Kaimuki's victory ruins Moanalua's senior night
POSTED: Friday, February 06, 2009
Defense wins championships, so the Kaimuki Bulldogs might just rule the world sometime soon.
With key steals by David Taulung and Jason Nutter down the stretch, fifth-ranked Kaimuki escaped with a 49-43 win over Moanalua.
The Bulldogs (12-7) improved to 5-3 in Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East play, sweeping Na Menehune in their home-and-away series. Ryan Kakitani led the scoring with 15 points, while Taulung and center Desmond Tautofi added 10 each in a physical battle.
A senior-night crowd of about 400 saw Moanalua (11-10) drop to 5-5 in league play despite 20 points and eight rebounds by Marcus Monroe. Na Menehune shot 36 percent (16-for-45) from the field against Kaimuki's 2-3 zone and man-to-man defenses and committed 19 turnovers.
Yet Moanalua was within 41-40 with 2:16 remaining after Josiah Kauhola went coast to coast with a steal for a layup. After a pair of free-throw misses by Taulung, Moanalua had a chance to take the lead, but three turnovers in the next minute were costly.
Taulung fed Kelly Tobin in the low post for a bucket, and then stole the ball from Kauhola—his fifth steal of the game—at midcourt to score a breakaway bucket for a 45-40 lead with 1:04 to go.
After another turnover by Na Menehune, Taulung scored on an inbounds play from halfcourt for a seven-point lead with 47 ticks left. A free throw by Kakitani pushed Kaimuki's lead to 48-40 with 35 seconds remaining, and Moanalua got no closer than five the rest of the way.
Defense was the lone bright spot for Kaimuki, which committed 17 turnovers.
“;It was real messy,”; Taulung said. “;Early on, we were playing their pace, a real slow-paced game.”;
The visitors scored the first seven points of the game before Moanalua rallied to tie at halftime. Na Menehune shot 2-for-14 from 3-point range in the first half, but went on a 9-0 run to start the second half. Kauhola's only trey gave his team a 27-18 lead.
Kaimuki coach Kelly Grant laid into his squad during a timeout with a clear message: “;I cannot coach effort!”;
Taulung, one of the seniors, understood his coach's point.
“;We had to dig in. We weren't playing with intensity. We weren't playing Kaimuki basketball,”; he said. “;When Coach snaps like that, we take it personally. He doesn't usually do that.”;
Kakitani's 3-pointer and a power move by Tautofi cut the lead to four, sparking a 13-2 run.
Tautofi scored again underneath to open the fourth quarter for a 33-31 advantage as Kaimuki never trailed again. A Taulung steal and behind-the-back layup on the other end brought the Bulldogs faithful to their feet as Kaimuki took a 37-31 lead with 5:29 remaining.
A collision on a loose ball with 2:34 left fueled a technical foul against Nutter. Moanalua responded with four straight points to cut the lead to 41-40 with 2:16 left.
| Kaimuki (5-3) | 11 | 7 | 13 | 18 | — | 49 |
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| Moanalua (5-5) | 7 | 11 | 13 | 12 | — | 43 |
KAIMUKI—Ekolu Vares 0, Tevin Nishiyama 0, David Taulung 10, Elijah Morita 2, Jason Nutter 4, Ryan Kakitani 15, Clay Montiho 0, Gabriel Stietzel 4, Kelly Tobin 2, Desmond Tautofi 10, Chad Kaaihue 2.
MOANALUA—Aaron Davis 0,Josiah Kauhola 7, Randy Starks 2, Shane Aquino 0, Alexander Braswell 0, Reece Racoma 6, Christopher Daniels 0, Marcus Monroe 20, Carl Ko 6, Richard Villasenor 0, Maurice Allen 2.
3-point goals: Kaimuki 3 (Kakitani 3), Moanalua 3 (Monroe 2, Kauhola).
Junior varsity: Kaimuki 52, Moanalua 43.
OIA RED EAST
No. 9 Kalaheo 61, McKinley 56
Aaron Fernandez scored 16 of his game-high 24 points in the first quarter as the Mustangs held off the Tigers.
Fernandez hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter, the last a heave from beyond halfcourt at the buzzer.
| McKinley (0-9) | 18 | 6 | 13 | 19 | — | 56 |
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| Kalaheo (6-4) | 20 | 9 | 10 | 22 | — | 61 |
MCKINLEY—Ricardo Siasoco 0, Moku Spencer 5, Sio Fiso 0, Lesley Machiguchi 3, Millard Semitara 7, Jordan Macalma 12, Tana Woodard 19, Rio Kwon 0, Pryson Wallace 2, Wai Kalama 8.
