HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
With 3 seconds left in the game, Moanalua's Casey Schuler drove in for what proved to be the winning basket last night as Kaimuki's Beau Albrechtson and Brandon Madamba tried to defend. CLICK FOR LARGE
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Moanalua tips Kaimuki on Schuler's late bucket
In a battle between two of the OIA's best teams, timely shooting overcame brute strength in an exciting 64-62 Moanalua victory over Kaimuki.
The host Bulldogs (16-5, 4-2) came out strong in the first quarter on the back of Keone Reyes. Moanalua (12-10, 5-1) had no answer for the size of Reyes, who scored eight points and went 6-for-7 from the foul line in the opening quarter.
Kaimuki 6-foot-5 senior center Beau Albrechtson also dominated inside with his height and soft touch. A basket and free throw by guard Daniel Colon gave Kaimuki its biggest lead of the game at seven with 2:40 remaining.
Albrechtson's 11 first-half points, combined with 12 from Reyes, left most to assume that the Kaimuki posts would overpower and wear down Na Menehune in the second half. Kaimuki made 15 free throws in the first half compared to Moanalua's one.
"We gave up too many offensive rebounds and way too many free throws in the first half," Moanalua head coach Greg Tacon said.
Despite Kaimuki's dominating play in the paint, Moanalua stayed within striking distance the entire half and remained true to its strategy of structured ball-control basketball.
"We are a possession basketball team, so our plan never changed. We just needed some luck to turn things our way," Tacon said.
In the second half, Moanalua patiently moved the ball and waited for the offense to set up the shooters with open looks. Back-to-back buckets by Rob Munoz pulled Na Menehune into a tie at 43-all with 2:39 remaining in the third quarter.
The big blow for Kaimuki came less than a minute later when Reyes, who finished with 16 points, picked up his fourth foul and had to sit for the rest of the third quarter and most of the fourth. The 6 foot, 255-pound senior fouled out in the final quarter.
"We got lucky a few times in the second half," Tacon said.
With Reyes out of the game, Colon went down early in the fourth quarter with cramps. Na Menehune seized the momentum and mounted their final push.
Moanalua got contributions from various sources in the fourth quarter, with six different players scoring. Guard Stevie Austin, held in check for much of the game, hit two big 3-pointers to give Moanalua a 58-57 lead, their first since the opening quarter, with 3:30 remaining in the contest.
"Not everyone played well tonight, but all the kids made plays when it counted," Tacon said.
There were three ties and four lead changes in the fourth quarter.
After Moanalua took a one-point lead on Munoz's free throws, Albrechtson was fouled with 10 seconds remaining.
After making the first free throw, Albrechtson, who finished with a game-high 26 points, was short on the second and Moanalua pushed it down the floor and took the lead for good on Casey Schuler's basket with 3 seconds to play.
Ryan Hua, who led all Moanalua scorers with 16 points, stole the inbounds pass to secure the upset over the fifth-ranked Bulldogs.
"We are a game-to-game team," Tacon said. "This is a great win and we are happy to get it, but our main goal is improvement."
Moanalua 64, Kaimuki 62
At Kaimuki H.S. gym
Moanalua (5-1) |
16 |
13 |
16 |
19 |
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64
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Kaimuki (4-2) |
16 |
17 |
16 |
13 |
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62
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MOANALUA--Kris Lazarou 0, Jay Yoshizawa 7, Paul Wasada 0, Stevie Austin 12, Rob Munoz 7, Josh Kure 10, Roshawn Terry 0, Casey Schuler 6, Ryan Hua 16, Shawn Richey 0, Maurice Allen 6.
KAIMUKI--Daniel Colon 8, Craig Cabudol 0, Brandon Madamba 4, Bryan Lim 2, Makalii Nahinu 3, Ryan Kakitani 3, Keone Reyes 16, Beau Albrechtson 26.
3-point goals -- Moanalua 7 (Kure 2, Austin 2, Monuz, Hua, Yoshizawa ), Kaimuki 2 (Madamba, Kakitani).