Chris Kobayashi scored 18 points, hitting five 3-pointers, as No. 2 Punahou outlasted No. 3 Kaiser 68-54 on Wednesday night in the championship game of the Punahou Invitational.
An excitable crowd of about 1,000 watched at Hemmeter Fieldhouse as Punahou’s depth took a toll on the resilient Cougars.
Chance Kalaugher hustled for 24 points to lead Kaiser.
“Punahou is good. They’re loaded with shooters,” Kaiser coach Branden Kawazoe said. “Our emphasis was to get out on their shooters, but if you don’t, those 3-point shots can add up quickly.”
Buffanblu coach Darren Matsuda was slightly less bubbly than his young players — only three seniors on the roster — after the game.
“We’ve got to keep it in perspective. It’s preseason. We didn’t play well yesterday (against Kamehameha) and we played better today,” he said. “We lost our two bigs (Jack-Eli Tufono and Akahi Troske), so our three freshmen had to step up.”
The three freshmen, Maninoa Tufono, Duke Clemens and Falcon Kaumatule, are all in the 6-foot-3 to 6-4 range with size.
The game was tight through three quarters. Kalaugher attacked the rim from the low post after settling for perimeter shots in the first half and sparked the Cougars, who trailed 22-17 at the break. He scored five quick points to start the third quarter while Keoua Mahiko drove for back-to-back and-one three-point plays to give Kaiser a 29-28 lead.
Zayne Chong answered with a corner 3, and Kalaugher dominated the offensive glass for a tip-in to tie it at 31. From there, the Cougars seemed to run out of gas, playing their fourth game in five days. Reserve Cole Mausolf hit a tough bucket in the low post, then led the fastbreak and fed burly 6-foot-4 freshman Duke Clemens for a layup.
The rollocking third quarter came to a close with a spin move by Mahiko on a break for another deuce, and Tufono hustled for a tip-in at the buzzer. Punahou led 39-35 entering the fourth quarter.
Kobayashi got loose for consecutive corner 3-point shots to open the lead to 10. Michael Miske scored on a fastbreak layup to cut the lead to 55-48, but Kaiser never got closer the rest of the way as turnovers, missed shots and fatigue took the Cougars legs.
Cole Arceneaux was basically unguardable in the final 5 minutes, driving and feeding teammates for layups. Kobayashi’s fifth trey gave the Buffanblu a 61-48 lead with 2:05 to go.
The defeat was just another preseason result, but the result could be a factor in later state-tournament seeding. Not a major factor, but a significant one.
OIA EAST GIRLS
Farrington 42, Kahuku 36
Moli Heimuli led all scorers with 15 points and Shayla Cabato-Machado added 11 as the Governors remained unbeaten in league play with the win over the Red Raiders.
At Farrington
| Kahuku (2-4) |
4 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
— |
36 |
| Farrington (4-0) |
13 |
6 |
7 |
16 |
— |
42 |
KAHUKU—Lehiwa Benson 1, Aja Tapusoa 3, Savanna Christensen 10, Ofa Kauvaka 0, Talei Niu 0, Leving Jinadasa 2, Naitia Auelua 5, Carey Williams 0, Brittini Blake 15.
FARRINGTON—Vivian Bolibol 0, Shayla Cabato-Machado 11, Shaniah Paleafei 8, Shanny Mailou 6, Chalei Smith 0, Golden Rowan 0, Lokelani Pacheco 0, Moli Heimuli 15, Naomi Peltier 0, Brittany Savusa 2.
3-point goals—Kahuku 1 (Auelua). Farrington 2 (Mailou 2).
Junior varsity—Kahuku 48, Farrington 38
^
Kailua 47, Moanalua 34
Tara Takata scored 11 of her 19 points in the third quarter as the Surfriders defeated Na Menehune.
Takata hit all three of her 3-pointers in the third when Kailua outscored Moanalua 17-6.
