After Radford's 55-41 victory over Pearl City last night, the rest of the OIA won't need the assistance of Secretary of State Colin Powell to figure out if the Rams are hiding any weapons. The Rams had them all on display as they remained undefeated and sent Pearl City to the loss column for the first time this season. Radford wins
By Marc Dixon
battle of unbeatens
mdixon@starbulletin.comRadford's biggest threat was guard Charles Seanior. The senior, who at 5-10 is the second shortest of the Rams, knocked down five of his six 3-point attempts in the first half and finished the game with six 3s and 27 points.
"He's our main threat, our best offensive threat," said Radford coach Kai Enos. "He can drive, he brings up the ball, he can shoot, he's our overall leader."
DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Pearl City's Mike Adams, Kapena Wong and Franklin McLain boxed out to grab this rebound last night against Radford.
Using foot speed, a quick release and timely picks by his teammates, Seanior evaded the Chargers' pressure man-to-man defense and scored nine of the game's first 16 points and staked the home team to a 14-2 lead. He was aided in the first half by center Martin Lara and guard Tauran Moore. The three accounted for Radford's first 36 points.
"Martin had a heck of a game. He's our presence of the inside, offensively and defensively," said Enos. "You got to have a team effort to go out and get a win like tonight."
Pearl City also managed only three scorers in the first half. After misfiring on his first six shots, Corey Tavares got going in the second quarter, scoring 11 points. The senior guard finished with 14 points, and senior center Kapena Wong, the only Charger starter above six feet, added 10.
Throughout the contest it was evident that Radford's superior size and athleticism were a problem for the Chargers. Pearl City coach Lionel Villarmia countered with his top bench players -- Mike Hardy and Jon Charette. The latter made his impact felt right away, as he stroked a left-handed jumpshot to cut the Radford lead to 20-9, leading to the most exciting portion of the game.
Midway through the second quarter, Tavares' runner in the lane brought the deficit to single digits. Tavares would score nine points in the final 4:35 of the half, ending the period on a 22-foot, off-balance 3-point bomb from the top of the key.
"They (Pearl City) never gave up, they kept coming," said Enos. "As a coach you can never feel relaxed because you keep waiting for them to have their rush."
During Tavares' outburst, Seanior swished two more 3-pointers, one from the right corner and another from the left wing to close out the Rams' first-half scoring.
Hardy would supply his own run to end the third quarter. After the Rams increased their 10-point halftime lead to 18, Hardy took Lara to the rim for a layup and converted two steals into baskets. The last basket coming on a buzzer beating lay-in and an assist from Isaiah Locquiao, who was lying on his back.
The Chargers trailed by as many as 19 points but kept coming back. After the 16-2 run to start the game, Pearl City played the Rams even.
"In the first half they couldn't miss anything," said Villarmia. "It's their gym, and I told the boys they are going to come out with a storm and if we can weather it we might have a chance. But the way they were shooting, it was just too hard."
Pearl City's last real chance came with 4:10 left, when Mike Adams was left wide open and cut the lead to 10. However, following that basket Seanior broke down the Charger defense and dished a bounce pass to Lara to stop the bleeding. Seanior hit seven free throws down the stretch to ice the game.
PEARL CITY--Isaiah Locquiao 3, Mike Adams 3, Jon Charette 2, Mike Hardy 7, Corey Tavares 14, Ricky Salvacion 0, Kapena Wong 10, Royce Yuen 0, Brandon Rambonga 2.
At Radford H.S. gym
Pearl City (8-1) 7 13 9 12 -- 41 Radford (9-0) 18 12 14 11 -- 55
RADFORD--Jordan Rellin 0, Mike Davis 0, Joshua Auelua 2, Charles Seanior 27, Ricardo Shipley 0, Martin Lara 14, Tauran Moore 12, La Michael Wilkins 0.
3-point goals -- Pearl City 2 (Locquiao, Tavares), Radford 8 (Seanior 6, Moore 2).
