[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]
Late run fuels Pearl City’s
win over Nanakuli
The sunset behind Nanakuli High School was picturesque and golden.
It seemed fitting that the No. 10 Golden Hawks of Nanakuli should beat Pearl City and continue their unbeaten run through the vastly improved Oahu Interscholastic Association West Division.
Problem is, someone forgot to hand the visiting Chargers the fantasy script. With tenacious defense and a major turnaround at halftime, Pearl City closed out the game with a 14-1 run for a 45-31 victory last night. It was Nanakuli's first loss in league play.
A.J. Fultz, a 6-foot-5 sophomore with soft hands and a relentless hunger for rebounds, had his biggest game of the season. Fultz scored 20 points, all in the low post, and grabbed 10 rebounds as Pearl City controlled the paint. Six of his caroms were on the offensive end, and he combined with teammates Michael Hardy and Brandon Rambonga for 11 offensive boards.
"They played like they wanted it more tonight," Nanakuli head coach Gerald Lum said of the visiting Chargers. "We just gotta put the ball in the hoop. We've never been in this situation. It's how you deal with pressure. I hope we learn from it."
Jimmy Afamasaga led the cold-shooting Golden Hawks with seven points. David Balicao added six, while leading scorer James Chandler was ice-cold with just one point.
Pearl City continued to slash and burn a path to the playoffs, improving to 4-2. Both of those losses came early in the regular season. "This is a real big win for us," said Hardy, a 6-3 forward who did his best impression of a young Scottie Pippen.
Hardy scored nine points, including a resounding steal and slam dunk in the third quarter. He also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out six assists, had four steals and blocked two shots.
"After losing those two games at the beginning of the season, this is big. I was surprised the way it turned out. They beat Leilehua and we lost to Leilehua," Hardy added.
Defense has become a cornerstone for the Chargers. Rambonga, a 5-9 guard, led his team with 11 rebounds. He scored 10 points and had two steals in a vigorous effort on both ends of the floor.
"The seniors, Royce (Yuen) and Brandon, really stepped up," Hardy said. "They controlled the tempo."
That tempo wasn't so smooth in the opening half, when Pearl City committed 18 turnovers. The Chargers trailed just 22-18, though, thanks to Nanakuli's horrendous outside shooting. Fultz isn't a high flyer, but his size and reach were enough to make the Golden Hawks hesitate in the key.
The third quarter was pivotal, not on the scoreboard, but in the Chargers' will to succeed. Head coach Lionel Villarmia's squad began to handle Nanakuli's half-court press, turning the ball over just once in the entire third stanza. That allowed Fultz to establish some consistency inside. He hustled for a follow shot before Hardy drilled a 3-pointer from the top.
After Fultz caught a sweet feed from Rollie Salvacion and hit a 7-foot turnaround jumper, Pearl City led 29-24 with 50 seconds left in the third. Nanakuli never led again.
At Nanakuli H.S. gym
PEARL CITY--Rollie Salvacion 2, Halzton Berdida 0, Michael Hardy 9, Royce Yuen 6, Ricky Salvacion 0, Jason Lopes 0, Brandon Rambonga 8, Jeremy Pahukoa-Malia 0, AJ Foltz 20, Dee Briscbe 0, Shane Lum 0, Patrick Angel 0, Joshua Fial 0.
Pearl City (5-2) 10 8 11 16 -- 45 Nanakuli (5-1) 15 7 5 4 -- 31
NANAKULI--Kyle Beck 0, James Chandler 1, Alex Distajo 1, Jimmy Afamasaga 7, Albert Distajo 3, David Balicao 6, Justin Luavasa 5, Jaycee Alapai 1, Rolando Celes 7, Alan Kalahiki-Pilialoha 0, Alika Enos 0.
3-point goals -- Pearl City 1 (Hardy), Nanakuli 1 (Celes).
Junior varsity -- Pearl City 41, Nanakuli 40
NO. 6 KAHUKU 61, KAILUA 42
Shosei Yamauchi scored a game-high 14 points in just three quarters of play, and Tevita Finau added 11 as the Red Raiders beat the Surfriders.Cory Nemoto led Kailua with 11 points.
At Kailua H.S. gym
KAHUKU--Hapaki Kaululaau 2, Waika Carvalho 4, Jordan Casey 4, Al Afalava 6, Koty Juliano 0, Clinton Parks 8, Bronson Ponciano-Ahue 0, Walker Vave 3, Viliami Tilini 1, Shosei Yamauchi 14, Tevita Finau 11, Iokepa Kahele 0, Okesene Ale 3, Spencer Hafoka 4, Toriano Taulogo 1.
