OIA RED EAST BOYS BASKETBALL
Kalaheo escapes Kaimuki’s challenge
The favorite got the better of the matchup, but the underdog served notice that it'll be a threat for quite some time.
Third-ranked Kalaheo survived a scare by Kaimuki, the defending state champion which is supposedly in rebuilding mode, 61-57 last night at the Mustangs' gym.
Cheynne Lishman scored a team-high 23 points and backup point guard Cody vonAppen made the game-clinching steal and layup at the buzzer to secure the win for Kalaheo (6-0), but this one was as much about how Kaimuki (2-4) rose to the occasion after facing a 13-point halftime deficit.
After the game, winning coach Chico Furtado was reserved, while Bulldogs coach Kelly Grant was upbeat.
"Winning ugly is better than losing ... (but) same old story with our second halves," Furtado said. "It's been a struggle for us; we lose leads. Last time we played Kaimuki, same thing, and by the 5-minute mark in the fourth quarter it's a tie game."
It was the second straight game the Bulldogs took one of the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East leaders to its limit. Eighth-ranked Kahuku had similar trouble with Kaimuki on Monday, but survived 60-58. That was even without the services of point guard David Taulung, who Grant called "by far our best player."
"At halftime I didn't talk about any X's and O's," Grant said. "I talked about heart and I tell my players all the time, when you go out and play at places like Kalaheo, you want to have a fond memory. You don't want to come over here where you give poor efforts, where you don't go and dive for balls. You want to show you feel good about yourself."
Six-foot-2 Bulldogs sophomore Desmond Tautofi answered the call by bulldozing the Kalaheo defense around for 22 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots. He even stepped out for three 3-pointers, including his last to pull Kaimuki to within 58-57 with 45 seconds left. His play had some of the Bulldogs faithful woofing.
Kaimuki got the ball back after two missed Mustangs free throws and had a chance to avenge Kalaheo's 53-46 win in the Bulldogs' gym on Jan. 2, but Tautofi was called for traveling while backing down defenders on the ensuing possession.
The Bulldogs were emotionally drained after their second straight tough loss.
"I wanted to win badly. Everybody took it seriously, everybody crying after the game," said Tautofi, who at times evoked memories of Keone Reyes, the Star-Bulletin 2007 State Player of the Year who boasted a combination of range and physicality in leading the Bulldogs to the state title.
After Lishman hit one of two free throws with 11.6 seconds left, guard Ryan Kakitani -- who had an otherwise superb game with 25 points and three assists -- lost the ball at midcourt to vonAppen, who raced the other way as the Mustangs faithful went berserk.
Despite that, Furtado was most displeased with his team's living up to its reputation for failing to close opponents out. Kalaheo was outscored 38-29 in the second half.
"You cannot play hard the first half and take the second half off," Furtado said. "It was God-awful."
Kaimuki roared back in the fourth when it went into the free-throw double-bonus almost immediately to start the final period. Kakitani capitalized with aggressive drives on hedge pick-and-rolls and ended up at the foul line again and again. The junior hit 12 of 14 shots at the stripe in the second half, and was key in fouling out Mustangs point guard Taylor Jay midway through the fourth.
At Kalaheo H.S. gym
Kaimuki (2-4) |
10 |
9 |
19 |
19 |
-- |
57 |
Kalaheo (6-0) |
18 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
-- |
61 |
KAIMUKI -- Duke Okudara 3, Chauncey Nicola 0, Ryan Kakitani 25, Desmond Tautofi 22, Chezz Ramos-Dias 3, Gabriel Stetzel 4, Kelly Tobin 0, Clay Montiho 0, Preacher Namdrik 0.
KALAHEO -- Alika Ka'anapu 0, Taylor Jay 5, Richard Preza-Haynes 9, Cheynne Lishman 23, D.J. Chang 4, Aaron Fernandez 5, Christian Kepa 6, Matt Gasparine 0, Bruce Andrews 4, Cody vonAppen 5, Keano Bruhn 0.
3-point goals -- Kaimuki 4 (Tautofi 3, Okudara). Kalaheo 6 (Lishman 3, Jay, Fernandez, Preza-Haynes).
OIA RED EAST
Kailua 60, Castle 52
Billy Oden scored a game-high 18 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead the Surfriders past the Knights.
At Kailua H.S. gym
Castle (3-4) |
16 |
15 |
15 |
6 |
-- |
52 |
Kailua (2-4) |
14 |
22 |
9 |
15 |
-- |
60 |
CASTLE -- Nick Tuamoheloa 10, Layne Kihara 7, Vernon Mitchell 6, Malani Lum 9, Michael Santos 6, Marcus Ofoia 0, Isaiah Tilton 7, Kevin Aipia 3, Shayne Carvalho 2, Nick Cabunoc 2.
KAILUA -- Jackie Uemoto 7, Alan Ilae 0, Billy Oden 18, Bubu Naki 6, Kenny Ellis 15, Mike Flynn 0, Kaimi Sarkissian 6, Nick Raymond 0, Chauncy Makainai 8, Tesi Fisilau 0.
