GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kulani Soares of Kamehameha-Hawaii went up for a shot against Kamehameha-Maui's Erwin Decoite.
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BOYS DIVISION I QUARTERFINALS
Big Isle Warriors best their Maui brothers
The battle of Kamehameha went to the Warriors from the Big Island, as Kamehameha-Hawaii is back in the semifinals for the second straight year.
Senior Colton Collins led a balanced Warriors attack with 12 points and Hogan Rosehill added 11 points and nine rebounds as Kamehameha-Hawaii defeated Kamehameha-Maui 52-38 last night in the Division I quarterfinals of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships at McKinley.
Kamehameha-Hawaii will face Moanalua in the first of two semifinal games tonight at 6 at Blaisdell Arena.
"We're happy to be back in the semifinals again," Kamehameha-Hawaii coach Nelson Wong said. "We didn't play as well as we should have tonight, but I kind of expected to have a little letdown after yesterday."
Kamehameha-Hawaii advanced to the quarterfinals by escaping with a six-point victory over Kalaheo on Wednesday. Last night's game wasn't as close, as Kamehameha-Hawaii jumped to a six-point lead after the first quarter. Kamehameha-Maui never got closer, trailing by as many as 19 in the second half.
"We came out trying to push the ball up the court and getting it inside to our big guys," Collins said. "We thought if we did that we could get the win."
Collins was on his way to a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds before being knocked out of the game in the third quarter after busting open his chin.
Rosehill and senior Kealoha Kramer more than made up for his absence in the fourth quarter, combining for nine of Kamehameha-Hawaii's 11 points in the final frame.
Kekoa Turbeville nailed three 3-pointers in the second half and led Kamehameha-Maui with 12 points. Jeff Oka came off the bench to add nine points.
"(Oka) made some plays and (Turbeville) hit some big shots," Wong said.
Kamehameha-Hawaii played with much more balance on offense as seven different players scored at least twice.
"We needed to do that," Wong said. "If we focus our offense around one guy and he happens to get injured or is ruled ineligible, we'd be in trouble. Our focus is to create some balance."
Kamehameha-Hawaii returns to the semifinals, where a year ago it was knocked off by eventual state champion Kaimuki.
"We got that experience from last year going for us this year," Collins said. "We also have experience from other sports that have made it this far so we'll be ready."
Austin, Na Menehune shock Raiders
Stevie Austin scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter as Moanalua stunned top-seeded Iolani 58-55 in a Division I boys quarterfinal last night at McKinley.
After a tight first half, Na Menehune extended their lead in the second half behind Austin, who hit two 3-pointers, and Ryan Hua, who scored all seven of his points in the third quarter.
The Raiders rallied in the final period behind Pablo Warner, who scored the Raiders' first 12 points. The Raiders pulled even at 43, but Austin came up clutch from the field and converted three of four shots from the free-throw line.
Moanalua (13-5) faces Kamehameha-Hawaii in a Division I semifinal tonight.
Taylor Mounts scored 21 to lead Iolani, which fell to 11-3.