Kahuku (7-0) 14 22 19 6 -- 61 Kailua (1-6) 7 12 8 15 -- 42
KAILUA--Kama Crowell 2, Zach Akamine 4, Cory Nemoto 11, Bronson Kamaka 2, Justin Pedro 8, Wayne Kaiu-Denning 4, Kea Crowell 0, Kainoa LaCount 7, Hogan Paleafei 2, Nathan Botts 2.
3-point goals -- Kahuku 5 (Afalava 2, Parks 2, Ale), Kailua 1 (Nemoto).
Junior varsity -- Kailua 42, Kahuku 31
MOANALUA 71, FARRINGTON 53
Eric Keys scored 24 points to lead the Menehunes past the Governors.Joseph Nishimura added 14 points for Moanalua and Marquise Du Vall chipped in 12. Eti Atonio led Farrington with 23 points.
At Farrington H.S. gym
MOANALUA--Glenn Gascon 5, Joseph Nishimura 14, Michael Loeschke 4, Marquise Du Vall 12, Jonathan Austad 1, Glenn Taijeron 0, Zachary Pendergast 3, Darin-Jay Shinagawa 3, Eric Keys 24, Kamoe Mehrtens 1, Sean Mullaney 4, Mitchell Kuga 0.
Moanalua (5-2) 19 14 18 20 -- 71 Farrington (2-5) 8 15 13 17 -- 53
FARRINGTON--Shanson Garcia 4, Jay-ar Mariano 3, Jermaine Rabago 0, Ruel Castro 2, NC Dela Cruz 0, Truong Nguyen 2, Dave Viloria 0, Devan Selman 0, Matt Bell 6, Roi Alzate 0, Eti Atonio 23, John Fonoti 10, Ferdinand Morales 3, Micah Kalingo 0.
3-point goals -- Moanalua 2 (Gascon, Shinagawa), Farrington 3 (Garcia, Mariano, Morales).
Junior varsity -- Moanalua 68, Farrington 55
KAIMUKI 76, THOMPSON ACADEMY 21
Keanu Lockwood scored 20 points and Tone Faasoa added in 17 as the Bulldogs defeated the Sharks.Keo Evans-Gonda scored 10 points to lead the Sharks.
AtKaimuki H.S. gym
THOMPSON ACADEMY--Keo Evans-Gonda 10, Justin Chang 0, John Abrams 0, Devin Eror 2, Aja Muncie 9, Lance Chang 0, Joshua Musick 0.
Thompson Academy (0-7) 11 7 1 2 -- 21 Kaimuki (5-2) 36 22 8 10 -- 76
KAIMUKI--Davey Nguyen 5, Kekoa Onaga 2, Jordan Wong 3, Dexter Tautofi 6, Keanu Lockwood 20, Jimmy Miyasaka 8, Nick Milan 5, Tone Faasoa 17, Reginal Palfrey 6, Isiah Ano 4.
3-point goals -- Thompson Academy 2 (Evans-Gonda 2), Kaimuki 4 (Miyasaka 2, Nguyen, Wong).
WAIPAHU 55, WAIALUA 38
The Marauders used a 17-7 third-quarter advantage to trounce the Bulldogs.Andre Tailele scored eight of his 16 points in the decisive third and Jacob Aga added 14.
Glenn Rubio scored all of his 13 points in the first half for Waialua.
At Waialua H.S. gym
WAIPAHU--Jamar Pacupac 2, Gaylord Miranda 4, Jarrett Kalaola 8, Jacob Aga 14, Stanley Abasial 3, Albert Gamayo 0, Andre Tailele 16, Ricky Noble 4, Jonathan Cordeiro 4, Matthew Namu 0.
Waipahu (1-5) 13 6 17 19 -- 55 Waialua (0-6) 8 12 7 11 -- 38
WAIALUA--Roldan Dacuicui 2, Kelson Silva 6, Glenn Rubio 13, Joseph Gudoy 0, Joshua Miller 3, Jaive Nacapuy 0, Lawrence Sumaoang 3, Charles Bell 0, Marlon Dela Cruz 0, Brandon Macadangdang 11, Yashua Zawadi 0.
3-point goals -- Waipahu 5 (Tailele 3, Aga 2), Waialua 5 (Silva 2, Rubio, Miller, Macadangdang).
Junior varsity -- Waipahu 57, Waialua 55