HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Thompson’s victory marred by scuffle
Michael Alexander hit a difficult game-winning reverse layup with 0.5 seconds to play and Thompson Academy pulled off a 62-60 upset win at Aiea in the first round of the Oahu Interscholastic Association White Division playoffs last night.
Fighting between fans and players marred the exciting finish immediately following the final horn, as people clashed. It was not immediately apparent who started the fracas, but police officers arrived on the scene minutes later to sort things out.
"It was a tight game all the way. The kids played hard, and we talked about doing all the right things at halftime," said Thompson coach Sol Batoon as he and his players were led out a back exit in the chaos. "We stepped up big, played good defense, and came to the ball well."
Tristan Sealy led the Sharks (6-7 OIA White) with 33 points, plus the assist to Alexander that propelled their team to a semifinal matchup with Farrington.
Na Alii (10-2) are bumped out of postseason play after a remarkable turnaround season. Aiea was 1-9 last year.
Thompson trailed 33-22 at halftime and went on a furious third-quarter rally to claw back into the game. Na Alii led most of the first half and third quarter, but was playing catch-up after Sealy hit a running bankshot that gave Thompson a 46-45 lead with 7 minutes remaining.
Obie Woods led Na Alii with 19 points, including a 3-pointer with 10 seconds to play that tied things up at 60. He also nailed a 3-pointer while getting fouled with 46.7 seconds left, and converted on the 4-point play to make Aiea's gym go ballistic.
"His shots was perfect for us, but I take responsibility -- I was switching players in and out, trying to get everybody involved," said Aiea coach Wyatt Tau.
More than that, free throws haunted Na Alii. The team converted just eight of 27 at the foul line, including several during a third-quarter stretch in which the Sharks went on a 12-5 run to pull within three points entering the final period.
Sealy, a Campbell transfer and the OIA White's leading scorer, had 21 of his points after halftime, and added 10 rebounds.
"All year we've been looking for this," Sealy said. "We come together and finally put the whole package together, and when it mattered we came out and we did it."
When Na Alii double- and triple-teamed him as he brought the ball up during the final 10 seconds, Sealy fed Alexander with a pretty pass under the hoop. The senior guard did a pump fake then took the ball up and under for the winning shot.
Kyle Kilborn was also big for the Sharks, posting a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Once the horn sounded, Thompson fans poured onto the court in joy. But that quickly turned to anger when players and fans had to be separated. The altercation spilled into the curtained-off area behind the basketball court, and at least one fan went running out of the gym with angry family members in pursuit.
Tau wanted to send "his deepest apologies" to Thompson and the fans at the game for the incident.
Thompson (6-7) |
12 |
10 |
20 |
20 |
-- |
62
|
Aiea (10-2) |
14 |
19 |
12 |
15 |
-- |
60 |
Thompson--Tristan Sealy 33, Kyle Kilborn 12, Chris Tamanaha 1, Geramey Melanson 2, Michael Alexander 11, Taylor Bramwell 3, Keanu Montez 0, Dylan Farias 0.
Aiea--Ryan Mora 2, James Buchanan 2, Obie Woods 19, Miah Tausaga 0, Josh Chung 12, Lofa Liilii 13, Aldodius Colquitt 3, Eric James 1, Jarred McKee 0, Kory Naeole 8.
3-pointers--Thompson 1 (Sealy). Aiea 4 (Woods 3, Chung).
Farrington 68, Waialua 37
The Bulldogs scored the first two baskets of the game, but it was all Governors after that. Bryson Leopoldo came off the bench to score a game-high 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and the White East's second seed coasted to victory.
Cody Hua added 10 points for the Govs (9-4). Marc Nacapuy and Joshua Whittaker scored a team-high nine points each for Waialua (3-9).
Waialua (3-9) |
10 |
13 |
8 |
6 |
-- |
37
|
Farrington (9-4) |
17 |
21 |
14 |
16 |
-- |
68 |
Waialua--Edwin Rubio 5, Marc Nacapuy 9, Aaron Lapitan 0, Joshua Whittaker 9, Caleb Fore 4, Jordan Chun 4, Enoch Zawadj 0, Bernard Menor 0, Star Lacar 0, Cassidy Klinefelter 2, Tauese Tapusoa 0, Matthew Manalo 4.
Farrington--Christian Hernandez 7, Jordan Ibana 2, Oscar Carter 4, Rey Bartian 7, Glenn Ernest 8, Charles Rocha 6, Ziggy Muramoto 3, Elijah Lesu 0, Cody Hua 10, Dio Labayog 0, Steven Kamano 8, Bryson Leopoldo 13.
3-pointers--Waialua none. Farrington 3 (Leopoldo 2, Hernandez).
McKinley 57, Waipahu 47
Nainoa Lessary led nine Tiger scorers with 11 points as the Tigers held on to beat the Marauders. Christian Dadulla scored 15 to lead Waipahu.
At Kaiser H.S. gym
McKinley (8-5) |
9 |
22 |
9 |
17 |
-- |
57
|
Waipahu (5-7) |
8 |
9 |
13 |
17 |
-- |
47 |
MCKINLEY--Austin Yoon 0, Tilton Kaluna 7, Bryce Ishikawa 2, Ryan Flordeliza 0, Jefferson Pou 0, Julius Borje 3, Earvin Sione 2, Nainoa Lessary 11, Rey Vincent Enanoria 9, Jonathan Lee 6, Ian Paez 0, Isaac Iuta 8, Travis Asing 0, Oliver Diguc 9.
WAIPAHU--Tyler Martin 1, Jasper Leano 6, Andrew Petello 0, Gordon Cox 2, Robert Donley 12, Randy Agustin 0, Mike Pascablo 0, Jarron Vallente 3, Christian Dadulla 15, Dexter Cabrabilla 2, Regan Prestidge 0, Jordan Morales 0, Castro Masaniai 6, Ryan Komatsu 0.
3-point goals -- McKinley 5 (Enanoria 2, Borje, Lessary, Kaluna), Waipahu 2 (Vallente, Dadulla).
Kaiser 70, Nanakuli 60
Kalua Noa scored 19 points and Andrew Wingert added 18 to lead the Cougars past the Golden Hawks.
Kalani Kahalekai poured in a game-high 20 for Nanakuli.
At Kaiser H.S. gym
Nanakuli (2-10) |
16 |
12 |
13 |
19 |
-- |
60
|
Kaiser (12-1) |
16 |
17 |
17 |
20 |
-- |
70 |
NANAKULI--John Smith 2, Sydney Samoa 0, Jerson Bacalso 0, Julius Seabrooks 9, Tyrone Cross 7, Folauga Agatonu 1, Michael Patronis 2, Kalani Kahalekai 20, William Eli-Kido 0, Vincent Mao 10, Gysen Garcia 0, Arnad Kidder 9.
KAISER--Jake Esteban 6, Kalani Calizar 1, TR Phillips 4, Kalua Noa 19, Andrew Wingert 18, Tyler Norden 9, Brannon Wong 2, Jeff Gordon 0, Patrick Twohy 0, Rayce Chun-Ming 10, Galym Kulov 0, Salele Aliifua 1, Mychal Nagata 0.
3-point goals -- Nanakuli 4 (Seabrooks 3, Kidder), Kaiser 2 (Wingert 2).
ILH
Division II
Iolani 44, Academy of the Pacific 33
High scorers--
Iol: Matt Smith14.
AOP: Tri Bourne 11.
Friday's late result
University 54, Assets 39
High scorers--
UHS: George Bukes 11.
Asts: Nick Castello 15.
Junior varsity boys
Damien 77, Le Jardin 49