Kahuku tops Punahou for state title
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Kahuku Red Raiders celebrated their 70-55 win over Punahou for Division I state title.
CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Saint Francis’ Micah Kalei jumped with a teammate after the Saints beat Kalani for the Division II state title.
In one of the most fast-paced state finals in recent memory, top-seeded Kahuku got 23 points from point guard Jessiya Villa and 20 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks from Samuta Avea to outlast second-seeded Punahou 70-55 in the Division I final of the Snapple/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Villa was the spark to the engine, pushing the tempo all night before the Kahuku-leaning crowd of 3,565. He added seven rebounds and made seven of his last eight free-throw attempts as the Red Raiders closed the game with a 14-5 run.
“I shot well from the free-throw line and got everyone involved. To represent Kahuku, everyone is part of this wonderful team,” Villa said.
Dan Fotu, a 6-foot-7 junior, tallied 14 points, eight boards and three dimes for Kahuku (26-3 overall), which captured its first crown in boys basketball.
The Red Raiders also got superb defense from stoppers Codie Sauvao and Kesi Ah-Hoy. Sauvao covered Punahou’s top scorer, Chris Kobayashi, and Ah-Hoy smothered Zayne Chong most of the night. Kobayashi shot 5-for-15 from the field and finished with 12 points. Chong, a huge contributor to Punahou’s comeback win over Lahainaluna in the semifinals, had 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting. Cole Mausolf led ILH champion Punahou (26-6) with 14 points.
In the Division II championship game, Saint Francis guard Kameron Ng scored a game-high 16 points, forward Boris Vukovic added 13 points and 11 rebounds, and the top-seeded Saints captured the program’s second Division II state title and first since 2013, beating Kalani 52-46.
Hawaii Prep World
For high school sports record books, visit hawaiiprepworld.com.10 responses to “Kahuku tops Punahou for state title”
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Awesome game. Congrats Big Red!
Nice to see public schools bring the Puns down. Good quality game and a runaway win for Kahuku. Nice to see it.
Now THAT was a game! Congrats Big Red!
agree..Puns got schooled
great game, congrats to both teams. they all played their hearts out. Might be time for pun to evaluate their bball coaches
If Pun fans wanna form a band, fine. But they should not be allowed to bring their instruments into the SSC or NBC. If they are allowed, then any fan or group of fans should also be allowed to bring in instruments. They’ve been ruining HHSAA events for years?
avea coming to UH and lets get fotu next year the younger brother of Isaac and tes witlocks son captain witlock good recruits.
I hated what Kahuku did to Coach Akina. But it looks like they got even a better coach now in Brandyn Akana. Recruiting is the name of the game nowadays. Everyone is doing it now. With his recruiting connections all over the world, he is the right guy for the head coaching position at Kahuku.
Who knows if the Kahuku basketball team also does the haka before the game.
You know, for a former college level, division one assistant coach to humble himself to coach High School is amazing………..it’s all about the boys ya?
the victory bus passed by my rental place last night…..I then knew they had won!
A very special team. Wish the plate s the best in their future endeavors. Go Big Red!