No. 8 Moanalua waited for No. 9 Kahuku’s defense to break down, but it rarely did down the stretch.
The Red Raiders won the OIA opener for both teams, beating Na Menehune 60-55 on the road Monday night.
When Moanalua took the lead with its first possession of the fourth quarter, the team’s youngsters tried to wait for their shot. Moanalua ran 2 minutes off the clock at a time and got the shot it wanted most of the time, but all it did was play into Kahuku’s hands.
“They can run the time off the clock if they want; it is the smart thing to do,” Kahuku coach Darren Johnson said. “I think (Moanalua) coach Greg (Tacon) is the best coach around — I really, truly believe that. That gave our kids a little bit of a rest on defense. They are relentless in all of the sports they play. I am just a coach, it is all on them.”
Kahuku had enough energy after a Moanalua miss for Kawehena Johnson to square up and bury a 3-pointer with 3:48 left to tie it at 49-all. Moanalua’s Dillon Turk hit a free throw to get the lead back, but Mekeli Fiso hit a layup on a nifty pass from Mason Kualii-Moe to give the Red Raiders the lead for good.
“We weren’t trying to slow it down; that just happens against a good zone defense,” Tacon said. “We had our chances. We just missed them because Kahuku is athletic and physical and played well. We had our chances. That is a good team.”
Kahuku scored the next seven points almost immediately after Moanalua miscues to take a seven-point lead with 1:08 left. Moanalua refused to quit and cut it to three before Kualii-Moe buried a pair of free throws to end it.
Kahuku survived a display by Kahanu Puulei-Auld, who hit five 3-pointers and scored 19 points. Turk added 10 and deep Moanalua had 10 players score baskets. Kahuku was limited to five scorers, all of its starters. Fiso led the way with 17, followed by Johnson with 13 and Kualii-Moe with 12.
“If I have to go to the bench, I will,” Johnson said. “But those guys played a lot on the preseason and we had some fouls that made me stay with the starters.”
Moanalua’s Puulei-Auld wasted no time getting the OIA season going, needing 10 seconds to bury a 3-pointer for Na Menehune. Then Kahuku turned on the jets. The Red Raiders forced eight turnovers in the first quarter and combined three fast-break baskets with two putbacks to run out to an eight-point lead. Fiso was the workhorse, scoring all of Kahuku’s baskets in the last half of the fourth quarter.
Moanalua slowed down in the second quarter and found its groove, cutting the deficit to three on Puulei-Auld’s second bomb. Kahuku kept running and grew the margin to seven with 12 seconds left, but defensive lapses allowed Moanalua’s Kreig Kepa to hit a free throw and Turk to put a layup home at the buzzer off a Kahuku turnover.
At Moanalua
| KAHUKU (1-0, 6-6) |
19 |
12 |
13 |
16 |
— 60 |
| MOANALUA (0-1, 8-5) |
13 |
14 |
18 |
10 |
— 55 |
KAHUKU—Evan Ramirez 9, Kawehena Johnson 13, Mason Kualii-Moe 12, Mekeli Fiso 17, Sam Ching 9.
MOANALUA—Kreig Kepa 4, Kahanu Puulei-Auld 19, Eliet Donley 5, Dillon Turk 10, Shane Ratledge 3, Justin Hudcovic 2, Daib Starks 3, Chris Hammond 2, Alex Hutson 5, Josh Kang 2.
3-pointers—Moanalua 7 (Puulei Auld 5, Donley, Starks) Kahuku 1 (Johnson).
Junior varsity—Moanalua 47, Kahuku 44, OT
OIA EAST
McKinley 61, Anuenue 16
Maaauna Viengmany scored a game-high 10 points as the Tigers overwhelmed Na Koa.
At Kalani
| ANUENUE (0-1) |
4 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
— |
16 |
| MCKINLEY (1-0) |
20 |
17 |
13 |
11 |
— |
61 |
ANUENUE—Kimo Romena 5, Keanu Rodriguez 0, Pono Kahili 0, Kananao Dureg 0, Kahoo Nossman-Ancog 0, Makana Fernandes 4, Kealoha Smith 0, Mahuka Cullen 5, Na Alii Dureg 2.
MCKINLEY—Wilhelm Rivera 4, Jeric Ferrer 4, Kui Williams 6, Jace Bolosan 4, A.J. Ortaleza 7, John Henry Ansagay 6, Maaauna Viengmany 10, Jerry Wu 3, Justly Laquihon 5, William Rollman 3, Jared Malaga 9.
3-point goals—Anuenue 2 (Romena, Cullen). McKinley 5 (Viengmany 2, Ortaleva, Wu, Laquihon).
No. 7 Kalaheo 42, Kaiser 33
Shem Sukumaran scored seven of his team-high 12 points in the fourth quarter as the Mustangs held off the Cougars.
