Friday, February 19, 1999

Mustangs,
Buffs in final

The top two seeds advance to
the state boys' basketball
championship

By Cindy Luis
Star-Bulletin

It was one of those nights. One where everything Julian Sensley touched turned to points.

Well, almost everything. Sensley hit his first seven shots -- including four 3-pointers -- en route to a career-high 28 points to lead top-seeded Kalaheo over unseeded St. Louis, 60-51, in last night's second semifinal of the Hawaiian Airlines/Hawaii High School Athletic Association State Boys' Basketball Tournament.

A crowd of 2,315 at the Stan Sheriff Center saw the Mustangs (14-0) advance to tonight's championship against No. 2 seed Punahou (13-1). Seniors Zach Stephens and Brandon Brooks combined for 35 points to lead the Buffanblu over third seed Waiakea, 62-32.

The Crusaders (12-5) and Warriors (14-2) will meet in the third-place game.

Before last night's game with St. Louis, Kalaheo coach Pete Smith challenged Sensley by showing the junior forward statistics from December's preseason games against St. Louis and Punahou. Sensley scored five points apiece in a 37-35 loss to the Buffanblu and a 45-35 victory over the Crusaders.

Last night, he had 10 points in the first eight minutes as the Mustangs jumped out to a 17-9 first-quarter lead. He didn't miss a shot until he tried to hit a 3-pointer as time ran out in the third quarter. Sensley finished 8 of 10 from the floor, 6 of 6 from the line and had 10 rebounds and three blocked shots.

"Julian came out ready to play," said Smith, whose team is seeking its third state title. "He came out on fire.

"We knew it was going to be a very physical game. We told our kids it was going to be Prep Bowl II out there. (St. Louis coach) Darryl Gabriel does a great job and you know his team is going to come out and compete hard."

Gabriel was trying to become the first coach to win a state title with two different teams. He led University High School to the championship in 1988.

The physicalness of the game worked against the Crusaders early. When Joe Siofele was whistled for his second foul in 30 seconds late in the first quarter, St. Louis trailed just 9-8. By the time the 6-foot-3 senior returned in the second quarter, Kalaheo had gone on a 14-1 run for a 23-9 lead.

The Mustangs advance to their second consecutive state title game and fourth in five years.

"I was just feeling it tonight," said Sensley. "We came out strong, played tough 'D' and everyone played together. We have to do the same things against Punahou."

St. Louis	9	10	16	16--51
Kalaheo		17	16	11	16--60

St. Louis: Anthony Arceneaux 0-2 0-0 0, Timmy Chang 1-5 1-2 3, Joey Borja 0-2 0-0 0, Leslie Wong Jr. 2-9 11-12 17, Enoch McKeague 0-1 0-0 0, Matt Vivas 4-9 5-6 14, Sione Thompson 1-1 3-4 5, Frank Rivers 0-0 0-0 0, Joe Siofele 5-11 2-5 12. Totals 13-39 22-30 51.

Kalaheo: Damien Guerreiro 0-2 2-2 2, Eric Sandovahl 0-0 0-2 0, Reggie Bartley 0-0 0-0 0, Levon Freeman 2-8 1-3 7, Chris Hatori 4-4 5-6 13, Ryan Hogue 3-6 2-6 8, DeCarlos Daniels 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Braley 0-0 0-0 0, Julian Sensley 8-10 6-6 28, Karl Kuhau-Liftee 0-2 2-2 2. Totals 17-32 18-27 60.

3-point goals--StL (3-11): Wong 2-8, Vivas 1-1, Chang 0-1, Borja 0-1. Kal (8-12): Sensley 6-8, Freeman 2-4. Rebounds--StL (26): Vivas 10. Kal (23): Sensley 10. Assists--StL (4): Chang 3. Kal (9): Freeman 4.

Punahou 62, Waiakea 32: Zach Stephens has been waiting to play for a state title ever since he was a freshman. The senior guard did more than his share last night to make it happen, finishing with 18 points, three assists and five steals to lead the Buffanblu over the Warriors.

