as the Red Raiders stretched the lead to 44-31 with 4 minutes remaining.
After Fotu, Villa and Marcus Damuni scored on layups, Kahuku was in full command with a 50-32 lead.
OIA EAST BOYS
No. 1 Kahuku 53, No. 8 Kailua 37
At Kahuku
| Kailua (1-1) |
10 |
4 |
12 |
11 |
— |
37 |
| Kahuku (2-0) |
11 |
12 |
13 |
17 |
— |
53 |
KAILUA–Aaron Mejia 0, Everett Torres-Kahapea 17, Zachary Marrotte 7, Makana Robeson 0, Keoni Serikawa Jr. 3, Hapaki Kupahu-Phillips 2, Christian Mejia 8.
KAHUKU–Jessiya Villa 14, Kesi Ah-Hoy 7, Ethan Christenson 0, K.J. Macatiag 0, Marcus Damuni 2, Dan Fotu 7, Ethan Erickson 1, Codie Sauvao 9, Robbie Sauvao 2, Samuta Avea 7, Taimoana Wright 4, Stennett Alapa 0.
3-point goals–Kailua 5 (Torres-Kahapea 3, Marrotte, Serikawa), Kahuku 2 (Ah-Hoy, Villa).
Junior varsity–Kahuku 61, Kailua 23
Kaiser 55, No. 9 Kalaheo 48
At Kalaheo
| Kaiser (2-0) |
6 |
14 |
15 |
20 |
— |
55 |
| Kalaheo (1-1) |
13 |
13 |
13 |
9 |
— |
48 |
KAISER–Brayden Nueku 15, Shaun Kim 4, Jaymin Khan-Smith 0, Cameron Ma 14, Dane Tsue 0, Jacob Summers 4, Bradley Wood 0, Brandon Yasue 2, Cyrus Singelman 16, Luke Harman 0, Tate Esperanza 0, Hunter Dias 0, Colin Chun 0.
KALAHEO–Andrew Kearney 13, Cameron Kalaukoa 0, Cyrus Hernandez 0, Noah Woodby 7, Captain Whitlock 19, Kai Samiere 0, Lawrence DeCosta 0, Ryan Pardini 5, David Teves 0, Nate Gribbins 0, Justus Neufeldt 0, Harry Wallace 2, Andreas Jankovic 2, Mark Lehner 0.
3-point goals–Kaiser 4 (Nueku 3, Ma). Kalaheo 4 (Whitlock 2, Kearney, Pardini).
Junior varsity–Kaiser 50, Kalaheo 47
Roosevelt 48, Kaimuki 46, OT
At Kaimuki
| Roosevelt (1-1) |
7 |
10 |
12 |
12 |
7 |
— |
48 |
| Kaimuki (0-2) |
12 |
7 |
17 |
5 |
5 |
— |
46 |
ROOSEVELT–Jared Elwin 1, Adam Chiya 0, Juan Alvarez 0, Cameron Miyasato 5, Charvis Paia 0, Micah Visoria 10, Jason Talbo 12, Michael Hyun 10, Shastyn Kekahuna 10, Tyler Ramirez 0.
KAIMUKI–Andre Houze 0, Andress Toussaint 4, Mykii Weiney 3, Jonah Faasoa 2, Reymundo Jr. Gomez 7, HS Haruo 0, Shanson Kapanui 19, Tayler Espinda 11.
3-point goals–Roosevelt 3 (Miyasato, Talbo, Visoria). Kaimuki 6 (Espinda 3, Gomez, Kapanui, Weiney).
Junior varsity–Roosevelt 47, Kaimuki 43
Kalani 53, Castle 48
At Kalani
| Castle (0-2) |
12 |
11 |
16 |
9 |
— |
48 |
| Kalani (2-0) |
11 |
10 |
17 |
15 |
— |
53 |
CASTLE–Gideon Ryder-Duncan 0, Ashten Kanoa 0, Aric Agullana 0, Matthew Latorre 11, Jordan Ne 0, Ashten Soderberg 14, Kelena Otsuji 0, Sheldon Hu 0, Lukela Hoapili 10, Brendan McCray 0, Justin Lopes 13.
KALANI–Jaemi Harris 7, Max Pepe 8, Kainoa Coarsey 0, Kalei Packer 2, Jared Ki 0, Ryan Jacobi 2, Logan Matsuoka 3, Micah Kawano 11, Kapaa Nishimura 9, Trey Sumida 4, Trey Joslin 5, Akira Karasawa 0, Christian Salas 2.
3-point goals–Castle 3 (Soderberg 2, Latorre). Kalani 1 (Nishimura).
