LUCY PEMONI / STAR-BULLETIN Kahuku's Joshua Wily broke away from Jordan Wong of Kaimuki during first half action yesterday, but did not score.

Kahuku takes
another step

CORRECTION Friday, February 18, 2005 » Clinton Parks was the Kahuku basketball player pictured yesterday on Page B3; he was incorrectly identified as Joshua Wily. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

To become a champion, a team has to beat one. Or at least, the perception of one.

Clinton Parks and Shane Hayden combined for 22 points in the second half as Kahuku outlasted Kaimuki 61-55 last night in the semifinals of the Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs. With the win at McKinley Student Council Gym, Kahuku advanced to tomorrow's championship game, which will also be at McKinley.

The Red Raiders got a cerebral boost from Hayden, who presented an excerpt from a book before the game. "Basically, it said to always view your opponent as a champion, and to play them with that kind of focus," Kahuku coach Nathan James said. "That was good, because we beat Kaimuki (66-50 during the regular season), and they've become a better team."

This time around, the same two sharpshooters did the Bulldogs in. Parks, a junior guard, scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, all in the second half. Hayden tallied 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting, including the go-ahead 3-point play with 1:27 remaining.

"Parks killed us again," Kaimuki coach Kelly Grant said.

Kahuku, 19-2 (12-1 OIA), is ranked No. 4 in the Star-Bulletin Top 10.

Thomas Pyo scored 13 points off the bench for Kaimuki (16-7, 10-4 OIA). Jonathan Torres tallied 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting, along with seven rebounds. Jordan Wong added 10 points.

"Our guys had confidence in themselves, but they were kinda surprised at how well they were doing. We lost, it's painful, but we have another opportunity before states," Grant said.

The Bulldogs play in tomorrow's third-place game at McKinley. Tip-off time is 6 p.m.

Kahuku shot 19 of 45 from the field, including 42 percent from 3-point range (7 of 17). The Red Raiders came through at the line, making 16 of 21 free-throw attempts. They also outrebounded Kaimuki 28-25, grabbing 11 offensive caroms.

Kaimuki shot 20 of 47 from the floor, including 6 of 22 from 3-point range. The Bulldogs attempted just nine free throws, making seven.

Parks committed six of Kahuku's eight first-half turnovers, and they never got any kind of rhythm going. "We were nervous. We weren't playing our game," said Parks, who settled down in the second half.

The Red Raiders junked the zone at halftime and turned the momentum around. With a pronounced accent on their low-post game, they went on an 11-2 run, including two treys by Parks, to seize control.

At McKinley H.S. gym

Kaimuki (10-4)	10	17	13	15	--	55
Kahuku (12-1)	13	9	17	22	--	61

KAIMUKI--Kalani Ahmad 8, Jordan Wong 10, Shaun Dela Cazada 2, Isaiah Ano 8, Thomas Pyo 13, Kekoa Onaga 2, Jarett Shiu 0, Jon Torres 12.
KAHUKU--Devin Unga 5, Shane Hayden 16, Joshua Wily 0, Okesene Ale 9, Clinton Parks 20, Kevin Unga 10, Viliami Tilini 1, Micah Wily 0.
3-point goals -- Kaimuki 6 (Pyo 3, Ahmad 2, Wong), Kahuku 7 (Parks 4, Hayden 2, Ale).

Campbell 50, Kalaheo 44

To Sabers coach Sol Batoon, every game is just the same. For Ryan Hayes, it wasn't quite a normal game.

The junior guard pumped in 19 points, including nine in the final quarter, as the Sabers advanced to the championship game. Senior forward James Bannister added 10 points and six rebounds for Campbell (19-3, 11-1 OIA).

David Moore led Kalaheo (16-12, 10-3 OIA) with 18 points, including 9-of-10 free-throw shooting in the second half.

The Sabers made 12 of their 16 free-throw tries in the fourth quarter and opened a 41-31 lead with 3:05 left.

At McKinley H.S. gym

Kalaheo	8	15	9	18	--	50
Campbell	10	10	6	18	--	44

Kalaheo: Elias David 2, Chris Tumaneng 1, Jason Tanaka 0, Kahua Hollinger 5, Tate Brown 8, Marvin Judd 6, Chase Moses 0, David Moore 18, Clifton Pires 0, Tyler Caswell 4.
Campbell: Tristan Bailey 4, Ryan Hayes 19, Robert Morris 3, Tristan Sealy 0, Mark Sealy 7, Ikaika Shelton 3, James Bannister 10, Daniel Phillips 2.
3-point goals: Kalaheo 2 (Moore, Hollinger), Campbell 4 (Hayes 2, Shelton, M. Sealy).