"This has been our goal since the very first day we began practicing as a team," said Stephens.

Stephens scored 11 of Punahou's first 20 points as the Buffanblu began to pull away from the Warriors.

Brandon Brooks finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots for Punahou. Waiakea got 13 points and 12 rebounds from Kyle Bartholomew.

Waiakea		10	5	10	7--32
Punahou		7	20	18	17--62

Waiakea: Royce Yoshimura 0-0 1-3 1, Scott Akashi 0-0 0-0 0, Todd Yanagi 0-0 0-0 0, Jacob Cabreros 2-3 0-0 4, Kyle Bartholomew 5-15 3-5 13, Janaka Buchholtz 0-0 0-0 0, Moku Kaolulo 1-3 2-3 4, Anthony Wise 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Matsuda 1-4 0-0 2, Greg Kagawa 0-7 0-0 0, Matthew Hall 0-0 0-0 0, Evan Bartholomew 0-0 0-0 0, Myron Yoshizumi 3-8 2-3 8. Totals 12-41 8-14 32.

Punahou: Blair Suzuki 2-4 3-4 7, Chris Young 0-2 0-0 0, Micah Tang 1-1 0-0 3, Noah Wee 1-5 0-0 2, Ryan Saito 1-5 2-2 5, Zachary Stephens 6-10 5-6 18, Dean Taliaferro 0-0 0-0 0, Jesse Lam 1-1 0-1 2, Binnings Bent 0-0 0-0 0, Bryan Turner-Gerlach 3-6 0-0 6, Brandon Brooks 6-13 5-5 17, Adam Kyle 1-1 0-0 2, Brad Castillo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-48 15-18 62.

3-point goals--Wai (0-11): K. Bartholomew 0-4, Matsuda 0-1, Kagawa 0-3, Yoshizumi 0-3. Pun (3-8): Tang 1-1, Saito 1-2, Stephens 1-3, Suzuki 0-1, Wee 0-1. Rebounds--Wai (27): K. Bartholomew 12. Pun (33): Brooks 10. Assists--Wai (2): Two tied with 1. Pun (11): Stephens 3, Brooks 3.

Kalani 62, Kapaa 57: Everett Frye continued to light up the arena, scoring 23 points to lead the Falcons (11-4) over the Warriors (7-5). The senior guard, who popped in 23 points last night, has scored 79 points in three games.

Kalani		6	29	14	13--62
Kapaa		7	20	17	23--57

Kalani: Everett Frye 7-15 7-9 23, Ahren Kersting 1-1 0-0 2, Jason Lee 0-0 0-0 0, Keala-Joe Fujimori 0-1 0-0 0, Alohikea Pinho-McKeague 7-12 2-8 18, Cory Okimura 0-0 0-0 0, Justin Kobayashi 0-0 0-0 0, Brandon Ross 1-7 2-4 4, Russell Dement 0-1 0-0 0, Kila Kamakawiwo'ole 2-6 2-4 6, Malu Akiona 3-10 3-7 9, George Alefasio 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-54 16-32 62.

Kapaa: Justin Matsukawa 3-4 0-0 6, Kihei Fernandez 0-3 1-2 1, Randall Silva 0-0 0-0 0, Corie Raquel 0-6 0-0 0, Nick Hill 3-13 4-8 13, Jeremy Dupree 6-14 3-4 15, Kekoa Chun 4-7 3-4 11, Bryson Anakalea 2-4 2-2 6, Dustin Smith 1-3 0-0 2, Isaiah Cayeayon 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 20-56 14-22 57.

3-point goals--Kal (4-13): Frye 2-3, Pinho-McKeague 2-3, Ross 0-3, Dement 0-1, Kamakawiwo'ole 0-2, Akiona 0-1. Kap (3-9): Hill 3-7, Chun 0-1, Smith 0-1. Rebounds--Kal (32): Kamakawiwo'ole, Ross 6). Kap (44): Dupree 12. Assists--Kal (8). Kap (5).

