Hano Kohatsu pumped in 23 points and Kailua escaped with a 55-54 win over Roosevelt on Saturday night at the Rough Riders’ gym in the OIA East regular-season opener for both teams.

Kailua was down 54-53 when Noah Ah Yat hit two free throws with 52.7 seconds to play for the lead. Roosevelt had three possessions in those final 52 seconds, the final one ending with a missed 12-footer from the right wing by freshman Micah Visoria. Kailua corralled the rebound and time ran out on Roosevelt.

“Roosevelt played a great game,” Kailua coach Walter Marciel said. “They hit some big threes that put them in position to win.”

Kailua hasn’t looked quite the same since returning from a mainland trip a week ago, but depth has been a big help.

“We’re not playing as a good as we can. We need to share the wealth,” Kohatsu said. “And play tougher defense. We need to put out teams when we can, not give them life.”

Visoria, who finished with a team-high 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the arc, was a big part of that rally for Roosevelt. The home team trailed 21-10 after one quarter before Visoria sank a 3-pointer and sophomore guard Jared Elwin hit another 3 to spark the Rough Riders. After freshman forward Christopher Lee drilled a corner 3, he fed Visoria for another corner 3 just before the buzzer to bring Roosevelt within 31-29.

Kailua was steady defensively in its 2-3 zone, but 6-foot-4 Christian Mejia struggled with foul trouble. Every time the Surfriders threatened to extend their small lead, Visoria answered. He hit two more treys in the third quarter, and after Tali Hayme hustled for a layup on inbounds pass from Jason Talbo, Roosevelt was within 42-41.

Zach Marrotte came up big with a 40-foot pull-up jumper near the right sideline at the buzzer, and the visitors led 45-41 entering the fourth quarter.

“They must sneak in here and practice in this gym,” Roosevelt coach Steve Hathaway said. “That’s probably the ninth or 10th time they’ve hit a shot from that spot in the nine or 10 years I’ve been coaching here. One time, they put the game into overtime.”

This game seemed to teeter on the brink of an extra period, With Kailua patiently working against Roosevelt’s 2-3 zone, Kohatsu hit mid-range shots to help stretch the lead to 52-43 with four minutes left.

Talbo, who finished with 13 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals, scored on a tough left-handed reverse layup to spark an 11-2 run. His follow shot on the fast break gave the Rough Riders a 54-53 lead with 1:27 left.

Then came a wild final minute in which neither team seemed willing to hang on to the ball. Talbo stole the ball on an iso play by Kohatsu, then missed a fast-break layup at the other end.

Visoria’s final shot attempt came on a pass from Talbo, who nearly traveled in the paint before feeding a low pass to his teammate. The shot was a bit long and bounced high off the iron.

“Micah had a great game. I’ll take my best shooter with that shot any time,” Hathaway said. “My youngsters woke up tonight. We know we’re going to have growing pains. Kailua is a big team and Lio (Ilalio) battled them”

The 6-foot freshman finished with seven points.

“I’m proud of how my guys played,” Hathaway added. “We’ve got to build off this.”

OIA EAST BOYS

Kailua 55, Roosevelt 54

KAILUA—Ronske Inere Jr. 5, Noah Ah Yat 9, Zach Marrotte 12, Paul Keoni Serikawa Jr. 3, Noah Auld 0, Hano Kohatsu 23, Christian Mejia 1, Jonah Kalai 2.

ROOSEVELT—Jared Elwin 5, Micah Visoria 15, Jason Talbo 13, Tali Hayme 2, Michael Hyun 6, Shastyn Kekahuna 0, Christopher Lee 3, Triton Ramos 3, Lio Ilalio 7.

3-point goals— Kailua 3 (Ah Yat, Inere, Marrotte)., Roosevelt 8 (Visoria 5, Elwin, Lee, Talbo).

No. 3 Kaiser 77, Kalani 62

Chance Kalaugher scored 24 points and Keoua Mahiko and Michael Miske both added 10 as the Cougars beat the Falcons.

Kapaa Nishimura had 17 points and Kobe Ikari added 15 for Kalani, which was outscored 40-27 in the second half.

KAISER—Keoua Mahiko 10, Jalen Pinks 5, Kamu Scheer 2, Isaiah Lundell 8, Isaiah Akiona 6, Nic Tom 3, Jonah Chinen 2, Brayden Nueku 0, Cameron Ma 0, Kaleo Edison 0, Bryan Iha 0, Michael Miske 10, Chance Kalaugher 24, Ethan Hollinsworth 7.

KALANI—Kalei Packer 0, Chase Santos 0, Kobe Ikari 15, Miles Hannon 2, Akea Tolentino 5, Micah Kawano 6, Toby Mitchell 2, Evan Chiu 0, Kapaa Nishimura 17, John Lam 5, Trey Sumida 3, Ryan Jacobi 7, Jeffrey Wood 0.

3-point goals—Kaiser 4 (Akiona 2, Kalaugher, Pinks). Kalani 7 (Ikari 2, Jacobi 2, Nishimura 2, Tolentino).

Junior varsity— Kalani 45, Kaiser 48

No. 7 Kalaheo 46, McKinley 35

Captain Whitlock scored 14 points and Alex Layi added 10 in the Mustangs’ victory over the Tigers.

