Save something for the games that matter, boys.

Kamehameha-Hawaii beat Moanalua 25-22, 20-25, 24-22 to reach the semifinals of the Hawaii Boys Volleyball Invitational Tournament at ‘Iolani on Friday night, earning a shot at Brother Rice on Saturday. Kamehameha and Punahou II will play in the other semifinal, with the championship scheduled for 3:15.

That is if the Big Island Warriors have anything left.

Kamehameha-Hawaii rode 16 kills from Evan Enriquez in the third set against Moanalua, a thriller that went nine points past regulation. 

"That was probably the longest, most exhausting game I have ever played in a high school season," Enriquez said. "Everybody knows everybody and everybody is willing to put it all on the line, I think that’s the best thing. Super good competition."

The Warriors led 14-12 when Moanalua refused to go home. Na Menehune, who beat Kalaheo to become the OIA’s last unbeaten team on Thursday then boarded a bus to sweep Saint Louis and Pearl City later that night, tied the score at 14-all with a stiff defense. Kamehameha-Hawaii had the advantage six times to Moanalua’s two after that, but Na Menehune squared it the first five times.

Kamehameha-Hawaii finally ended it on a kill by Enriques followed by a steamer from Emmett Enriques that Moanalua defender Austin Amian was late to dig.

It was one of only four matches in the tournament to go three sets, two of them in the quarterfinals.

"That’s as good as it gets," Kamehameha-Hawaii coach Guy Enriques said. "I would have been happy if they lost, but I am ecstatic that they won. We gave away about four to five points that we should have won already, but credit to the kids. It only makes them tougher."

The Warriors entered the tournament as the champions of the prestigious Beach City Invitational in San Diego but got swept by Leilehua on Thursday night in pool play at ‘Iolani. They came back to crush University 25-3, 25-13 before getting all they wanted from Moanalua.

"We weren’t prepared for Leilehua’s energy, they dug everything," Guy Enriques said. "They played great and it was an eye opener for us to come back home and lose."

"That was an amazing game," Moanalua coach Alan Cabanting said. "(Kamehameha-Hawaii) is traveling to get that type of a game and we were able to give it to them here at home. I was so proud of them and so happy. We lost but we played as a team and learned what it’s like to have to focus on every single play."

Moanalua warmed up for Kamehameha-Hawaii by sweeping Kamehameha 25-23, 29-27 in the quarterfinals. 

Hawaii Boys Volleyball Invitational

FRIDAY
Gold Bracket

Punahou II def. Hawaii Baptist, 26-24, 25-17

Brother Rice def. ‘Iolani, 25-14, 29-27

Kamehameha-Hawaii def. Moanalua, 25-22, 20-25, 24-22

Kamehameha def. Leilehua, 23-25, 25-15, 15-12

Silver Bracket

Poway def. Maryknoll, 24-26, 25-18, 15-5

Saint Louis def. Mid-Pacific, 26-24, 25-18

Bronze Bracket

Baldwin def. ‘Iolani II, 25-14, 25-11

University def. Pearl City, 25-12, 21-25, 15-11

Pool Play

‘Iolani def. Poway, 25-20, 25-21

Punahou II def. Baldwin, 25-15, 25-19

Brother Rice def. Hawaii Baptist, 26-24, 25-21

Maryknoll def. ‘Iolani II, 26-24, 26-24

Moanalua def. Kamehameha, 25-23, 29-27

KS-Hawaii def. University, 25-3, 25-13

Saint Louis def. Pearl City, 25-16, 25-12

Leilehua def. Mid-Pacific, 22-25, 25-13, 15-12