At Kalaheo
| KAISER (0-1) |
7 |
5 |
7 |
14 |
— |
33 |
| KALAHEO (1-0) |
13 |
12 |
3 |
14 |
— |
42 |
KAISER—Cleston Teixeira 2, Royce Kumamoto 0, Casey Bolda 0, Preston Wuich 14, Justin Wuich 0, Malosi Kaimikaua 6, Cruz Kalaugher 11, Leimana Chong-Gum 0, Christian Kastrinakis 0.
KALAHEO—Josh Ko 10, Shem Sukumaran 12, Jesten Mortensen-Freitas 0, Nainoa Frank 0, Kalani Green 1, Derick Morgan 6, Silia Tucker 7, Jordyn Reindollar 6, Anthony Rowan 0.
3-point goals—Kaiser none. Kalaheo 4 (Ko 2, Sukamaran, Tucker).
Junior varsity—Kalaheo 54, Kaiser 43.
Kalani 54, Farrington 43
Tatsuya Ono scored 19 points and Takezo Iguchi and Kory Kashiwabara added 10 each as the Falcons beat the visiting Governors.
At Kalani
| FARRINGTON (0-1) |
11 |
10 |
10 |
12 |
— |
43 |
| KALANI (1-0) |
15 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
— |
54 |
FARRINGTON—Shane Cabato-Machado 1, Bradley Parras 0, Jeffrey Madarang 6, Mikey Kleman 9, Chadey Collazo 6, Mareo Cudio 0, Lee Jenson Mahiai 0, Jay Raquinio 0, Tyler Liana 8, Keanu Poki 0, Charles Sataraka 0, Viane Vaina 13.
KALANI—Takezo Iguchi 10, Remy Omori 3, David Kakalia-Rassmussen 0, Keano Kuia 4, Kory Kashiwabara 10, Sam Kahalewai 4, Tatsuya Ono 19, Michael Pimentel 4.
3-point goals—Farrington none. Kalani 3 (Kashiwabara 2, Ono).
Junior varsity—Farrington 51, Kalani 45.
Kaimuki 54, Roosevelt 39
The Bulldogs hit four first-quarter 3-pointers and Dio Taulung scored a game-high 16 points for Kaimuki. Isaiah Visoria and JJ Mariano scored 11 each to lead the Rough Riders.
At Roosevelt
| KAIMUKI (1-0) |
25 |
9 |
8 |
12 |
— |
54 |
| ROOSEVELT (0-1) |
12 |
6 |
13 |
8 |
— |
39 |
KAIMUKI—Zachary Bastats 5, Tim Tolenoa 0, Jordan Palik 1, Dio Taulung 16, Nick Motellang 4, Tai Boyd 10, Jaypee Unabia 11, Siaosi Hala‘api‘api 4, Amu Moefu 3.
ROOSEVELT—Bryson Quackenbush 0, Devin Furuta-Harada 0, Chevy Coelho 0, Isaiah Visoria 11, JJ Mariano 11, JJ Acopan 0, Anfernee Liwai 0, Kody Sumida 1, William Kan 0, Uriah Hawkins 3, Kealii Awo 0, Matt Haili 10, Vallen Inaura 3.
3-point goals—Kaimuki 6 (Taulung 2, Bastats, Boyd, Unabia, Moefu). Roosevelt 2 (Mariano 2).
Junior varsity—Kaimuki 39, Roosevelt 32
OIA WEST
Pearl City 54, Waianae 30
Senior post Paul Perry III scored 11 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to power the Chargers over the Seariders.
At Pearl City
| WAIANAE (0-1) |
1 |
18 |
9 |
2 |
— |
30 |
| PEARL CITY (1-0) |
18 |
9 |
22 |
5 |
— |
54 |
WAIANAE—Devon Kamaka 2, Justin Kila 0, Jamal Lopez 9, Devon Seabrooks 9, Makana Piilani 2, Anthony Hughes 0, Austin Reese 2, Alexander Richardson 6, D.J. Westbrook 0, Bronson Brown-Kaopua 0.
PEARL CITY—Kailon Sabate 10, Ryan Arguelles 6, Kainoa Perez 10, Reymart Rosario 0, Marc Suniga 11, Nicholas Tabisola 0, Paul Perry III 11, Bryson Takaesu 0, Eamon Campbell 0, Isaac Amorin 6, Stefon Nichols 0, Chaz Ebisu 0.
3-point goals—Waianae 1 (Lopez). Pearl City 3 (Sabate, Arguelles, Amorin).
Junior varsity—Pearl City 48, Waianae 21.
Mililani 65, Waialua 41
Senior guard Deshawn Duncan-Benson tossed in a game-high 18 points as the Trojans withstood a 3-point blitz by the Bulldogs.
Waialua made nine of 31 shots from 3-point range.
