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Kapolei guard Ja’Shon Carter scored 11 of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter and the No. 8 Hurricanes clinched the OIA West title with a 58-42 win over seventh-ranked Leilehua on Friday in a matchup of the division’s undefeated teams.
Leilehua’s senior night game was called by mutual agreement between the coaches and officials with 12.8 seconds left due to an altercation in the stands after Carter scored his final point at the free-throw line.
“It’s a good thing for us,” Kapolei coach Gary Ellison said of the win as he rushed the Hurricanes to the team bus. “It was a good game. Leilehua played hard.”
Kapolei (10-0) will be the OIA West’s top seed when the league’s Division I playoffs open on Thursday. Both the Hurricanes and the Mules (9-1) already had secured first-round byes into the quarterfinals on Friday.
After the loss to close the regular season, Leilehua coach Russ Fitzgerald said he told the Mules, “We needed this kind of game,” going into the playoffs.
“We got this kind of intensity in the preseason playing five ILH teams,” Fitzgerald added. “All five of those losses were to quality teams. When we got to the OIA we slowed down a little and we have to stay sharp and games against quality teams like Kapolei and whoever we get next week, that’s really what we need.”
After Leilehua edged out to a 16-14 lead in the second quarter, Carter, a sophomore point guard, scored six points in the quarter’s final 3:08 to help the Hurricanes take a 25-20 lead into halftime.
Kapolei protected the lead in the third quarter, then extended it in the fourth by going 10-for-12 from the free-throw line, with guard Isiah Higa hitting all six of his attempts and Carter going 3-for-4.
Fitzgerald said Carter’s ball-handling ability provides Kapolei “a point guard who can, once you’re up by four or five, kind of expand the court.”
“(Kapolei) played really hard. The difference tonight was they shot free throws really well. That increased the lead and then it made us chase a little bit.”
Kapolei’s pressure produced steals on three consecutive Leilehua possessions early in the game and the Hurricanes jumped ahead 9-2. The Mules found their footing and junior guard Jaymond Agdinaoy sparked Leilehua with seven points in a 10-3 run, including a 3-pointer.
Leilehua nudged ahead in the second quarter while Kapolei went scoreless over the first 4 minutes of the period. But Carter led the Hurricanes’ surge to a halftime lead.
Kapolei took command in the fourth, opening up a 47-36 lead with less than four minutes left, when Carter scored off an assist from Zoar Nedd, who then grabbed a rebound and fired an outlet pass to Carter for a transition layup.
The outcome was all but sealed when the altercation arose in the stands and the game was called.
“It’s two teams playing really hard and people in the stands not thinking about them. I’m going to remember the game. I’m not going to remember the last 12 seconds,” Fitzgerald said.
“Safety was the biggest issue. For 12 seconds for one team to get another basket, it wasn’t worth it. Safety is always paramount.”
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ILH DIVISION I BOYS
No. 3 Maryknoll 50,No. 2 Punahou 46
At Maryknoll
Punahou (7-2) 4 16 14 12 — 46
Maryknoll (7-1) 14 12 15 9 — 50
PUNAHOU—Cole Mausolf 7, Zayne Chong 5, Hunter Hosoda 5, Maninoa Tufono 0, Chris Kobayashi 24, Cortez Feria 0, Kaulana Makaula 3, Jack-Eli Tufono 0, Ke‘ala Martinson 0, Beau Whittaker 2, Tamatoa Falatea 0, Duke Clemens 0.
MARYKNOLL—Isiah Gelacio 11, Jordyn Perez 4, Daven Pila 3, Makoto Kamata 8, Kainoa Ferreira 3, Jaylen Cain 7, Kaulana Schmidt 11, Kalai Akaka 0, Payton Grant 3, Marcus Tobin 0, Riden Leong 0.
3-point goals—Punahou 8 (Kobayashi 6, Chong, Hosoda), Maryknoll 8 (Gelacio 3, Ferreira, Grant, Kamata, Pila, Schmidt).
No. 4 ‘Iolani 55,Saint Louis 49
At Saint Louis
‘Iolani (6-2) 13 18 11 13 — 55
Saint Louis (1-7) 5 16 13 15 — 49
‘IOLANI—Helam Baldomero 16, Kawika Lee 3, Frank Felix 7, Bailey Alabanza 3, Noah Bumanglag 8, Justin Genovia 13, Jarin Yokogawa 0, Cameron Chang 5.
SAINT LOUIS—Jaymason Nunuha 17, Keawe Silva 5, Trey Taba 0, Junior Wily 0, Noah Browne 4, Jalen Smith 2, Chris Sykes 3, Noa Purcell 8, Gino Quinones 4, Josh White 6.
3-point goals—‘Iolani 7 (Baldomero 4, Alabanza, Genovia, Lee. Saint Louis 2 (Browne, Nunuha).
