For the better part of 32 minutes in regulation, Dan Fotu was a fouling machine.
In overtime, the 6-foot-7 junior was a scoring machine, pumping in his team’s first six points as top-seeded Kahuku escaped with a 51-48 victory over defending state champion ‘Iolani on Thursday night at McKinley Student Council Gymnasium.
Kahuku (25-3 overall) advanced to the Division I final of the Snapple/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships and will meet Punahou, the ILH champion, tonight at Stan Sheriff Center. This will be Kahuku’s fourth trip to the title game.
Guard Jessiya Villa shot just 4-for-15, but finished with 16 points as Fotu sat for large portions of regulation. UH-bound Samuta Avea added 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Codie Sauvao came up with three of Kahuku’s eight steals.
Hugh Hogland led ‘Iolani with 14 points and 11 rebounds. The UC Santa Barbara-bound post also blocked seven shots. Justin Genovia also scored 14 points, but shot 3-for-13 from the field.
The Raiders showed some of the effects of playing their ninth game in 13 days, shooting just 41 percent against a rugged Kahuku man defense. They shot 3-for-14 from 3-point range and committed 19 turnovers.
“Our guys came through. I know what they can do, and they just had to be patient,” Kahuku coach Brandyn Akana said. “‘Iolani will keep coming and they get the most out of their guys. We knew we could get stops, and in overtime, we got them on the (lob) passes to Hugh (Hogland).”
Kahuku looked decidedly unfamiliar with the grind of a tight game, unlike ‘Iolani, which dealt with tight situations all season in the ILH. When it was crunch time, however, the Red Raiders were ready.
“It’s a game of runs. We came out playing like we do at practice. That’s the way we love to play,” Avea said of Kahuku’s 14-point lead.
ILH runner-up ‘Iolani (22-10 overall), which won two of the previous three state titles, missed the state final for the first time in Hogland’s career. Kahuku, which has never won the state title — not counting three Class A tournaments a generation ago — last reached the state final in 2012, losing to Punahou 59-52.
This season, Punahou went to Kahuku and won a nonconference game prior to the arrival of Fotu from Auckland, New Zealand.
“I can’t wait to play them. I’ve been thinking of them ever since the loss,” Avea said.
The Red Raiders eked out an 8-7 lead after one quarter, then went on a 9-2 run in the second to open a 17-9 lead by halftime. The defensive battle was no surprise with the Red Raiders featuring Fotu, the 6-6 Avea and 6-4 reserve Taimona Wright at the rim against ‘Iolani’s returning All-State player of the year, the 6-9 Hogland.
The senior had just two points in the first half even though Fotu sat most of the time with foul trouble.
Kahuku went on an 8-2 run to begin the third quarter, getting a 3-pointer from Kesi Ah-Hoy and a fadeaway shot in traffic by Villa. The senior guard hit the ensuing free throw and the Red Raiders were in control, 25-11, with 5:06 to go in the third.
Then came the Raiders of ‘Iolani, who chipped away and cut the lead to 32-25 by the end of the quarter. Hogland had six points in the third, and had control of the paint by then with four blocks.
Kahuku settled for tough shots offensively during this stretch and ‘Iolani took advantage, tying the game at 35, 37 and 39.
Fotu went to work right away, stealing a lob pass and scoring on the other end with two free throws. After Avea stole the next lob attempt to Hogland, Fotu hustled for a putback and it was 44-40. ‘Iolani cut it to 44-42 on a Helam Baldomero drive with 1:55 to go, but Fotu drove for another bucket and Kahuku had a four-point lead with 1:43 left.
After Genovia hit one foul shot with 1:09 to go, Villa fed Sauvao in transition for a crucial bucket and a 48-43 lead with 54 seconds to go. Villa added a free throw with 33.6 seconds left, and Hogland then overthrew Baldomero on a fast break. That led to an easy layup for Ah-Hoy with 21 seconds left.
Baldomero sank a corner 3 in the final seconds and Kahuku let the clock run out.