KALAHEO—Dwayne Mitchell 0, Kevin Leong 0, Richard Preza Haynes 4, Zach Lovelace 0, Christian Kepa 14, Kona Makaula 4, Shawn Hipa 0, Aaron Fernandez 24, Matt Gasparine Young 6, Carlos Craig 0, Shane Hipa 9.
3-point goals—McKinley 2 (Machiguchi, Macalma), Kalaheo 8 (Fernandez 5, Hipa 3).
Junior varsity—McKinley 45, Kalaheo 42
Farrington 47, Kaiser 46
The Governors relied on a five-point first-half advantage to sneak past the Cougars for the team's fourth straight win.
James Smith led the victors with nine points.
Kaiser's Ryan Chong scored a game-high 12 points.
| Farrington (6-3) | 9 | 14 | 13 | 11 | — | 47 |
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| Kaiser (1-6) | 7 | 11 | 13 | 15 | — | 46 |
FARRINGTON—Vaughn Tomas 2, Dale Domingo 8, Jayfrey Damo 3, Dayton Kealoha 7, James Smith 9, Michael Carter 1, J.P. Saycon 6, Ronald Williams 2, Andre Pettis 9, Lancelot Williams 0, Joshua Ibana 0, Jhordan Ramos 0, Ernest Pucholang 0.
KAISER—Jaymes Kawashima 0, Devin Wolfe 5, Landan Tamanaha 10, Ryan Chong 12, Keola Hunt 6, Sani Taylor 2, Quinton Wong 2, Dan Hilton 0, Bryce Masaki 0, Salele Aliifua 9, Jordan Wang 0, Ronson Hill 0, Todd Takanishi 0, Kainoa Pa 0.
3-point goals—Farrington 2 (Damo, Kealoha), Kaiser 5 (Tamanaha 2, Chong 2, Wolfe).
Junior varsity—Kaiser 57, Farrington 43
OIA RED WEST
No. 8 Mililani 69, No. 7 Radford 62
The Trojans outscored the Rams 24-9 in the third quarter and withstood a fourth-quarter Radford comeback to improve to 8-2 and close in on division-leader Campbell.
| Radford (7-2) | 11 | 15 | 9 | 27 | — | 62 |
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| Mililani (8-2) | 12 | 15 | 24 | 18 | — | 69 |
RADFORD—Jason Pangilinan 0, Tavita Baravilala 0, Jefferson Fiesta 3, Darrell Lee 9, Tony Reid 20, Aldvin Valdez 2, Bobby Wolshlager 0, Quentin Kimura 12, Jaenne Fontenot 7, Kamu Taulelelu 0, Jared Victorino 7, Colvin Taylor 2, Marcus Malepeai 0.
MILILANI—Brandon Fujinaga 0, Bryan Villegas 7, Makena Kahaono 0, Nick Kunz 0, Ed Ocampo 4, Andrew Longboy 0, Reginal Griffin 11, Daniel Paglinawan 1, Nick Demusis 15, Kelei Mamahu 1, Hassan Richardson 12, Bo Keto 4, Jo Mcglamery 0, Dalaunte Stevenson 0, Reid Pangelinan 14.
3-point goals—Radford 11 (Kimura 4, Reid 3, Victorino, Fontenot, Fiesta, Lee), Mililani 2 (Villegas, Demusis).
Junior varsity—Radford 38, Mililani 45
Kapolei 45, Waipahu 42
The Hurricanes defense held the Marauders to four points in the third quarter, allowing Kapolei to sneak by Waipahu for the win.
| Kapolei (4-5) | 8 | 10 | 10 | 17 | — | 45 |
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| Waipahu (1-9) | 10 | 9 | 4 | 19 | — | 42 |
KAPOLEI—John Spearman 0, Spencer Faintain 0, Pomai Mero 3, Nathaniel Osada 5, Kainoa Pakele 0, Magic Halmos 5, Austin Gaskin 13, Jordan Ferreira 13, Jonathan Yang 0, Chaunce Lawson 0, Luke Kaumatule 5, Cody Gouveia 0, Michael Medeiros 1.
WAIPAHU—Duke Tili 7, Robinson Atud 0, Daeniel Diomananpo 3, Glenn Labuguen 0, Kendall Tomas 7, Anthony Agustin 0, Michael Alipio 2, Kaimi Haina 0, Regan Prestige 10, Anson Castelo 2, Asalemo Fruean 11.
3-point goals—Kapolei 2 (Mero, Halmos), Waipahu 3 (Tili, Diomananpo, Tomas).
Junior varsity—Kapolei 52, Waipahu 39
No. 10 Campbell 68, Aiea 46
The Sabers pulled ahead for good in the second quarter, handing Na Alii the home loss.
