[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]

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GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Nanakuli's Albert Distajo went to the hoop against Leilehua's John Scruggs in last night's game. The Golden Hawks beat the Mules 58-51.

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Nanakuli defeats Leilehua

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By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.com

Nanakuli passed its biggest test to date, jumping on Leilehua early and rallying at the end for a 58-51 Oahu Interscholastic Association West basketball victory in Wahiawa.

It's still too early to tell if the outcome was a signal that these two teams are passing each other, headed in opposite directions. The Golden Hawks (5-0) entered the Star-Bulletin's top 10 poll on Tuesday tied at No. 10, the same day the Mules (2-3) fell out all the way from No. 4.

Coach Gerald Lum's Nanakuli squad came to play, winning many of the one-on-one battles under the basket and for loose balls. Leilehua appeared out of sync after two wrenching overtime losses to Mililani and Radford last week.

"Nanakuli played excellent basketball," said Mules coach Keith Spencer, whose team finished sixth at the state tournament a year ago. "They played like they belong at 5-0. We were emotionally down. It's my job to lift our players up emotionally. It's not a matter of X's and O's. They're mentally shattered and they've got to forget about the tough losses. We came out flat and it cost us."

Except for a 16-all tie after one quarter, Nanakuli led the whole first half. Albert Distajo's seven points late in the second period keyed a 12-0 run for a huge 40-24 lead before Angelo Massey hit a 3-pointer for the Mules to cut it to 40-27 at the half.

During a timeout, a displeased Spencer gave his players a pep talk: "They (the Golden Hawks) want this game. They're playing harder."

Massey, who had 12 of his game-high 18 points in the first 16 minutes, led Leilehua's comeback bid by scoring the Mules' first six points of the third quarter. Angel Fontanez and Anthony Palomares hit 3-pointers as Leilehua outscored Nanakuli 16-8 in the period but still trailed 48-43 heading to the fourth.

"Our job was to contain Massey," Lum said. "He's their go-to guy and we had some success doing it." The Mules' high scorer didn't score in the final eight minutes.

"We haven't won here in many years," Lum added. "I've been coaching the last 10 years and don't remember beating them here. We have a veteran team that's all together from last year when we finished 1-9 and let a lot of close games get away at the end. They know they're a better team than 1-9. They're a lot more mature now and they love to battle and play the tough teams because they know it makes them better."

Leilehua scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter, including three-point plays by B.J. Fruean and David Spore, to take its first lead of the game, 51-48, with 3:14 to go.

But Nanakuli regained a 52-51 edge on Justin Luavasa's layup on a pass from Jaycee Alapai and James Chandler's put-back with 1:58 remaining.

Leading 53-51 with 40 ticks left, Jimmy Afamasaga's robbery of the Mules' Antonio Carter -- who was ready to shoot from close range -- gave Nanakuli momentum for its late push. The Golden Hawks then hit five of six free throws to wrap it up.

Distajo and Celes shared Nanakuli's team-high honors with 14 each. Teammate Alan Kalahiki-Pilialoha was solid off the boards and added nine points.

"We weren't worried (when the Mules went up)," Lum said. "But we do know they have a helluva team and they could go on a tear after this."

Massey blamed a lack of defense for the loss.

"And nobody really stepped it up in the fourth quarter," he added. "We weren't really focused before the game. We had heard they were good, but didn't know they played with so much discipline.

"We've got to turn it around."

At Leilehua H.S. gym

Nanakuli (5-0)	16	24	8	10	--	58
Leilehua (2-3)	16	11	16	8	--	51

Nanakuli--Kyle Beck 2, James Chandler 8, Alex Distajo 0, Jimmy Afamasaga 4, Albert Distajo 14, David Balicao 3, Justin Luavasa 4, Jaycee Alapai 0, Rolando Celes 16, Alan Kalahiki-Pilialoha 7, Alika Enos 0.
Leilehua--Angelo Massey 18, Edward Garcia 5, Kennedy Orteza 0, Anthony Palomares 5, Antonio Carter 7, Kekoa Kama 0, BJ Fruean 6, Anthony Hall 4, Angel Fontanez 3, Johnathan Scruggs 0, Joshua Fetters 0, David Spore 3.
3-point goals: Nanakuli 3 (Afamasaga, Alb. Distajo, Celes), Leilehua 5 (Massey 2, Garcia, Palomares, Fontanez)
Junior varsity -- Leilehua 47, Nanakuli 35

Campbell 56, Waipahu 42
Tristan Bailey scored a game-high 20 points as the Sabers' 11-4 first quarter gave them a big enough cushion to hold off a late Waipahu rally.

Sixteen of Bailey's 20 came in the first half as Campbell built a 28-20 halftime lead. Free-throw shooting hurt both teams as Campbell shot just fifty percent from the line (14 of 28), while Waipahu managed just 8-for-18 shooting from the charity stripe.