No. 9 Kamehameha 50, Mid-Pacific 46
At Mid-Pacific
Kamehameha (3-6) 14 8 15 13 — 50
Mid-Pacific (1-7) 9 6 10 21 — 46
KAMEHAMEHA—Francis Gora 5, Kameron Victorino Kato 14, Christmas Togiai 5, Lele Kawaiaea 5, Mycah Pimental 0, Kobe Young 9, Laamea Frank 4, Hoku Arias 8.
MID-PACIFIC—Cade Coito 10, Kamana Lapina 5, Hugh Donlon 0, Kyle Lagana 9, Zion Shepherd 20, Robert Thompson 0, Jacen Kimura 0, Cameron Hersh 2, Travis Murayama 0.
3-point goals—Kamehameha 5 (Young 2, Frank, Kawaiea, Victorino Kato). Mid-Pacific 3 (Lagana 2, Lapina).
ILH Division I-AA boys
Kamehameha 49, Maryknoll 38
ILH DIVISION II BOYS
No. 6 St. Francis 73, Damien 61
Kameron Ng scored 28 points as the Saints remained undefeated in ILH play.
Damien’s Kolin Galdiano hit four 3-pointers and finished with 18 points.
At St. Francis
Damien (5-3) 9 7 23 22 — 61
St. Francis (8-0) 23 11 18 21 — 73
DAMIEN—Dorien Penebacker 2, Jayden Peters-DeLaura 4, Kolin Galdiano 18, Michael Donley 2, Robert Kanoa III 0, Shaun Apiki 10, Tanner Souza 10, Ed-Ryan Balbuena 3, Lindon Sevilleja 12.
ST. FRANCIS—Kameron Ng 28, Noah Kurosawa 3, Boris Vukovic 4, Kordell Ng 1, Bryce Nishida 4, Manoa Kualii-Moe 12, Micah Kalei 5, Justus Paaluhi-Clark 6, Supilani Mailei 10.
3-point goals—Damien 8 (Galdiano 4, Sevilleja 2, Balbuena, Souza). St. Francis 4 (Ng 2, Kualii-Moe, Kurosawa).
OIA EAST BOYS
No. 10 Kalaheo 51, McKinley 47
Captain Whitlock scored 24 points in the Mustangs’ victory over the Tigers.
At McKinley
Kalaheo (8-3) 7 20 12 12 — 51
McKinley (8-3) 11 7 14 15 — 47
KALAHEO—Andrew Kearney 2, Noah Woodby 7, Captain Whitlock 24, Ryan Pardini 6, Nate Gribbins 4, Cannen Chiu 5, Harry Wallace 0, Andreas Jankovic 3.
MCKINLEY—Huttachia Buttayotee 15, Tevin Cayetano 0, Hsien Pascua 0, Mark Burke 5, Caleb Corpening 7, Jeremy Coloyan 9, Lane Laroya 0, Kevin Kim 11, RJ Cabico 0, Yashu Lanki 0.
3-point goals—Kalaheo 6 (Whitlock 2, Pardini 2, Chiu, Woodby). McKinley 3 ( Buttayotee, Corpening, Kim).
Kailua 65, Roosevelt 56
At Kailua
Roosevelt (3-8) 14 9 17 16 — 56
Kailua (8-3) 12 13 17 23 — 65
ROOSEVELT—Jared Elwin 14, Juan Alvarez 0, Cameron Miyasato 0, Charvis Paia 0, Micah Visoria 13, Jason Talbo 17, Michael Hyun 7, Shastyn Kekahuna 2, Christopher Lee 3, Tyler Ramirez 0, Chayden Sasaki-Kalamau 0.
KAILUA—Everett Torres-Kahapea 11, Jonah Kalai 8, Aaron Mejia 4, Christian Mejia 10, Hapaki Kupahu-Phillips 9, Kyle Blackman 0, Makana Robeson 5, Reyn Matsukawa 1, Ronske Inere 1, Zachary Marrotte 15, John Sniffen 0, Paul Serikawa 1.
3-point goals—Roosevelt 8 (Elwin 3, Visoria 2, Talbo 2, Lee). Kailua 1 (Torres-Kahapea).
Junior varsity—Roosevelt 45, Kailua 37
Kaiser 41, Kalani 36
At Kaiser
Kalani (5-6) 7 8 3 18 — 36
Kaiser (7-4) 11 12 7 11 — 41
KALANI—Jaemi Harris 4, Max Pepe 1, Jared Ki 0, Ryan Jacobi 1, Logan Matsuoka 0, Micah Kawano 9, Kapaa Nishimura 9, Matt Souza 0, Trey Sumida 0, Trey Joslin 6, Akira Karasawa 2, Christian Salas 0, Toby Mitchell 4, Evan Chiu 0.
KAISER—Brayden Nueku 9, Jace Kaito 2, Shaun Kim 0, Jaymin Khan-Smith 2, Cameron Ma 2, Jacob Summers 0, Bradley Wood 0, Cyrus Singelman 10, Luke Harman 2, Tate Esperanza 0, Hunter Dias 14, Colin Chun 0.
3-point goals—Kalani 1 (Nishimura). Kaiser 7 (Dias 4, Nueku 3).