Junior varsity -- Radford 49, Pearl City 46
Leilehua 42, Aiea 23: The Mules stayed one game behind Radford in the OIA West by beating Na Alii.Leilehua's Andrew Talaeai, who left the game with an injury in the first quarter, returned to score all nine of his points in the final period.
The Mules led by one point at the half, but outscored Aiea 15-4 after the break.
LEILEHUA--Andrew Talaeai 9, Demetrius Washington 8, Larry McCrum 0, Angelo Massey 1, Antonio Carter 3, Joshua Fetters 2, Zacarius Rivera 7, Anthony Hall 5, Angel Fontanez 6, Jonathan Scruggs 0, Jostin Repollo 1.
At Aiea H.S. gym
Leilehua (8-1) 5 13 9 15 -- 42 Aiea (3-6) 10 7 2 4 -- 23
AIEA--Ian Delacuesta 0, Samson Chung 6, Timur Sabitov 2, Kelii Kekona 1, James Hadley 2, Gary Molina 0, Jonathan Burgos 0, Levi Wyman 6, RJ Kiesel-Kauhane 2, Rocky Savaiigaea 4.
3-point goals -- Aiea 2 (Chung 2).
Junior varsity -- Leilehua 53, Aiea 34
OIA EAST
Roosevelt 46, Castle 45, 2 OTs: The Knights went ahead 45-44 with six seconds left in the second overtime on William Harvest's layup.But Roosevelt point guard James Castro weaved his way through the Castle defenders before dishing off to Bryson Borges cutting to the bucket. Borges scored his only two points of the game at the buzzer.
The Rough Riders' Anthony Hoyfield, who hit for a game-high 20 points, was clutch in the fourth quarter, going 8-for-8 at the free-throw line.
Roosevelt took a one-game lead over Castle in the OIA East and remained in a tie for first with Kaimuki.
ROOSEVELT--Shane Kamakura 0, Bryson Borges 2, Ryan Keomaka 12, Daniel Ki 2, James Castro 9, Anthony Holyfield 20, Ricky Eusebio 1, Danton Balbas 0.
At Castle H.S. gym
Roosevelt (8-1) 6 6 10 14 5 5 -- 46 Castle (7-2) 4 6 11 15 5 4 -- 45
CASTLE--Bryan Pelangka 7, Emmett Aberilla 11, Kevin Brooks 0, Terry Mendez-Kema 2, Kanai Craig-Rodenhurst 0, William Harvest 6, Jordan Ukauka 0, Kurtis Kanekoa 6, Charles Teixeira 11, Antone Watanabe 2, Soli Lefiti 0.
3-point goals -- Roosevelt 3 (Keomaka 2, Holyfield); Castle 3 (Aberilla 3).
Junior varsity -- Castle 47, Roosevelt 32
Kaimuki 30, Kaiser 29: The Bulldogs' Isaiah Ano scored a game-high 10 points in a defensive battle.Kaimuki stayed in a tie with Roosevelt for first place in the OIA East.
KAISER--Jeoff Peters 3, Kekoa Kamauoha 1, Steven Pratt 7, Waikoloa Noa 6, Chris Assily 5, Matt Ching 4, Dayne Uchiyama 0, Mike Walters 0, Tyler Fujie 3, Richard Chung 0.
At Kaimuki H.S. gym
Kaiser (3-5) 6 12 6 5 -- 29 Kaimuki (8-1) 15 8 4 3 -- 30
KAIMUKI--Davey Nguyen 0, Richy Miyasaka 0, Dylan Kuratsu 0, Daniel Tautofi 6, Isaiah Ano 10, Jr. Maiava 0, Jimmy Miyasaka 4, Jon Torres 0, Herb Lee 0, James Davis 2, Dexter Tautofi 0, Nick Milan 8.
3-point goals -- Kaiser 2 (Fujie, Pratt), Kaimuki 1 (Ano).
Junior varsity -- Kaimuki 41, Kaiser 38
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