Junior varsity–Kalani 55, Castle 22
McKinley 61, Anuenue 12
At McKinley
| Anuenue (0-2) |
0 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
— |
12 |
| McKinley (2-0) |
24 |
17 |
10 |
10 |
— |
61 |
ANUENUE–Moi Edwards 2, Kailau Keola 6, Pekelo Kealohi 0, Lino Kauaula 0, Mana Leonard 0, Kanehoalani Kalua 0, Kaimi Wahilani , Kaniela Wahilani 0, Kealii English 0, Kawena Awong , Kaee Tamarra 2, Kalanimoki Smith , Kolomona Purdy 0, Kamau Remmers 2, Hoapili Rapozo 0.
MCKINLEY–Huttachia Buttayotee 0, Tevin Cayetano 7, Hsien Pascua 0, Mark Burke 4, Treyson Furuta 7, Caleb Corpening 4, Jeremy Coloyan 6, Lane Laroya 0, Kevin Kim 4, RJ Cabico 8, Kyle Moraga 13, Rayden Jones 8.
3-point goals–Anuenue 1 (Keola). McKinley 3 (Cayetano, Furuta, Moraga).
oia west BOYS
Leilehua 49, Radford 33
At Radford
| Leilehua (2-0) |
8 |
16 |
11 |
14 |
— |
49 |
| Radford (0-2) |
7 |
10 |
4 |
12 |
— |
33 |
LEILEHUA– Genesis Ofoia 0, Tashaun Wright 2, Alijah Ginn 0, Kaleo Piceno 0, Trey Boatwright 26, Noah Park 2, Liam Fitzgerald 10, Jostin Gampayon 5, Elijah Robinson 0, Antonio Hobbs 0, Jaymond Agdinaoy 4.
RADFORD–Jamar Hill 0, Patrick Ignacio 0, Santino Calloway 0, Braden Kent 0, Jeremy Ramos 5, Earl Navarro 3, Jordan Annaguey 8, Christian Cristobal 5, Matteo Mennini 2, Marcus Parker 0, Jordan Pender 4, Robert Garrison 6.
3-point goals–Leilehua 1 (Fitzgerald). Radford 3 (Cristobal, Navarro, Ramos).
Junior varsity–Leilehua 50, Radford 45
Campbell 38, Waianae 31
At Waianae
| Campbell (1-1) |
1 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
— |
38 |
| Waianae (1-1) |
7 |
14 |
6 |
4 |
— |
31 |
CAMPBELL–Zane Arata 1, Ryan Cabanilla 4, Christian Corpuz 18, Reginald Knowles 0, Ethan Galisa 1, Larsen Jones 0, Andrew Mersburgh 7, Dakota Beau 5, Samuel Sabellona 0, Henry Nixon 2, Ryan Dumay 0, Josahn Mageo 0.
WAIANAE– John-Gilbert Ramos 0, Keliinoe Meyers 2, Wela Kalulu 0, Noa Edwards 0, Douglas Mitchell 15, Manu Taukolo 4, Blaze Kahikina 3, Jared Elizares 5, Jordan Ravera 2.
3-point goals–Campbell 7 (Corpuz 5, Cabanilla, Mersburgh). Waianae 2 (Elizares, Mitchell).
Junior varsity–Campbell 45, Waianae 29
Kapolei 70, Nanakuli 50
At Kapolei
| Nanakuli (0-1) |
4 |
10 |
20 |
16 |
— |
50 |
| Kapolei (2-0) |
17 |
20 |
25 |
8 |
— |
70 |
NANAKULI–Daniel Lopez 5, Ian Akaka-Folu 3, Moustapha Wagne 28, Jayrius Alapai 9, Carlos Brown 1, Lynold Tuiloma 2, Kaena Anakalea 2.
KAPOLEI– Hezekiah Del Prado 8, Isiah Higa 12, Joshua Ascuncion 1, Jayson Manapul 8, Oshuia Alston 0, Zoar Nedd 11, Marquis Montgomery 6, Ja’shon Carter 12, Kamakana Cunningham 7, Riley Asuncion 2, Kanoa Manalo 3.
3-point goals–Nanakuli 2 (Alapai, Lopez). Kapolei 5 (Del Prado 2, Carter, Cunningham, Manapul)
Junior varsity–Kapolei 35, Nanakuli 22
Also
Aiea 51, Waipahu 48
Punahou Invitational
Hamamatsu Tech 48, Kamehameha II 35Punahou II 54, Sherman County 53Bentley 47, KS-Hawaii 38Kamehameha 67, Damien 40Sequoia 59, Los Alamitos 49
Bishop Hendricken 73, Saint Louis 60Santa Margarita 67, St. Francis 43Punahou 65, Wilson 54
MIL varsity GirLs
Seabury Hall 48, Lanai 37
At Lanai
| Seabury Hall |
10 |
10 |
13 |
15 |
— |
48 |
| Lanai |
9 |
2 |
11 |
15 |
— |
37 |
Scoring leaders–SH: Kyra Cambra 23, Anaulei Tu’ivai 14 points. Lanai: Jana Ohashi 14.
