HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Dolphins get trip to state tournament
These Dolphins know their roles, and now they are en route to the state championships.
Keoni Daniel, Tri Bourne and Brad Foster propelled Academy of the Pacific over Hanalani 56-43 yesterday to secure the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's third Division II state-tournament berth.
A robust crowd at McCabe Gym, as well as a statewide TV audience, saw each of the three top Dolphins dominate his particular niche. Daniel started slowly from the field, but finished with 21 points. He was especially strong down the stretch with 8-for-10 free-throw shooting in the final quarter.
Foster muscled his way to 18 points and 18 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive end. Bourne, a defensive whiz, finished with eight points, 15 rebounds and nine steals. He was pivotal in the first half, when AOP's 3-2 zone forced 12 Hanalani turnovers.
AOP improved to 15-5 overall, including 12-5 in the ILH.
"We had fun. We'll get to play one more game together," said Daniel, a sophomore. "On defense, with rebounding, Tri does everything you can say, like Shaq and Kobe."
It was quite a turnaround for both teams. Hanalani won their regular-season matchup 46-45.
"I didn't handle the pressure too well," Daniel said of that first encounter. "I'm glad to see AOP go to states. Some people thought we couldn't get there, but we proved them wrong."
AOP will join league champion University and runner-up Hawaii Baptist as the ILH's representatives at the state tourney.
P.J. Wood, who had 16 points in Hanalani's regular-season win, had only six yesterday on 3-for-16 shooting. Darin Kamealoha led the Royals with 18 points, including 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range.
The Dolphins had a 42-25 edge in rebounding, including 23-8 in the first half, thanks to Foster and Bourne. They also forced Hanalani into 22 turnovers and 31 percent shooting (16-for-51) from the field.
At McCabe Gym
AOP (12-5) |
14 |
16 |
6 |
20 |
-- |
56
|
Hanalani (11-6) |
12 |
9 |
12 |
10 |
-- |
43 |
ACADEMY OF THE PACIFIC--Tri Bourne 8, Hoyt Fuller 4, Brad Foster 18, Keoni Daniel 21, Nick Seberg 0, Joshua Chaffin 0, Koa Gomes 5.
HANALANI--Andrew Kutaka 2, Darin Kamealoha 18, P.J. Minaya 3, Matt Simbre 0, Justin Delizo 2, David Vidinha 3, Danny Gabriel 2, Samson Aina 4, P.J. Wood 6, Jon Cunningham 3.
3-point goals-- AOP 0, Hanalani 7 (Kamealoha 4, Minaya, Vidinha, Aina).