The Kahuku Red Raiders know adversity and they know it well.
In fact, they’ve come to embrace it. Despite eight missed free throws and a bundle of miscues in the final minutes, Kahuku held on for a 61-56 win over Kapolei on Thursday night to give the Hurricanes their first loss in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red playoffs.
Mekeli Fiso hustled for 18 points and eight rebounds for Kahuku (28-9, 15-1 league). The sixth-ranked Red Raiders will meet No. 7 Kapolei (19-3, 13-1) again at Jim Alegre Gymnasium on Saturday in a winner-take-all championship game of the double-elimination format. The game will follow the OIA White championship between McKinley and Kalaheo, which starts at 5 p.m.
Kahuku’s constant pressure was a blessing and curse. Kapolei committed 21 turnovers, but received a ton of free-throw opportunities in the final stretch, thanks to the overly aggressive Red Raiders. Kapolei shot 16-for-22 from the line, but just 9-for-14 in the fourth quarter.
A crowd of about 400, heavily populated by Hurricanes fans, saw Kahuku open a 40-26 lead only to watch Kapolei rally. After Joshua Wills hit a jumper from the elbow, Kapolei was within 44-41 with less than 6 minutes to go.
From there, Kahuku regained momentum behind its fullcourt press and halfcourt traps. Fiso drove the baseline for a bucket and hit two free throws to spark a 12-3 run that put the game out of reach.
Or so it seemed.
Kahuku kept fouling at midcourt and in the backcourt, and with Kapolei in the bonus, the ’Canes chipped away. Christopher Dillard’s three-point play cut it to 58-54, but Evan Ramirez hit a free throw with 44 seconds left, and Fiso fed Sam Ching for a layup with 18 ticks left for a seven-point lead.
“We’re always happy to get a win,” Kahuku coach Darren Johnson said. “We’re still missing some shots. We’ve got to shoot the ball better. We always play tough pressure defense, but we got more turnovers this time.”
Dillard was a huge force with 23 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks. He took an elbow to the mouth, dislodging a tooth, in the fourth quarter with Kapolei down 42-38. By the time he returned, coach Gary Ellison’s ’Canes were down 52-43 with 3:56 remaining.
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At Radford
| Kahuku (28-9, 15-1) |
10 |
16 |
14 |
21 |
— |
61 |
| Kapolei (19-3, 13-1) |
11 |
11 |
9 |
25 |
— |
56 |
KAHUKU—Evan Ramirez 8, Kawehena Johnson 6, Mason Kualii-Moe 6, Lasselle Thompson 8, Danny Aki 4, Bronson Beatty 4, Mekeli Fiso 18, Sam Ching 7, McKay Lewis 0.
KAPOLEI—Dorien Antonio-Martos 0, Kiatrell Zachery 0, Curtis Tavares 13, Joshua Wills 13, Joshua Farias 1, Christopher Dillard 23, Zachery Reeves 6, Michael Kapoi 0.
3-point goals—Kahuku none, Kapolei 2 (Tavares, Wills).
