StarBulletin.com

Mililani stays in winner's bracket


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POSTED: Saturday, February 13, 2010

Mililani was on fire out of the gate, and that fast start carried the Trojans to a 45-40 victory over visiting Kahuku last night in Oahu Interscholastic Association boys basketball playoff action.

The duo of Reginald Griffin and Trent McKinney combined for 21 of Mililani's 45 total points, helping the Trojans advance into the next round of the winners' side of the modified double-elimination tourney.

“;I knew we had to come out hard,”; McKinney said. “;We really wanted to win tonight, so we went out there and took advantage of our aggressive style of play. And that's how we were able to win. By being willing to throw that first punch,”; McKinney said.

The Trojans (12-2 in the OIA) controlled the opening tap and proceeded to pass the ball to Griffin, who was in perfect position to knock down a 3-pointer.

From there, the No. 1 seed from the OIA West Division dominated in the paint and connected on its midrange shots to outscore Kahuku 19-7 in the first quarter.

“;Off the tip we always try to get a quick shot so we can get the flow of the game going in our direction,”; Griffin said. “;The first quarter is always our best quarter. We try to come strong early so we can get the game going our way. Then during the rest of the game we can run our normal offense.”;

The Red Raiders had problems hitting their early shots, but managed to mount a slight comeback in the second quarter, which narrowed Mililani's lead to 27-18 at halftime.

The second half started out slow for both teams; then Mililani got hot again to extend its lead to 39-26.

Only a long desperate 3-pointer by Kahuku center Jackson Kaka in the closing seconds of the third quarter kept Kahuku in contention.

With Kaka's 3-pointer serving as a wake-up call, the Red Raiders chipped away at Mililani's lead. But Kahuku (10-4 in OIA) ran out of time before the Red Raiders could close the gap.

“;Kahuku played us tough all the way to the end,”; Mililani coach Ed Gonzales said. “;We failed to take good care of the ball down the stretch. And that nearly cost us the game. No doubt we must work on this problem in our future practices.”;

Gonzales says he is eager to play Moanalua next Saturday at McKinley. Na Menehune beat Campbell in the other semifinal.

“;Both of these teams are great,”; Gonzales noted. “;It doesn't matter which one we play because both of them have similar styles. Both Moanalua and Campbell like to run up and down the court, which is what we like to do also.”;

Griffin led Mililani with 11 points and McKinney contributed 10.

McKinney added, “;We know that each game that we play in this tournament is going to be difficult for us. We welcome the challenge, but at the same time, we know we must stay focused on playing our best if we want to win.”;

 

At Kahuku gym

                                                                                                                                           
Mililani19812645
Kahuku71181440

MILILANI —Brandon Fujinaga 2, Bryson Calma 0, Josh Lenchanko 0, Nick Kunz 3, Ed Ocampo 4, Makena Kahoano 2, R.J. Griffin 11, Joe McGlamery 3, Robbie Griffin 0, Hassan Richardson 7, Trent McKinney 10, Brandon Tacadena 0, Christian Baltazar 0, Forrest Garcia 3, Ryan Jacobs 0.
KAHUKU—Michael Tyau 0, Kawehena Johnson 2, Samala Afalava 0, Hans Brown 0, Mua Malufau 1, Sage Kaka 4, Wonka Beatty 0, Nehoa Akina 8, Jackson Kaka 6, Shairone Thompson 13, Josh Christiansen 0, K.J. Uluava 6, Evan Moe 0, Mason Golden 0.
3-point goals—Mililani 3 (McGlamery, R.J. Griffin, Kunz). Kahuku 3 (Akina 2, Kaka).

 

No. 4 Moanalua 72, Campbell 51

Marcus Monroe scored 17 points and Marcus Keene added 14 as Na Menehune clinched a spot in the Division I state championships and advanced to face Mililani.

Reece Racoma hit for eight of his 13 points in the first quarter as Na Menehune jumped on the Sabers from the start with a 15-0 run.

Monroe scored 10 points in the third as Moanalua stretched its lead to 58-26.

Kristian Manuel hit for 25 points for Campbell, which hosts Farrington next Wednesday in the double-elimination tournament.