Junior varsity—Kaiser 39, Kalani 37
Moanalua 63,Kaimuki 51
At Moanalua
Kaimuki (3-8) 9 20 4 18 — 51
Moanalua (6-5) 10 18 18 17 — 63
KAIMUKI—Andre Houze 0, Andries Toussaint 4, Jacob Taualupe 9, Fred Taulung 10, Isaiah Stojak 0, Jonah Faasoa 7, Reymundo Jr. Gomez 13, Shanson Kapanui 8.
MOANALUA—Isaiah Sugiura 4, Austin Dyer 6, Blayze Simon 2, CJ Bonilla 4, Isaiah Jackson 6, RJ Dominguez 17, Caleb Casinas 12, Ethan Feguis-Tavares 0, Sebastian Ibarra 4, Jonathan Turk 8.
3-point goals—Kaimuki 5 (Taulung 2, Faasoa 2, Gomez). Moanalua 3 (Casinas 2, Ibarra).
Junior varsity—Not reported.
OIA WEST BOYS
Mililani 67, Waianae 59
Kaleo Pogue scored 24 points as the Trojans beat the Seariders.
Waianae’s Douglas Mitchell finished with 25 points.
At Mililani
Waianae (5-5) 14 17 11 17 — 59
Mililani (7-3) 22 13 15 17 — 67
WAIANAE—Kade Ambrocio 15, John-Gilbert Ramos 2, Keliinoe Meyers 0, Wela Kalulu 4, Rhyzon DeMello 0, Noa Edwards 2, Douglas Mitchell 25, Manu Taukolo 4, Jared Elizares 7, K. Mauga 0.
MILILANI—Andrew Valladares 3, Matthew Amistoso 8, Evan Bergman 0, Kaleo Pogue 24, Nakoa Krafft 6, Roman Tovi 4, Marcus Jackson 2, Jalen Miller 5, Cameron Henry 15.
3-point goals—Waianae none. Mililani 6 (Henry 3, Krafft 2, Miller).
Junior varsity—Mililani 55, Waianae 23
Campbell 72, Waialua 24
At Campbell
Waialua (1-9) 6 6 8 4 — 24
Campbell (7-3) 16 21 21 14 — 72
WAIALUA—Lancen Kuni 2, Julian Fely-Menor 0, Kymani Ayonon 9, Forest Bell 6, Oliver Hanley 2, Jake Riviere 2, Matthan Hatchie 3.
CAMPBELL—Zane Arata 6, Ryan Cabanilla 9, Christian Corpuz 8, Reginald Knowles 0, Ethan Galisa 5, Larsen Jones 6, Mitchell Williams 6, Andrew Mersburgh 3, Dakota Keepeagles Le Beau 14, Samuel Sabellona 8, Henry Nixon 0, Josahn Mageo 7.
3-point goals—Waialua none. Campbell 8 (Cabanilla 3, Arata 2, Galisa, Jones, Mersburgh).
Junior varsity—Campbell 47, Waialua 16
Aiea 54, Pearl City 51
At Pearl City
Aiea (5-5) 14 13 14 13 — 54
Pearl City (2-8) 18 10 10 13 — 51
AIEA—Jake Furukawa 0, Darian Thompson 2, Jonah Gormley 6, Elvis Garramone 6, Kailen Shinmoto 13, Sharick Ordillo 0, Noah Hartbarger 11, Alex Dela Cruz 3, Micah White-Hikalea 2, Keyson Goins 11, Garett Wilson 0.
PEARL CITY—Joshua Matsuda 2, Che Erquiza-Oliveros 2, Pierce McMoore 12, Ryan Yamamoto 8, Garren Spillner 16, Jared Nash 8, Jayden Parel 3, Ethan Costas-Paikai 0.
3-point goals—Aiea 7 (Shinmoto 3, Hartbarger 2, Gormley, Goins). Pearl City 5 (Yamamoto 2, Spillner 2, McMoore).
Junior varsity—Pearl City 57, Aiea 47
No. 8 Kapolei 58,No. 7 Leilehua 42
At Leilehua
Kapolei (10-0) 14 11 9 24 — 58
Leilehua (9-1) 12 8 9 13 — 42
KAPOLEI—Hezekiah Del Prado 0, Isiah Higa 10, Kieran Queen-Booker 0, Jayson Manapul 9, Zoar Nedd 7, Marquis Montgomery 8, Ja’Shon Carter 23, Jeremiah Sanchez 1, Riley Asuncion 0.
LEILEHUA—Genesis Ofoia 2, Tashaun Wright 7, Kaleo Aloha Piceno 0, Trey Boatwright 5, Liam Fitzgerald 8, Jostin Gampayon 5, Elijah Robinson 2, Jaymond Agdinaoy 7, Kalei Kauhi 6.
3-point goals—Kapolei 1 (Manapul). Leilehua 3 (Agdinaoy, Fitzgerald Wright).
Junior Varsity—Kapolei 47, Leilehua 36
Also: Nanakuli 47, Waipahu 39
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