[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
McKinley's Robert Holder, left, went up to defend Kalaheo's Sam Wilhoite, middle, last night. Kalaheo won 67-42.
Kalaheo still Despite losing two All-State players in Ikaika Alama-Francis and D.C. Daniels, the Kalaheo basketball team proved it still has the firepower to remain a force in the Oahu Interscholastic Association with a 67-42 victory over McKinley last night.
a force in OIA
A young Mustang team
beats McKinley by 25By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe Mustangs used a 32-point fourth quarter to run away from the Tigers in the OIA Eastern Division opener for both teams.
"We got hot," Kalaheo coach Pete Smith said. "We have some streak shooters on this team and when they get hot they can fill up the net."
With Daniels and Alama-Francis graduating and taking the bulk of the Mustangs' scoring with them, junior forward Sam Wilhoite has stepped forward as Kalaheo's main offensive threat. The 6-foot-7 junior, Kalaheo's only returning starter, led the Mustangs with 18 points.
Theodore Fujita-Lukachyk finished with 15 points, with 11 coming in the fourth quarter, and Zane Cabral added nine.
"Last year we went to (Daniels and Alama-Francis) for shots," Smith said. "This year we have a bunch of guys who sat on the bench and watched, but they can play the game."
Wilhoite's play in the post helped Kalaheo hold off a McKinley team that stayed within striking distance for much of the game.
Kalaheo opened up a 27-14 lead at halftime, but McKinley crept within eight points on a 3-pointer by Robert Holder midway through the third quarter.
Fujita-Lukachyk and William Elliot then combined to hit five 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
With just three seniors on the Kalaheo roster, Smith said the regular-season opener was indicative of a young squad still figuring out the system and learning to play together.
"We're a young team and we play very well at times, but we don't have the consistency yet," he said. "We haven't put together a four-quarter game yet.
"We have to be patient and get shots out of the offense, instead of forcing shots."
Abel Werner led McKinley with 11 points, while Elliot Twiggs had eight.
Castle 39, Farrington 30: Despite a lackluster performance for three quarters, the Knights bested the Governors by outscoring them 15-2 in the fourth quarter.
"The fourth quarter was the game," Castle assistant coach Jeff Mckeown said.
Farrington led 28-24 going into the fourth quarter.
Charles Texeira paced the Knights with 13 points.
Pearl City 34, Waipahu 31: The Chargers outscored the Marauders 10-5 in the fourth quarter to rally for a win in the OIA Western Division.
Corey Tavares scored 12 points for Pearl City.
Radford 69, Waialua 44: Tauran Moore scored seven points in the first quarter as the Rams put the OIA West game away early.
Moore finished with 18 points and six steals for Radford, which led 14-3 after one quarter.
Lawrence Sumaoang paced the Bulldogs with 14 points.
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