HHSAA BOYS DIVISION I PLAYOFFS
Kahuku 51, ‘Iolani 48
at McKinley
‘Iolani 7 2 16 15 8 — 48
Kahuku 10 7 15 8 11 — 51
‘IOLANI—Helam Baldomero 8, Kawika Lee 2, Frank Felix 3, Ryan Van Cantfort 2, Bailey Alabanza 5, Noah Bumanglag 0, Justin Genovia 14, Cole Hogland 0, Cameron Chang 0, Hugh Hogland 14.
KAHUKU—Jessiya Villa 16, Kesi Ah-Hoy 7, Kenneth “KJ” Macatiag 0, Mark Viloria 0, Marcus Damuni 0, Daniel Fotu 8, Codie Sauvao 4, Samuta Avea 12, Taimona Wright 4.
3-point goals—’Iolani 3 (Baldomero 2, Alabanza). Kahuku 4 (Avea 2, Ah-Hoy, Villa).
Punahou 54, Lahainaluna 47
at McKinley
Lahainaluna 11 17 11 8 — 47
Punahou 17 7 15 15 — 54
LAHAINALUNA—Reece Pascua 2, Iverson Turno 2, Tavaki Faleta 7, Jeremi Santos 15, Jeffersen Locke 16, Cley Joseph Palma 3, Siale Hafoka 2, Steven Kama 0.
PUNAHOU—Cole Mausolf 11, Zayne Chong 21, Hunter Hosoda 0, Maninoa Tufono 0, Cole Arceneaux 0, Christopher Kobayashi 13, Antonio Cortez Feria 0, Kaulana Makaula 5, Andrew Martinson 0, David Whittaker 0, Les Falatea 0, Duke Clemens 4.
3-point goals—Lahainaluna 5 (Santos 3, Locke, Palma). Punahou 6 (Chong 3, Kobayashi 2, Makaula).
Kalaheo 72, Waiakea 70
at Radford
Waiakea 11 11 24 24 — 70
Kalaheo 11 11 27 23 — 72
WAIAKEA—Kiai Apele 6, Jerek Prudencio 18, Shaun Kojima 4, Treysen Ishimoto 5, Wesley Amuimuia 4, Noah Tominaga 13, William Soares 6, Calvin Mattos 14.
KALAHEO—Cyrus Fernandez 0, Noah Woodby 7, Captain Whitlock 18, Kai Samiere 0, Lawrence DeCosta 0, Andrew Kearney 13, Ryan Pardini 20, Robert Gribbins 2, Cannen Chiu 4, Harry Wallace 4, Andreas Jankovic 4, Mark Lehner 0.
3-point goals—Waiakea 8 (Prudencio 4, Apele 2, Amuimuia, Mattos). Kalaheo 5 (Pardini 3, Chiu, Whitlock).
Leilehua 71, Konawaena 49
at Radford
Leilehua 15 18 18 20 — 71
Konawaena 4 11 18 16 — 49
LEILEHUA— Genesis Ofoia 6, Tashaun Wright 13, Alijah Ginn 2, Kaleo Piceno 0, Trey Boatwright 10, Noah Park 5, Liam Fitzgerald 18, Jostin Gampayon 0, Elijah Robinson 0, Jaymond Agdinaoy 7, Kalei Kauhi 8, Xavier Muyot 0, Simi Abin 2, Zachary Gagnon 0.
KONAWAENA—Na‘ea-Kaiya Leleiwi 0, Aina Alip 0, Austin Ewing 13, Hauoli Akau 9, Austin Aukai 13, Aldrin Gadot 0, Jayden Kuoha-Basque 0, Kamakana Ching 10, Aaron Domogma 2, Seau Amor 0, Viliami Kaea 2, Makoa Yoshida 0.
3-point goals—Leilehua 6 (Fitzgerald 3, Wright, Park, Agdinaoy). Konawaena 3 (Ewing, Akau, Aukai).
