Patience and persistence paid off for the fourth-ranked Kahuku Red Raiders.
The OIA East’s top seed endured a slowdown tactic by McKinley before breaking open a close game in the second half for a 56-40 win on Monday night in the semifinals of the OIA boys basketball playoffs at McKinley Student Council Gymnasium.
Tolu Smith, Kahuku’s 6-foot-10 senior, scored 19 of his 21 points after halftime. He also pulled down 11 rebounds as the visiting Red Raiders dominated the glass with a 25-15 advantage.
Kahuku (24-3 overall including nonconference games) will meet East second seed Kalaheo for the OIA Division I championship on Wednesday at McKinley. Kahuku opened the regular season with a 57-40 win over Kalaheo on Dec. 23.
Kyle Moraga led McKinley (14-12 overall) with 19 points. The Tigers caught fire late in the season to reach the semifinal round and earn a state tournament berth.
“Our team played well for almost three quarters. We kept the pace just right, but it’s kind of hard to stop a 6-foot-10 guy,” McKinley coach Duane Omori said. “Our guys worked so hard, scrapping on defense.”
One of their four losses during the regular season was 48-45 at Kahuku.
“The first time we played them, they played stall ball,” said Smith, who has signed to play for Western Kentucky. “The second time (on Monday), they played stall ball. Over time, we got used to it.”
McKinley used a box-and-one defense, putting 5-5 guard Hsien Pascua on the towering Smith. It worked for a half. Smith had just two points on 1-for-2 shooting with four rebounds and three turnovers.
“It was my fault. I had a little kink in my knee and I wasn’t moving enough,” Smith said.
McKinley opened the game with a 7-0 lead and was still close at the half, trailing 20-16. But Smith went right to the heart of the key and scored seven points in a row. The Red Raiders finished the third quarter with a 6-0 run to open the lead to 37-26. That included a coast-to-coast drive and dish from Smith to Ethan Erickson at the buzzer.
McKinley, buoyed by its roaring fans, got within 39-34 on 3-pointers by Moraga and R.J. Cabico. The Tigers then went cold from the field against Kahuku’s tough man-to-man defense. Smith threw down two breakaway dunks in the final two minutes as Kahuku closed out with a 22-6 run.
Kalaheo 56, No. 5 Kapolei 53
Kanoa Smith splashed a go-ahead 3-pointer with 40 seconds left, then hit two key free throws with 14.4 seconds to go as the Mustangs upset the Hurricanes in the other semifinal game.
Smith, a sophomore guard, was open on a fastbreak when he launched his shot.
“I wasn’t really set for it,” said the left-hander, a nephew of former Kalaheo standout and coach Alika Smith. “I kind of rushed it.”
His clutch 3 gave Kalaheo a 54-52 lead. Kapolei cut the lead to 54-53 on a free throw by Isiah Higa, but Smith swished his free throws to give the Mustangs some breathing space.
Kapolei got an open look from the corner, but Higa missed the 3-point try at the buzzer.
Andrew Kearney, who left the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, returned and finished with 19 points and six rebounds.
“It’s fantastic. This is what we’ve been working so hard for,” Kearney said.
The Hurricanes were unbeaten in league play, but struggled to sustain any kind of momentum against Kalaheo’s man-to-man defense. Zoar Nedd and Ja’Shon Carter led the ’Canes with 13 points each.