 

At Moanalua gym

                                                                                                                                           
Campbell610102551
Moanalua1912271472

CAMPBELL —Kristian Manuel 25, Christian Storment 15, Fouina Haskins 4, Christopher Crawford 0, Maika Ulufale 0, Allan Otanes 0, Mason Mau 0, Timothy Friend 0, Carter Kauwenaole 0, C.J. Ramos 0, Clayton Darity 0, Brandon Todd B.J Halmos 7.
MOANALUA —Bronson Kepa 0, Reece Racoma 13, Kevin Amaral 2, Aaron Davis 0, Alex Braswell 0, Brandon Guerrero 0, Josiah Kauhola 7, Wesley Armbrust 4, Marcus Monroe 17, Dexter Williams 9, Marcus Keene 14, Carl Ko 0, Marcellis Turner 4, Dominique Jones 0, Richard Villasenor 2.
3-point goals—Campbell 3 (Manuel 2, Halmos). Moanalua 6 (Monroe 2, Racoma, Kauhola, Keene, Turner).

 

Leilehua 62, Waipahu 51

The Mules' offense was very productive, with four players scoring double digits in their victory over the Marauders.

Daniel Diomanpo scored 24 points for Waipahu in the loss.

Leilehua faces Kahuku on Wednesday.

 

At Leilehua gym

                                                                                                                                           
Waipahu12111711 51
Leilehua1212152362

WAIPAHU—Chance Delima 0, Duketoa Tili 2, Tatupu Tatupu 4, Daniel Diomanpo 24, Michael Alipio 4, Anson Castello 5, Asalemo Fruen 12, Nathan Bartley 0.
LEILEHUA—Xavier Adger 14, Brent Lemon 8, Dillon Pau'u 10, Stockton Crowley 2, Martin Hall 11, Carlos Marshall 0, Lopaka Chandler 2, Cassius Camanse 15.
3-point goals—Waipahu 2 (Castello, Diomanpo). Leilehua 3 (Lemon 2, Hall).

 

Farrington 39, No. 10 Kaimuki 29

The Bulldogs struggled to score in being upset by the Governors, led by Lancelot Williams with 15 points.

Farrington will visit Campbell on Wednesday in the consolation round of the Red playoffs.

 

At Kaimuki gym

                                                                                                                                           
Farrington12513939
Kaimuki1345729

FARRINGTON—Scotland Smith 2, Jeffrey Madarang 5, Paul Solomon 3, Jayfrey Damo 7, Lancelot Williams 15, Ronald Williams 2, Viane Vaina 1, Justin Vele 4.
KAIMUKI —Tevin Nishiyama 5, Nicholas Motellang 0, Mason Kualii-Moe 8, Jonn Kakitani 3, Gabriel Stietzel 5, Chester Sua 4, Ekolu Vares 3, Siaosi Haloapiapi 1.
3-point goals—Farrington 2 (Solomon, Damo). Kaimuki 5 (Vares, Nishiyama, Kualii-Moe, Kakitani, Stietzel).

 

ILH Girls Playoffs
No. 6 'Iolani 60, No. 8 Mid-Pacific 55

The Raiders got off to a slow start, scoring only four points in the first quarter, but they recovered quickly in the second with 24 points in their win over the Owls for the second ILH berth in the HHSAA state tournament.

'Iolani shot well from beyond the arc, sinking seven 3-pointers.

Lori Yamashita scored 16 points and Alex Masaquel added 14 to lead 'Iolani.

 

At 'Iolani gym

                                                                                                                                           
Mid-Pacific138181655
'Iolani424181460

MID-PACIFIC —Paige Young 6, Ashley Yamachika 6, Mahina Doktor 0, Kiana Robertson 2, Shanon Nishimura 2, Jordan Kealoha 8, Taylor Babbitt 4, Keaton McFadden 10, Jenna Savusa 17, Megan Kinoshita 0, Camille Ganahl 0.
'IOLANI —Saphyre Rezentes 6, Kryn Masutani 3, Kylie Rae Maeda 0, Lori Yamashita 16, Georgette Lopes-Liutolo 3, Kaitlyn Shikada 5, Lahela Usui 11, Shauni Watanabe 2, Alex Masaquel 14, Brittany Barnes 0, Taimane Passi 0.
3-point goals—Mid-Pacific 1 (Yamachika). 'Iolani 7 (Rezentes 2, Yamashita 2, Lopes-Liutolo, Shikada, Usui).

 

ILH Division II Boys

Christian Academy 51, Word of Life 45

High scorers—CA: Jason Ko 20, Arton Durand 20. WOL: Isaac Iwamoto 11.

Also:
BIIF
Hawaii Prep 58, Laupahoehoe 39
Leading scorers—HPA: Jason Seid 18, Rokas Cesnulevicius 10. Lau: Devon Awai 9.