Chance Kalaugher poured in 35 points, including a go-ahead tip-in with 30 seconds left, as No. 3-ranked Kaiser edged No. 6 Kamehameha 64-61 in opening-night action at the Moanalua OIA-ILH Challenge.
Kobe Young drilled four 3-pointers and finished with 19 points to lead Kamehameha.
Kalaugher, who made four treys and shot 14-for-21 at the free-throw line, added 10 rebounds for the Cougars, who made the move from Division II to D-I this season. Kaiser overcame the loss of swingman Keoua Mahiko, who was benched in the third quarter after drawing a technical foul. It was a double-technical call against Mahiko and a Kamehameha player following a foul call on Kamehameha. Coach Branden Kawazoe has a rule about technicals: pick one up and you sit the rest of the game. Mahiko had 11 points and seven rebounds when he sat down.
“I’m not willing to sacrifice character for wins,” Kawazoe said. “A lot of other guys got a chance to step up and contribute.”
Among them were seniors Isaiah Akiona and Kamu Scheer, the coach said. Akiona swished two key free throws with 19.2 seconds left to stretch Kaiser’s lead to 64-61. Kamehameha was unable to get closer. Jayden Zarriello’s shot in the final seconds missed, but his foot was on the 3-point line anyway.
“I’m encouraged by our ability to come back,” Kamehameha coach Greg Tacon said. “I voted Kaiser No. 1 (in the Star-Advertiser Top 10). They’re really good individual players who can score off the dribble. We’re competing and learning how to win games.”
The Warriors trailed 13-7 in the first quarter and stayed close before taking a 33-30 lead on Saint Gelacio’s 3-point shot in the third quarter. The game went back and forth from that point.
“It’s our first grind-out victory and it’s testimony to their ability to be resilient,” Kawazoe said of his Cougars.
As a team, Kaiser shot 1-for-9 in the first quarter. The Cougars finished the contest 28-for-56 (50 percent) from the charity stripe.
No. 8 Leilehua 65, No. 7 Saint Louis 46
Liam Fitzgerald scored 13 points, while Koa Kauhi and Joseph Gouty added 12 apiece as the Mules avenged a recent loss to the Crusaders.
Jaymason Nunuha led Saint Louis with 12 points.
No. 1 ‘Iolani 55, Mililani 39
Nick Kennedy scored 11 points to pace the Raiders. Kalakaua Timoteo had 17 for the Trojans.
