Moanalua’s Amaral heats up as playoffs approach
Moanalua's Keven Amaral soared over Kalani's defense last night.
Keven Amaral stepped up and stepped in when it counted most.
The senior guard scored 16 points and drew one of his team’s charges to stifle a major rally as Moanalua edged Kalani 54-47 last night before a boisterous senior-night crowd of about 500 at Earl C. Holmer Gymnasium.
Moanalua, 6-6 in league play, secured fourth place in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East.
"It’s kind of a clean slate now. We’ve got another shot," Amaral said of the coming playoffs, which are a double-elimination format. "We’ve had guys injured, but now we’re jelling."
Kalani (4-8) also qualified, but with the final spot in the East (sixth place), the Falcons will travel to Leilehua on Tuesday in the first round.
Amaral was one of the difference makers last night, taking a charge from Kalani’s Takezo Iguchi with the visiting Menehune clinging to a 51-47 lead with just 1:03 left.
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Richard Villasenor later hit two foul shots with 18 seconds remaining to seal the win.
"We have to embrace it," Moanalua coach Greg Tacon said after his team nearly blew a 17-point lead. "At a certain time, you have to be smarter. I’m just glad we survived."
Dexter Williams added 12 points for Moanalua, which patiently executed against Kalani’s sticky 2-3 zone all game long. Na Menehune shot 40 percent (17-for-43), but hit six of their 12 3-point tries to stay ahead for almost the entire game.
"We practice our zone offense 90 percent of the time," said Amaral, who was on fire in the first quarter, scoring 10 points with two 3-pointers.
Moanalua also shot 14-for-15 from the foul line (93 percent).
Tatsuya Ono led Kalani with 13 points and Imani Washington added 11. Nick Huth came off the bench for 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, sparking Kalani in the second half. The Falcons trailed 38-21 midway through the third quarter, but chipped away and shot proficiently against Moanalua’s man defense.
Kalani shot 53 percent from the field (16-for-30) and pulled within 49-45 after Huth scored off a feed from Iguchi with 3:01 left.
Twice, though, Kalani was called for charging, including one by Ono on an undercut play near the basket that left him with an injured back. Wesley Armbrust (nine points) came up with a bucket on a baseline drive, but Iguchi answered with a drive for another Kalani basket to make it 51-47 with 1:42 left.
The rest was defensive execution by the quick Menehune.
"We’re getting on a roll at the right time," Williams said. "Kalani should upset some people in the playoffs. I hope we don’t see them again."
Kalani’s first-year coach, Nathan Davis, is ready for the postseason.
"Being able to come back from 17 down early, it’s our first time in D-I and they’re competing," he said. "When you get guard play, every game’s a winnable game. We’re just trying to grow up."
| Moanalua (6-6) | 17 | 16 | 13 | 8 | — | 54 |
| Kalani (4-8) | 11 | 8 | 15 | 13 | — | 47 |
MOANALUA–Bronson Kepa 0, Aaron Davis 3, Keven Amaral 16, Dexter Williams 12, Wesley Armbrust 9, Brandon Guerreo 5, Dominique Jones 2, Carl Ko 0, Richard Villasenor 7.
KALANI— Imani Washington 11, Remy Omori 5, Kevin Lei 0, Kory Kashiwabara 0, Takezo Iguchi 8, Benson Leung 0, Tatsuya Ono 13, Jordan Yogi 0, Nick Huth 10, Nick Gamboa 0.
3-point goals–Moanalua 6 (Amaral 2, Davis, Williams, Armbrust, Guerreo), Kalani 3 (Ono 2, Omori).
ILH Division I
No. 1 ‘Iolani 66, Saint Louis 45
Five Raiders scored in double figures as the Raiders dominated the Crusaders.
Trevyn Tulonghari scored 15 points, including a 3-pointer, to lead ‘Iolani.
At Saint Louis gym
| ‘Iolani (7-1) | 13 | 11 | 25 | 17 | — | 66 |
| Saint Louis (2-6) | 11 | 6 | 12 | 16 | — | 45 |
‘IOLANI–Jourdan Simmonds 10, Reid Saito 3, Kainoa Scheer 10, Josiah Sukumaran 3, Gabriel Vega 13, Trevyn Tulonghari 15, Andrew Okimura 0, Adam Ching 0, Keahi Hogan 0, Duke Pauli 12.
SAINT LOUIS–Quinn Arakawa 5, Acen Cabral 14, Nate Mantanona 11, Iolana Akau 2, Jared Tomaszek 0, Max Botticelli 0, Jaron Hall-Moniz 1, JV Caires 10, Kamalei Correa 2.
3-point goals — ‘Iolani 3 (Simmonds 2, Tulonghari). Saint Louis 4 (Cabral 2, Arakawa, Mantanona).
No. 3 Academy of the Pacific 66, Maryknoll 48
The Dolphins outscored the Spartans 18-9 in the third quarter on route to their victory.
Micah Dunhour scored 16 points to lead Academy of the Pacific.
At McCabe gym
| AOP (7-1) | 12 | 14 | 18 | 22 | — | 66 |
| Maryknoll (1-8) | 10 | 8 | 9 | 21 | — | 48 |
ACADEMY OF THE PACIFIC–Michael Urcia 7, Carter Kauwenaole 1, Moritz Krume 8, Micah Dunhour 16, Wilson Macleod 3, Drew Vienna 6, David Daniel 6, Kona Makaula 12, Sam Orcutt 1, Kyan Furtado 0, Marshall Gourley 6.