Sienna Ho scored 14 points, including three 3-pointers, for Na Menehune.
| Moanalua (1-4) |
13 |
8 |
6 |
7 |
— |
34 |
| Kailua (4-1) |
9 |
9 |
17 |
12 |
— |
47 |
MOANALUA—Lei-Helani Talaro 6, Julia Maiava 0, Kylie Casinas 0, Sienna Ho 14, Kelcie Leong 7, Raven Rosa-Lasco 2, Kyra Oda 2, Tasi Peters 3, Jillian Ota 0.
KAILUA—Tau Williams 8, Nyla Salas-Baker 2, Tara Takata 19, Kaile DeSoto 7, Christine Antonio 4, Kuuipo Gonzales-Reyes 1, Jasmyn Keohohina-Malina 4, Finau Tuifua 2.
3-point goals—Moanalua 4 (Ho 3, Leong). Kailua 4 (Takata 3, DeSoto).
Junior varsity—Moanalua 26, Kailua 21
Kaiser 48, Kalani 35
Brooke Ho scored 17 points, Rose Shimaoka added 12 and Kayla Russell had 10 for the Cougars, who suited up only five players.
The Falcons’ Kirstin Kouchi finished with 13 points.
| Kalani (1-4) |
9 |
9 |
11 |
6 |
— |
35 |
| Kaiser (2-2) |
14 |
10 |
10 |
14 |
— |
48 |
KALANI—Kirstin Kouchi 13, Daesha Viela 5, Julia Lee 0, Noelle Suzuki 2, Logan Luke 10, Heidi Kishaba 0, Sydnee Kishaba 3, Kandyce Woods 2.
KAISER—Brooke Ho 17, Rose Shimaoka 12, Skylar Kimura 8, Lyla Kaneakala 1, Kayla Russell 10.
3-point goals—Kalani 4 (Kouchi 3, Viela). Kaiser 2 (Shimaoka 2).
Junior varsity—Kaiser 27, Kalani 21
Kalaheo 50, Castle 40
Samantha Pollard scored a game-high 18 points as the Mustangs held off the Knights.
| Castle (0-4) |
7 |
7 |
14 |
12 |
— |
40 |
| Kalaheo (2-3) |
16 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
— |
50 |
CASTLE—Raykelle Dacosin 0, Sierra Koki 11, Kaylee Ishii 7, Hauoli Beard 0, Jessica Kaupiko 14, Tileree Johnson 6, Camryn Cadinha-Oku 2, Kaira Tilton 3, Karli Gerona 3.
KALAHEO—Dani Humphrey 2, Eleeung Llad 1, Jordan Kanakaole 0, Michelle Sasaki 9, Tiana Perry 0, Shaena Randles 4, Jadyn Silva 11, Sharae Randles 3, Tiffany Beach 5, Samantha Pollard 18.
3-point goals—Castle 3 (Koki 2, Ishii). Kalaheo 2 (Beach, Sha. Randles).
Junior varsity—Castle 33, Kalaheo 21
OIA WEst girls
No. 10 Radford 29, No. 9 Mililani 28
Kyle Johson scored six of her eight points in the fourth quarter as the Rams rallied past the Trojans in a battle of unbeaten teams.
Sophia Harris led Radford with nine points and Natalie Jackson added eight.
Kayla Torres scored 14 points for Mililani, which led 21-15 entering the fourth.
| Mililani (4-1) |
7 |
9 |
5 |
7 |
— |
28 |
| Radford (5-0) |
8 |
2 |
5 |
14 |
— |
29 |
MILILANI—Velisa Meleisea 5, Brianna Garcia 0, Kayla Torres 14, Taysia Canon 0, Elise Vasper 0, Hope Carter 0, Caysie Tomas 0, Taylor Walker 0, Jazmina Lafitaga 4, Kalena Gibson 5, Melanie Santoro 0.