Patrick Ward led all scorers with 21 points for Campbell.
| Campbell (8-1) | 15 | 20 | 22 | 11 | — | 68 |
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| Aiea (2-8) | 13 | 10 | 8 | 15 | — | 46 |
CAMPBELL—Zachery Manuel 7, Kristian Manuel 13, Nicholas Daniels 13, Patrick Ward 21, Clayton Darity 9, Sanster Pagtulingan 3, Raymond Daoang 0, Mason Mau 2.
AIEA—Kory Naeole 18, Api Foumai 4, Latupo Faumina 6, Michael Hogan 8, Braxton Fukutomi 8, Steven O'Meally 2.
3-point goals—Campbell 3 (Z. Manuel, Darity, Pagtulingan), Aiea 1 (Naeole).
Junior varsity—Campbell 50, Aiea 31
OIA WHITE
Roosevelt 86, Anuenue 51
The Rough Riders set a frenzied pace early, capitalizing on fast-break points to dismantle winless Na Koa.
| Anuenue (0-8) | 15 | 13 | 10 | 13 | — | 51 |
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| Roosevelt (9-1) | 18 | 24 | 18 | 26 | — | 86 |
ANUENUE—Kekoa Sitarek 3, Kaipo Cullen 0, Aina Kelii-Supnet 18, Mahuka Cullen 0, Ikaika Gante 19, Makana Fernandez 2, Kahooipo Mossman-Ancog 2, Makamae Otani-Wengler 5, Kealoha Smith 0, Iokepa Waiwaiole 2.
ROOSEVELT—Rylan Ikehara 6, Bobby Chun 0, Matthew Moe 20, Chase Yogi 5, Reid Oshiro 13, Lowen Kahooilihala 3, Kaipo Pale 6, Asten Koki 7, Kainoa Gaspar 5, Chaz Francisco 21.
3-point goals—Anuenue 3 (Gante 2, Otani-Wengler), Roosevelt 3 (Moe 2, Oshiro).
Pearl City 41, Waialua 34
Johnson Chao scored 10 of his game-high 15 points in the first half as the Chargers opened up a comfortable lead over the Bulldogs.
| Pearl City (4-6) | 10 | 12 | 8 | 11 | — | 41 |
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| Waialua (2-7) | 4 | 7 | 13 | 10 | — | 34 |
PEARL CITY—Micah Choy 11, Nick Villarmia 2, Johnson Chao 15, Kellan Oshiro 0, Tyler Yamanouchi 2, Kalei Mitchell 2, Jeremy Fermin 0, Skye Kaapuni 4, Josiah Demello 5.
WAIALUA—Daniel Caluza 0, Jeremy Carillo 4, Kristoffer Cuadro 0, William Sacapulo-Uepa 10, John Rey Garcia 4, Victor Nobello 0, Jesse Kauwalu-Hurst 6, Rudi Galapia 3, Vance Maluyo 7, Lati Tui 0.
3-point goals—Pearl City 2 (Choy, Chao), Waialua 5 (Sacapulo-Uepa 2, Kauwalu-Hurst 2, Maluyo).
Junior varsity—Pearl City 62, Waialua 31
Castle 73, Kalani 29
Isaiah Tilton scored 26 points as the Knights torched the Falcons.
| Castle (7-2) | 25 | 9 | 19 | 20 | — | 73 |
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| Kalani (5-5) | 4 | 7 | 13 | 5 | — | 29 |
CASTLE—Michael Santos 7, Russell Ige 3, Nick Tuamoheloa 16, Dennis Darrientos 3, Isaiah Tilton 26, Adam Canne 0, Brent Roberts 0, K.J. Aipia 10, Jordan Aleki 8.
KALANI—Max Fujio 4, Bryson Yorita 5, Kameron Noyama 2, Ryoji Iguchi 2, Dennis Lau 0, Vincent Tran 0, Chase Suzumoto 4, Jordan Yogi 1, Marcus Hill 0, Angelo Berady 7, Andy Chu 0, Brook Parker 2, Hiroyuki Ono 2, Ike Watt 0, Elbert Khautakoun 0.
3-point goals—Castle 10 (Tilton 8, Tuamoheloa, Darrientos), Kalani 1 (Yorita).
Junior varsity—Kalani 42, Castle 40
ILH DIVISION II
Varsity boys
'Iolani 42, Hanalani 41
Hawaii Baptist 39, University 31
Word of Life 63, Christian Academy 44
Hawaiian Mission Academy 53, Academy of the Pacific 33
Leading scorers—Iol: Taylor Kennedy 11. Han: PJ Minaya 25. HBA: Christian Morimoto 8. UHS: Noah Chong-Viernes 12. WOL: Isaac Iwamoto 18. CA: Michael Urcia 10, Jasen Ocol 10. HMA: Jonathan Ko 14. AOP: Nick Gomes 14.
Varsity girls
La Pietra 51, Hanalani 29
Leading scorers—LaP: Shannon Waltz 25, Cody Koa 13. Han: Kim Feng 7.