At Mililani
| WAIALUA (0-1) |
15 |
9 |
11 |
6 |
— |
41 |
| MILILANI (1-0) |
17 |
16 |
18 |
14 |
— |
65 |
WAIALUA—J. Kaysonphet 6, B. Acoba 1, X. Repollo 14, K. Cuadro 16, S. Domingo 0, J. Repollo 3, M. Tamayo 0, W. Sacapulo-Uepa 1, J. Lapago 0, R. Pascua 0.
MILILANI—Tyler Morgan 5, Chedan Pascual 0, Damon Shimabukuro 8, Alex Bumgarner 10, Deshawn Duncan-Benson 18, Riley Borges 7, Jonathan Makaiau 1, Peter Bueno 2, Taylor Tuia 4, Cilvin Steward 2, Mene Perese 8, Sylvester Panoncillo 0, Jo Juan Richardson 0.
3-point goals—Waialua 9 (X. Repollo 4, Cuadro 3, Kaysonphet, J. Repollo). Mililani 2 (Duncan-Benson, Morgan).
Junior varsity—Mililani 56, Waialua 26
Leilehua 57, Waipahu 28
Jeremiah Andrade scored 12 points, including two first-quarter 3-pointers, as the Mules jumped out to a big early lead en route to a rout of the Marauders.
At Leilehua
| WAIPAHU (0-1) |
5 |
10 |
4 |
9 |
— |
28 |
| LEILEHUA (1-0) |
25 |
12 |
16 |
4 |
— |
57 |
WAIPAHU—Richard U. 3, Anderson D. 7, Hezzian Z. 3, Naftali C. 0, Brendan M. 0, Paul A. 0, Marc M. 0, Tupou E. 0, Jed P. 0, Wes N. 14, Tyler P. 0, Roy F. 0, Dustin M. 0, Tryton T. 1, Tasatolu N. 0.
LEILEHUA—Russell Siavii 8, Darrien Bobbitt 2, Jeremiah Andrade 12, Mikal Peyton 3, Marc Lagmay 4, Reece Acohido 2, Jalen Bailey 0, Larry Wheeler-Rutkowski 10, Kenneth Hill 0, Troy Ross 3, Cody Halvorson 5, Christian Manzo-Loera 4, Penetito Melei 4, Marvin Roldan 0.
3-point goals—Waipahu 1 (Richard U.). Leilehua 4 (Andrade 2, Peyton, Halvorson).
Kapolei 71, Campbell 52
Curtis Tavares had 22 points and Joshua Wills 20 as the Hurricanes used a big third quarter to bury the Sabers.
At Campbell
| KAPOLEI (1-0) |
3 |
20 |
27 |
21 |
— |
71 |
| CAMPBELL (0-1) |
12 |
12 |
5 |
23 |
— |
52 |
KAPOLEI—Jared Ragasa 0, Dorien Antonio Martos 7, Kiatrell Zachery 0, Curtis Tavares 22, Elia McKeague 0, Joshua Wills 20, Joshua Farius 0, Kula Seno 0, Kaleo Soares 2, Christopher Dillard 12, Michael Bangel 2, Zachery Reeves 6, Michael Kapoi 0.
CAMPBELL—Brannon Bantolina 3, Ryan Francis Ramil 4, BJ Halmos 8, Manuel Sy Jr. 7, Micah Cadiente 0, Justin Silva-Freeman 6, Justin Tago-Su‘e 4, Aaron Steele 16, Jarrin Bannister 2, Solomon Leaeno 2, Javen Burdell 0.
3-point goals—Kapolei 4 (Tavares 3, Wills). Campbell 5 (Halmos 2, Bantolina, Sy, Steele).
Junior varsity—Campbell 62, Kapolei 49.
Radford 50, Aiea 39
Mark Anthony scored eight of his team-high 14 points in the first quarter and the Rams converted 17 of 34 free throws to down Na Alii. Ernesto Salazar led Aiea with 20 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter.
At Radford
| AIEA (0-1) |
6 |
3 |
11 |
19 |
— |
39 |
| RADFORD (1-0) |
9 |
12 |
9 |
20 |
— |
50 |
AIEA—Christian Kaahanui 7, Kalei Liilii 0, Terence Fong 0, Michael Taliulu 2, Ernesto Salazar 20, DeShane Luat 5, Jason Calderon 0, Leuia Lose 0, Steven Minor 4, Kimo Souza 1.
RADFORD—Cy Salanoa 5, Lupei Terawaa 2, Amu Poe 2, Roscoe Kalilikane 11, Jeromy Castro 4, Jamoree Jackson 0, Dorsey Norris 9, Mark Anthony Villejo 14, Sean Spears 1, Favian Moore 2, Ammon Seei 0.
3-point goals—Aiea 4 (Salazar 3, Kaahanui). Radford 4 (Villejo 4).
Junior varsity—Radford 56, Aiea 46