RADFORD—Natalie Jackson 8, Puni Seei 0, Salara Dill 0, Michelle Vasquez 0, Sophia Harris 9, Kyle Johnson 8, LJ Peralta 1, Shaelie Burgess 3, Denise Bell 0.
3-point goals—Mililani 2 (Torres 2). Radford 3 (Harris 3).
Junior varsity—Mililani 33, Radford 27
Leilehua 77, Waialua 21
Tywanna Abbott scored 19 points, Hannah Coffin added 14 and Kaylen Kamelamela had 10 as the Mules beat the Bulldogs.
Waialua’s Candace Basilio finished with six points.
| Waialua (0-4) |
3 |
3 |
5 |
10 |
— |
21 |
| Leilehua (4-1) |
22 |
23 |
18 |
14 |
— |
77 |
WAIALUA—Kasidee Teixeira 3, Kaedy Hatchett 7, Sophia Manalo 0, Kaitlin Ayonon 5, Candace Basilio 6, Laola Pang 0, Chalseah Pascua 0, Gemelie Hatchie 0.
LEILEHUA—Regina Dela Cruz 6, Megan Ayala 6, Alexis Nihipali 0, Hannah Coffin 14, Kaylen Kamelamela 10, Kayla Posiulai 4, Tywanna Abbott 19, Chyel Palmer 9, Abigail Flores 2, Shaylee Todani 2, Azah Quach 5.
3-point goals—Waialua none. Leilehua none.
Kapolei 42, Pearl City 28
Brittany Ramos scored 13 points and Cassie Hedrick added nine for the Hurricanes.
Maya Mendez finished with seven points for the Chargers.
| Pearl City (0-4) |
7 |
6 |
9 |
6 |
— |
28 |
| Kapolei (2-3) |
14 |
19 |
8 |
1 |
— |
42 |
PEARL CITY—Ciera Sylva 5, Brianna Huihui 0, Maya Mendez 7, Raquel Gonzalez-Salazar 2, Shawnia Oliveros 5, Ashley-Pianna Amarin 0, Karlee Kawasaki 0, Shanelle Concepcion 3, Marley Mew-Kang 6.
KAPOLEI—Cassie Hedrick 9, Brittany Ramos 13, Alexis Corea 4, Shania Kahana 2, Seleni Bartley 4, Manu Maua 0, Eleu Soares 6, Jada Ashley 0, Michelle Brown 2, Illana Suava 0, Ehu Soares 2.
3-point goals—Pearl City none. Kapolei 4 (Hedrick, Ramos, Corea, Soares).
Junior varsity—Pearl City 28, Kapolei 26
Waianae 35, Aiea 23
Asenati Cook scored nine points and the Seariders pulled away in the second half.
Vien Crisostomo hit three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points for Na Alii, who led 14-11 at halftime.
| Aiea (1-4) |
9 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
— |
23 |
| Waianae (2-2) |
9 |
2 |
13 |
11 |
— |
35 |
AIEA—Emily Soberano 0, Chantelle Shimabukuro 0, Leannica Nathan 0, Jaslyn Madriaga-Aguigui 0, Kailly Paulo 0, Julie Oda 8, Vien Crisostomo 13, Tia Ueoka 0, Samantha Lualamanga 0, Ale Ufi 2.
WAIANAE—Imani Cook 0, Charlotte Garcia 4, Yasmine Gamurot-Ching-Lareau 3, Dairian Balai 2, Daysha Kaleikini 0, Briarra Nakihei 7, Ferrari Scanlan 4, Asenati Cook 9, Shaunya Kahananui 4, Leena Iona 0, Joneace Martin 0, Alizelia Love 2.
3-point goals—Aiea 3 (Crisostomo 3). Waianae 2 (Gamurot-Ching-Lareau, Nakihei).
Junior varsity—Waianae 29, Aiea 14
preseason high school boys
WALTER WONG TOURNAMENT
At St. Louis
Assets 53, Waialua 49
Saint Louis I-AA 53, Lanakila Baptist 49
Saint Louis 67, Damien 57