McKinley’s Jeremy Coloyan finished with 14 points.

MCKINLEY—Lane Laroya 0, Josh Kanazawa 0, Kevin Nagasawa 0, Joseph Timonio 0, Mark Burke 2, Gladwyn Balinbin 2, Isaac Lu 5, Jeremy Coloyan 14, Dan Villejo 0, Nikko Venzon 2, Treyson Furuta 0, Huthifa Abdel-Juwad 6, Kyle Moraga 4,

Joey Abe 0, Kyle Coloyan 0, Rayjay John 0.

KALAHEO—Andrew Kearney 8, Christian Graham 0, Cyrus Fernandez 0, Captain Whitlock 14, Kela Thomas 0, Ryan Pardini 5, Abel Kanehe 3, Jonah Howard 2, Kekoa Thompson 0, Donovan Nelson 0, Harry Wallace 4, Alex Layi 10, Mark Lehrner 0.

3-point goals—McKinley 1 (Lu). Kalaheo 2 (Kahele, Pardini).

Junior varsity—Kalaheo 67, McKinley 53

Farrington 47, Castle 30

Felcris Anadain scored nine points, all on 3-pointers, and Miah Fepuleai also had nine points to lead the Governors over the Knights.

FARRINGTON—Felcris Anadain 9, Paul Madamba 2, Ehzikiel Santiago 3, LJ Gonzales 2, Mosiula Afe 8, Miah Fepuleai 9, Vai Agor 6, Chris Afe 8.

CASTLE—Jeremy McGoldrick 5, Elton Naki 7, Kaipo Padwell 0, Cody Castillo 0, Paul Tyquiengco 5, Jaypete Sisra 0, Jorden Ne 6, Russell Portela 0, Ikaika Soderberg 3, Lukela Hoapili 4.

3-point goals—Farrington 4 (Anadain 3, Santiago). Castle 4 (Ne 2, McGoldrick, Tyquiengco).

Junior varsity—Farrington 68, Castle 24

Kahuku 85, Anuenue 14

Mark Viloria and Stennett Alapa both scored 12 points and three other Red Raiders reached double figures.

Kenny Spencer added 11 and Keiran Spencer and Taimona Wright both had 10 for Kahuku.

Na Koa’s Kamanaopono Grace Keka finished with seven points.

KAHUKU—Kenny Spencer 11, Codie Sauvao 4, Keiran Spencer 10, Ethan Christensen 0, Mark Viloria 12, Hirkley Latu 6, Kawika Akina 2, Aaron Souza 8, Bradlee Anae 6, Taimona Wright 10, Stennett Alapa 12, Ra Alapa 4.

ANUENUE—Kamanaopono Grace Keka 7, Pekelo Hokama Kealohi 0, Kuhio Kaaekuahiwi 3, Moi Edwards 0, Keoua Roy 0, Lijnjo Kauaula 2, Hemakana Kauhipaula 2.

3-point goals—Kahuku 2 (Kr. Spencer, Viloria). Anuenue 1 (Kaaekuahiwi).

Also

Moanalua 66, Kaimuki 61

OIA WEst boys

Campbell 58, Waialua 42

Zach Arata scored 11 points and Reginald Knowles added 10 as the Sabers beat the Bulldogs.

Waialua’s Royce Tashiro and Faaolatago Sailele both finished with 11 points.

CAMPBELL—Zane Arata 2, Ryan Cabanilla 8, Christian Corpuz 8, Reginald Knowles 10, Juwan McCaskill 2, Zach Arata 11, Ethan Galisa 6, Eron Flores 1, Eric Lautzenheiser 3, Maxwell Tupua-Tau 0, Walter Varde 0, Maunakea Medeiros-Matthews 7.

WAIALUA—Royce Tashiro 11, Lancen Kuni 7, Julian Sely-Menor 0, Kymani Ayonon 4, Gian Layugan 7, Jake Riviere 0, Faaolatago Sailele 11, Kaimi Kamai 2.

3-point goals—Campbell 5 (Zach Arata 2, Galisa 2, Corpuz). Waialua 5 (Tashiro 3, Ayonon, Layugan).

Junior varsity—Campbell 39, Waialua 8

Pearl City 52, Aiea 45

Sape Tupuola Jr. scored 18 points and Gilbert Tapat added 16 as the Chargers beat Na Alii.

Aiea’s Jayden Chaviera hit four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points.

PEARL CITY—Sape Tupuola Jr. 18, Gilbert Tapat 16, Pierce McMoore 7, Pono Akiona 6, Ryan Yamamoto 3, Kamren Estoesta 0, Che Erquiza-Oliveras 0, Christian Punsalan 2.

AIEA—Ariq Vergado-Duclayan 9, Blake Amond 3, Kailen Shinmoto 8, Noah Tadena 1, Keyson Goins 8, Jayden Chaviera 16.

3-point goals—Pearl City 3 (Tapat, Tupuola Jr., Yamamoto). Aiea 5 (Chaviera 4, Goins).

Junior varsity—Aiea 45, Pearl City 29

BIIF boys

Honokaa 58, Kamehameha-Hawaii 55. Top scorers—Hon: Kelvin Falk 12, Koa Kallihan 12. KSH: Pukana Vincent 13.