Maui 59, Castle 43: The Sabers (16-2) used a balanced scoring attack and a 24-11 first-quarter run to defeat the Knights (9-7).

Maui		24	7	13	15--59
Castle		11	8	10	14--43

Maui: Rey Bagorio 0-1 0-0 0, Manny Ballesteros 0-0 0-0 0, Dionisio Dante 0-1 0-0 0, Robert Collins 2-5 0-1 5, Rolando Llego 0-1 0-0 0, Sean Bersamin 6-12 1-2 14, Chris Daniels 4-7 4-5 13, Ikaika-Li Woods 6-9 2-2 14, David Tufaga 4-8 2-2 11, Kevin Wunder 0-0 0-0 0, Malcom Siciak 0-0 0-0 0, Les Johnson 0-2 2-4 2. Totals 22-46, 11-16 59.

Castle: Brandon Kaio 1-1 0-0 3, Rodney Pelanska 4-8 0-0 11, Dayton Aberilla 1-8 2-4 4, Hyrum Panoke 0-1 0-0 0, Arnubi Bruhn 0-13 0-0 0, Buddy Guillermo 4-13 0-0 9, Micah Chinen 0-1 0-0 0, Dayton Gernier 1-2 0-0 2, Chad Hirata 0-0 0-0 0, David Shizuma 1-1 0-0 2, Paul Collins 2-12 0-0 2, Maurice Sevelo 1-4 0-0 2, Keola Brinkley 2-4 0-0 4, Kalaeloa Robbins 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 18-68 2-4 43.

3-point goals--Maui (4-8): Collins 1-1, Bersamin 1-4, Daniels 1-2, Tufaga 1-1. Cas (5-31): Kaio 1-1, Pelanska 3-7, Aberilla 0-3, Panoke 0-1, Bruhn 0-8, Guillermo 1-6, Chinen 0-1, Collins 0-4. Rebounds--Maui (42): Woods 12. Cas (34): Collins 8. Assists--Maui (10): Collins 6. Cas (4).

Waianae 51, Lahainaluna 46: Sam Keaulii scored 18 points to left the Seariders (11-4) over the Lunas (14-4).

Lahainaluna	10	19	11	6--46
Waianae		17	11	10	13--51

Lahainaluna: Christopher Lagazo 1-9 3-3 5, Simon Gaspar 0-1 0-0 0, Ferdinand Agcaoli 1-4 1-1 4, Jamal White 7-10 1-1 15, Aaron Nava 2-4 2-2 6, Christoph Sieben 3-8 0-0 6, Tino Finau 5-10 0-2 10. Totals 19-46 7-9 46.

Waianae: Mike Autida 0-0 0-0 0, Nathaniel Donnell 3-7 2-3 11, Gerald Boyd 2-2 1-2 6, William Ballaran 1-2 0-0 2, William Broadus 3-4 0-0 7, Wilfredo Dinong 1-1 0-0 2, Wesley Lopes 0-0 0-0 0, Calvin Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Robert Hamili 2-3 1-1 5, Sam Keauli'i 7-11 3-3 18. Totals 19-30 7-9 51.

3-point goals--Lah (1-7): Lagazo 0-3, Gasper 0-1, Agcaoli 1-3. Wai (6-12): Donnell 3-6, Boyd 1-1, Ballaran 0-1, Broadus 1-2, Keauli'i 1-2. Rebounds--Lah (17): Sieben, Agcaoli, Finau 4. Wai (20): Hamili 6. Assists--Lah (2). Wai (12): Donnell 5.

HHSAA Boys' Basketball

At Stan Sheriff Center

Today's games
Consolation final
Iolani vs. Waianae, 11 a.m.
Fifth place
Maui vs. Kalani, 12:30 p.m.
Third place
Waiakea vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.
Championship
Punahou vs. Kalaheo, 8:30 p.m.

Yesterday's results
Semifinals
Kalaheo 60, St. Louis 51
Punahou 62, Waiakea 32
Consolation Bracket
Waianae 51, Lahainaluna 46
Maui 59, Castle 43
Kalani 62, Kapaa 57