MARYKNOLL–Andrew Wu 4, Kekoa Welsh 4, Brandon Floyd 0, Tobias Powell 2, Jason Calabrese 0, Johnny Mayer 8, Kekiai Cashman-Fernandez 5, Austin Gaskins 17, Kauila Chock 2, Wyatt Pedro 4, Tufanua Iuvale 2.
3-point goals — Academy of the Pacific 1 (Dunhour). Maryknoll 1 (Gaskins).
OIA Red Girls Playoffs
No. 9 Kaiser 62, Pearl City 57
The Cougars went on a 6-0 run at the start of the fourth quarter and finished the period with 25 to come from behind to defeat the Chargers.
At Kaiser gym
| Pearl City | 15 | 10 | 16 | 16 | — | 57 |
| Kaiser | 15 | 11 | 11 | 25 | — | 62 |
PEARL CITY–Sabrina Angle 16, Adrienne Jean Sylva 13, Shay Alterado 5, Rachel Look 0, Dani Magana 15, Tiari Walker 4, Robi Kami 0, Sierra Mendiola 0, Paulina Langi 0, Shawni Cayetano-Ramos 0, Tedi Espina 0, Shawna Angle 4.
KAISER–Micaela Bitanga 3, Kristi Arellano 3, Ona Simeona 0, Keara Ortega 0, Alissa Soong 0, Kiani Kaahaaina 0, Kiana Nakai 0, Tiana Miyashiro 6, Celeste Tsutahara 0, Meleana Adams 10, Daryn Vorderbruegge 11, Shelby Pa 2, Ashley Soong 0, Makana Borden 9, Darcey Goulsby 18, Courtney Phillips 0, Kayla Soong 0.
3-point goals — Pearl City 3 (Jean Sylva 2, Sa. Angle). Kaiser (VorderBruegge 3, Adams, Arellano, Bitanga).
No. 8 Kapolei 40, Kaimuki 36
Kawehi Hagi scored four of her team-high 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Hurricanes rallied past the Bulldogs.
Kaimuki’s Letisha Fa’asoa had a game-high 13 points, hitting three 3-pointers.
At Kapolei gym
| Kaimuki | 5 | 10 | 12 | 9 | — | 36 |
| Kapolei | 11 | 10 | 4 | 15 | — | 40 |
KAIMUKI–Cannie Aikau 0, Alison Pologa 9, Krysta Yasui 2, Julia Soares 0, Keana Paez 4, Letisha Fa’asoa 13, Dejah Fa’asoa 8, Valarie Wilson 0.
KAPOLEI–Krystal Jacobs 5, Toe Motu 6, Kaity Wills 4, Paige Kaea 2, Diamond Carter 4, Kawehi Hagi 10, Tamar Rodrigues 4, Kayla Fuatago 5.
3-point goals — Kaimuki 4 (L. Fa’asoa 3, Pologa). Kapolei 2 (Jacobs, Fuatago).
ILH Division I Girls
Mid-Pacific 56, Kamehameha 42
Ashley Yamachika was hot from the field, scoring a game-high 20 as the Owls defeated the Warriors.
At Mid-Pacific gym
| Ks (4-8) | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | — | 42 |
| Mid-Pacific (6-6) | 10 | 18 | 11 | 17 | — | 56 |
KAMEHAMEHA–Brooke Rickard 5, Haley Paakaula 0, Sanoe Burgess 0, Deja Tafiti 0, Manuhaaipo Noa 0, Krystal-Lei Mills 2, Brachelle Nueku 2, Taira Robins-Hardy 10, Kennedi Akana 6, Puuwainui Ah Puck 9, Lilia Maio 8.
MID-PACIFIC–Nicole Sato 0, Megan Kinoshita 7, Ashley Yamachika 20, Tasha Luis-Hirata 2, Taylor Babbitt 12, Mahina Docktor 4, Kiana Robertson 9, Chandler Arce 0, Jordan Joy 2.
3-point goals — Kamehameha 1 (Rickard). Mid-Pacific 5 (Yamachika 4, Kinoshita).
ILH Division II Girls
Maryknoll 48, Lanakila Baptist 34
Ashlee DeSantos scored 13 points as the Spartans defeated the Warriors.
At Maryknoll gym
| LBS (2-11) | 9 | 7 | 7 | 11 | — | 34 |
| Maryknoll (11-2) | 7 | 13 | 10 | 18 | — | 48 |
LANAKILA BAPTIST–Erika Ellis 10, Jessica Sonson 10, Emily Abang 0, Amillie Pacheco 3, Cheriane Goodknecht 1, Crystal Sonson 8, Lyndsey Helgeson 0, Bethesda Camacho 0, Jeizelyn Pananganan 2, Cheleste Tampos 0.
MARYKNOLL–Amanda Busmente 4, Crystie Wong 0, Taylor Wong 0, Kimiko Mitchell 6, Alexis Villa 6, Athena Ochoco 5, Ashlee DeSantos 13, Athena Adora 4, Trinity Alualu 10.
3-point goals — Lanakila Baptist 3 (Sonson 2, Pacheco). Maryknoll 1 (DeSantos).