HHSAA BOYS DIVISION II PLAYOFFS
St. Francis 78, Honokaa 50
at Kalani
Honokaa 17 11 7 15 — 50
St. Francis 14 24 21 19 — 78
HONOKAA—Jerome Quines 1, Gene Ansagay 1, Kelvin Falk 18, Koa Callihan 9, Kainalu Lau 2, Kea Callihan 2, Sheltyn Carvalho 1, Bong Pancho 0, Ben Zindric 3, Micah Lorenzo 2, Austyn Ah Choy 2, Kyler Shigematsu 0, Kieran Lo , Jonathan Campbell 0, Klayson Nobriga 2, Kamuela Spencer Herring 7.
ST. FRANCIS—Kameron Ng 24, Noah Kurosawa 6, Boris Vukovic 8, Manoa Kuai‘i‐Moe 0, Titus Liu 3, Kordel Ng 2, Justus Paaluhi‐Caulk 10, Bryce Nishida 12, Wembley Mailei 0, Micah Kalei 7, Kaniala Williams 0, Scott McLeod 0, Supilani Mailei 6.
3-point goals—Honokaa 2 (Falk 2). St. Francis 10 (Ka. Ng 3, Nishida 2, Kurosawa 2, Paaluhi-Caulk 2, Liu).
Kalani 56,
Seabury Hall 46, OT
at Kalani
Kalani 12 9 12 10 13 — 56
Seabury Hall 8 6 16 13 3 — 46
KALANI—Jaemi Harris 8, Max Pepe 0, Jared Ki 0, Ryan Jacobi 9, Logan Matsuoka 0, Micah Kawano 10, Toby Mitchell 4, Evan Weng 0, Kapaa Nishimura 8, Matt Souza 0, Trey Sumida 17, Trey Joslin 0, Akira Karasawa 0, Christian Salas 0.
SEABURY HALL—Noah Payne 1, Makoa da Silva 2, Carl Molinaro 0, Gabriel Medallada 0, Cameron Hanisch 11, Christian Jenkins 11, Isaiah Payne 5, Jaxon Naiditch 0, Chandler Dobson 3, Conner Jenkins 0, Peter Konohia 13.
3-point goals—Kalani 6 (Sumida 4, Nishimura 2). Seabury Hall 3 (Hanisch, Ch. Jenkins, Dobson).
Farrington 69, Kauai 68, OT
at St. Francis
Kauai 17 14 11 15 11 — 68
Farrington 15 11 18 13 12 — 69
KAUAI—Gunnar Burkman 5, CJ Cromartie 14, Christian Manera 18, Bryce Johnson-Cormack 18, Michael Dasalla 0, Joshua Iwi Rivera 0, Shaun Paglinawan 4, Vhincent Agreda 2, Kaimani Tecson 7.
FARRINGTON—Ehzikiel Santiago 24, Felcris Ahadain 4, Ed Ped 0, Den Cabanlit 0, Reymar Morales 18, Russell Nelson 0, Randell Alob 5, R.J. Wong 0, Pono Roberts 0, CJ Liana 18.
3-point goals—Kauai 6 (Manera 2, Cromartie 2, Burkman, Johnson-Cormack). Farrington 6 (Santiago 4, Ahadain, Morales).
Le Jardin 44, Hawaii Prep 40
at St. Francis
Le Jardin 11 14 10 9 — 44
Hawaii Prep 11 12 12 5 — 40
LE JARDIN—J Pahlmeyer 4, Eric Wisnom 0, Jerry Lawson 25, Charles Abe 0, Charles Aaron Ellingson 0, Michael Leary 1, Dominic Venezia 14.
HAWAII PREP—Jonah Hurney 10, Javan Perez 0, Dylan Ngango Dikobo 4, Umi Kealoha 2, Matija Vitorovic 12, Sean Donnelly 0, Dane Francis 0, Michael Hanano 4, Michael Hughes 8.
3-point goals—Le Jardin none. Hawaii Prep 2 (Vitorovic 2).