3-point goals -- Castle 8 (Lum 3, Tuamoheloa 2, Kihara, Tilton, Santos), Kailua 5 (Oden 4, Naki).
Junior varsity -- Kailua 46, Castle 36
No. 8 Kahuku 64, Roosevelt 34
Alola Tonga scored 13 points as the undefeated Red Raiders routed the Rough Riders.
At Roosevelt H.S. gym
Kahuku (6-0) |
18 |
18 |
14 |
14 |
-- |
64 |
Roosevelt (0-6) |
4 |
11 |
5 |
14 |
-- |
34 |
KAHUKU -- Jray Galeai 9, Jack Damuni 4, Willie Ching 11, Irwin Ah-Hoy 3, Roger Van Ness 7, Kohl Nauahi 4, Justin Afalava 1, Alola Tonga 13, Patrick Au 6, Christian Feagai 3, Shiloh Teo 3.
ROOSEVELT -- Jason Nutter 5, Lowen Kaho'oilihala 5, Matthew Kualii-Moe 0, Lowen Furuta-Harada 3, Kainoa Gaspar 0, Rylan Ikehara 0, Chaz Francisco 0, Reid Oshiro 14, Keoki Schuman 1, Ethan Williams 2, Asten Koki 2, Kaipo Pale 2.
3-point goals -- Kahuku 1 (Van Ness), Roosevelt 7 (Oshiro 4, Furuta-Harada, Kahooilihala, Nutter).
Junior varsity -- Kahuku 73, Roosevelt 38
OIA RED WEST
Kapolei 48, Waianae 39
Nate Dixon scored 12 points to lead the Hurricanes over the Seariders.
At Kapolei H.S. gym
Waianae (0-6) |
10 |
9 |
8 |
12 |
-- |
39 |
Kapolei (5-1) |
4 |
18 |
10 |
16 |
-- |
48 |
WAIANAE -- Jarred Burns 14, Jamerson Smith 5, Bryson Kekahuna 2, Aaron Saragena 0, Abdullah Morris 8, D.J. Awong 2, Shawn Asberry 5, Anthony Niederschmidt 3, Earnest Stevens 0, Paki Garcia 0, Rodney Paguirigan 0.
KAPOLEI -- Pomai Mero 0, Keanu Montez 0, Darius Richardson 0, Joshua Reed 0, Lesean Standfield 0, D'shaun Dubois 11, Magic Halmos 4, Nate Dixon 12, Jordan Ferreira 7, Randall Daneils 0, Johnathan Yang 0, Mason Koa 10, Lawrence Olive 4.
3-point goals -- Waianae 1 (Niederschmidt), Kapolei 1 (Dubois).
Junior varsity -- Waianae 34, Kapolei 30
Mililani 51, Leilehua 45
Nick Demusis' 13 points and the Trojans' stifling defense led Mililani past the previously undefeated Mules.
At Leilehua H.S. gym
Mililani (4-2) |
12 |
18 |
13 |
8 |
-- |
51 |
Leilehua (4-1) |
3 |
6 |
13 |
17 |
-- |
39 |
MILILANI -- Curtis Murakami 3, Scott Burns 8, Warren Duke 8, Aaron Lenchanko 5, Jon Keen 6, Reid Pangelinan 2, Nehoa Akina 6, Nick Demusis 13, Devin Castellano-Chock 0, Cody Kilthau 0, Devin Hall 0, Bo Keto 0.
LEILEHUA -- Dillon Pau'u 4, Hoku Kama 7, Kolwin Dixon 15, Jamael Hill 0, James Hill 0, Chase Acohido 0, Andrew Manley 0, Bryann Hollis 0, Gary Rodeffer 2, James Samuel 2, Art Laurel 7, Nathan Hall 0, Bronson Pausa 0, Tavana Alailima 2.
3-point goals -- Mililani 4 (Murakami, Akina, Lenchanko, Demusis), Leilehua 1 (Kama).
Junior varsity -- Mililani 51, Leilehua 28
Campbell 87, Radford 70
Michael Makinano scored 11 of his game-high 31 points in the first quarter to lead the Sabers over the Rams.
At Campbell H.S. gym
Radford (1-5) |
15 |
17 |
19 |
19 |
-- |
70 |
Campbell (4-2) |
27 |
21 |
19 |
20 |
-- |
87 |
RADFORD -- Andre Brown 0, Jared Victorino 8, Josh Panglinan 3, Billy Johnson 8, Jon Combis 2, Derell Lee 2, Jared Brown 21, Aldrin Valdez 0, Quentin Kimura 12, Shawn Putman 4, Omar Caldwell 0, Brad Osbourne 0, Marcus Malepeai 2, Tony Reid 8.
CAMPBELL -- Michael Makinano 31, Terence Tafai 11, Zachary Manuel 8 , Nicholas Daniels 2, Danny Mau 2, Christian Storment 6, Razi White 3, Laval Harris 2, Kevin Newcomb 2, Timothy Hurd 2, Eddie Gaines 13, Patrick Ward 5.
3-point goals -- Radford 2 (Kimura), Campbell 6 (Makinano 2, Manuel 2, Tafai, Ward).
Junior varsity -- Campbell 44, Radford 41