At Waipahu H.S. gym

Campbell (2-3)	11	17	8	20	--	56
Waipahu (0-5)	4	16	6	16	--	42

Campbell--Tristan Bailey 20, Jesse Bayudan 0, Robert Morris 0, Ian Kelly 2, Christopher Ganisan 3, Tristan Sealy 3, Kelii Basham 4, Taetuli Tafai 2, Issac Laupola 2, James Bannister 6, Matthew Gaxipla 0, Christopher Daniels 6, Chelledon Chenaeli 8.
Waipahu--Jamar Pacupac 4, Gaylord Miranda 1, Jarrett Kalaola 11, Jacob Aga 5, Stanley Abasial 7, Albert Gamayo 0, Andre Tailele 9, Ricky Noble 0, Jonathan Cordeiro 0, Tyrone Vaimaona 5, Matthew Namu 0.
3-point goals: Campbell 3 (Bailey, Ganisan, Sealy), Waipahu 4 (Aga, Abasial, Tailele, Vaimaona)
Junior varsity -- Campbell 46, Waipahu 38

Pearl City 42, Waialua 30
The Chargers used a balanced scoring attack and tough defense to improve to 4-2 in the OIA West by defeating Waialua.

Michael Hardy and AJ Foltz scored nine points apiece to lead the Chargers in scoring as the Chargers built a 31-14 lead after three quarters, and coasted to the victory.

At Pearl City H.S. gym

Waialua (0-5)	4	2	8	16	--	30
Pearl City (4-2)	5	13	13	11	--	42

Waialua--Roldan Dacuicui 0, Kelson Silva 11, Glenn Rubio 7, Mark Langaman 0, Joseph Gudoy 0, Joshua Miller 1, Jaive Nacapuy 0, Lawrence Sumaoang 7, Marlon Dela Cruz 0, Brandon Macadangdang 4, Geronimo Madarang 0.
Pearl City--Rollie Salvacion 0, Halzton Berdida 0, Michael Hardy 9, Joshua Fial 2, Royce Yuen 6, Ricky Salvacion 5, Patrick Angel 0, Jason Lopes 0, Bryan Olarti 3, Shane Lum 0, Brandon Rambonga 2, Jeremy Pahukoa-Malia 0, AJ Foltz 9, Dee Briscoe 6.
3-point goals: Waialua 4 (Silva 3, Rubio), Pearl City 3 (Ri. Salvacion, Yuen)
Junior varsity -- Pearl City 51, Waialua 31

OIA EAST

Farrington 46, Kailua 40
Eti Atonio scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help the Governors hold off a second-half Kailua rally to win by six.

Kainoa LaCount led the Surfriders with 16 points, but the free-throw line did Kailua in as the team converted just eight of 17 free throws, compared to 15-for-21 shooting by Farrington.

At Kailua H.S. gym

Farrington (2-4)	10	16	7	13	--	46
Kailua (1-5)	6	11	13	10	--	40

Farrington--Shanson Garcia 0, Jay-ar Mariano 0, Jermaine Rabago 0, Ruel Castro 11, Truong Nguyen 3, Dave Viloria 5, Devan Selman 0, Matt Bell 7, Roi Alzate 2, Eti Atonio 13, John Fonoti 3, Ferdinand Morales 2, Micah Kalingo 0.
Kailua--Kama Crowell 2, Zach Akamine 0, Cory Nemoto 5, Bronson Kamaka 9, Justin Pedro 0, Wayne Kaiu-Denning 1, Kea Crowell 0, Kainoa LaCount 16, Tyler Harrison 3, Hogan Paleasei 4.
3-point goals: Farrington 1 (Viloria), Kailua 0
Junior varsity -- Farrington 69, Kailua 64

No. 6 Kahuku 60, Kaiser 49
Shosei Yamauchi scored eight of his nine points in the fourth quarter to lead the Red Raiders over the Cougars.

Kahuku shot 21-for-36 from the free-throw line, while Kaiser got to the line just 16 times and converted nine.

Chris Assily led the Cougars with 21 points in less than three quarters of play. He came into the game in the second quarter and fouled out in the fourth.

At Kaiser H.S. gym

Kahuku (6-0)	7	19	9	25	--	60
Kaiser (0-6)	10	13	15	11	--	49

Kahuku--Hapaki Kaululaau 2, Waika Carvalho 4, Jarom Casey 5, Al Avalava 5, Clinton Parks 7, Bronson Ponciano-Ahue 5, Walker Vave 0, Viliami Tilini 0, Shosei Yamauchi 9, Tevita Finau 11, Iokepa Kahele 0, Jeremy Perry 4, Okesene Ale 6, Spencer Hafoka 0, Toriano Taulogo 2.
Kaiser--Moku Kuhau 2, Matt Ching 12, Andy Uehara 0, Jeff Peters 0, Chris Assily 21, Mitch Shimabukuro 0, Colby Ho 6, Brett Hatten 3, Shannon Wise 4, Steven Pratt 1.
3-point goals: Kahuku 1 (Parks), Kaiser 2 (Ching, Assily)
Junior varsity -- Kaiser 62, Kahuku 51

KIF

Tuesday
Waimea 52, Kapaa 44

Waimea (3-0)	10	12	16	14	--	52
Kapaa (0-4)	10	8	8	18	--	44

Waimea--Aaron Hesapene 0, Jeremy Manuel 19, Casey Kaohelauli`i 4, Chad Barba 8, Kamu Kawaihalau 13, Adam Aana 2, Max Hadwin 2, Kyle Pigao 0, Jeremy McDown 1, Akeem Allen 3, Lanikai Kanahele 0.
Kapaa: Ryan Cram 14, Greg Ragsac 6, Leonel Calvan 2, Thomas Martins 0, Kaylan Dolor 13, Kiah Imai 0, Chris Ramelb 0, Zac Cummings 0, Amini Ta`ufo`ou 9.
3-point goals--Waimea 0, Kapaa 1 (Dolor).
Junior varsity--Kapaa 37, Waimea 35