HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Saint Louis center Scott Smith went to the hoop against Kamehameha's Pono Hanson last night.
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Saint Louis keeps state hopes alive
The Crusade moves onward to the Big Island.
Scott Smith powered his way to 16 points and 11 rebounds as No. 4 Saint Louis ousted Kamehameha 49-31 last night to keep its state-tournament hopes alive.
Saint Louis, 11-3 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, captured third place in the league with the win at McCabe Gym. The Crusaders travel tomorrow and will face Konawaena, the third-place team in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation, at 3 p.m. in Kealakehe High School gym.
The winner of that game will earn a berth in the state tournament.
"We're taking it one game at a time," said forward Solomona Aigamaua, who added that he knows nothing about Konawaena.
"That's our whole goal, to get to states, and I believe we're gonna be a dangerous team once we get there," said Smith, who will play football at Cal next year. "Some of those plays, I was getting fouled, they were grabbing my jersey. It was like football."
Longtime Saint Louis coach Delbert Tengan kept his team focused though.
"We were struggling, Scott was struggling early on," Tengan said. "Mike (Tuiloma) came in, gave us good minutes, and Micah (McClinton) gave us a spark with a 3-pointer and a steal and got the ball rolling for us. Then we call a play for Jamison (Miller) on the inbound pass, and he hits a 3. It was a combination of guys coming in and giving us good minutes."
Kamehameha, an undersized but gritty team, had the misfortunate of being in a league that features three of the top four teams in the state.
"They're a well-coached team. I respect what Jesse (Nakanishi) has done," Tengan said of his counterpart.
"To beat them three times in a season is tough. I thought the homecourt advantage was a big deal for us," said Tengan, whose team has lost at home only once, to Punahou.
As was the case in two regular-season wins by the Crusaders over the Warriors, they started out somewhat slowly before Smith took charge. The 6-foot-7 senior didn't do it alone though. Aigamaua (seven points, five rebounds), Miller (seven points, six boards) and guard Cole Shidaki (seven points, five assists) gave Saint Louis a balanced offense against Kamehameha's 2-3 zone.
"Coach said to play our game. He told the big guys, 'Don't bring the ball down. Don't try to dribble' He didn't want us to force anything," Aigamaua said.
Andrew Godinet led Kamehameha with 10 points. The Warriors finished ILH play at 7-7 (12-14 overall).
"Their size took a toll, but their other guys made shots," Nakanishi said. "They deserve the win. They beat us three times, and that's why they're going."
At McCabe Gym
Kamehameha (7-7) |
9 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
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31
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Saint Louis (11-3) |
7 |
11 |
10 |
12 |
-- |
49 |
KAMEHAMEHA--Randy Cummings 0, Kawika Lyons 0, Mitchell Kauweloa 0, Andrew Godinet 10, Pono Hanson 6, Rykin Enos 8, Jay Kauka 0, Levi Goeas 0, Auwae DeRego 2, Pii Minns 0, Conrad Scheidt 5, Kamakoa Downey-Jovanovich 0.
SAINT LOUIS--Ricksson Pacarro 0, Kuli'a Aiona 6, John Quindara 0, Lucas Gonsalves 0, Scott Smith 16, Cole Shidaki 7, Solomona Aigamaua 7, Geordon Hanohano 1, Michael Tuiloma 2, Micah McClinton 3, Jamison Miller 7.
3-point goals--Kamehameha 4 (Godinet 2, Enos 2), Saint Louis 2 (McClinton, Miller).