Kahuku slowed, not stopped

There was no way the Kahuku Red Raiders were going to top the century mark again.

The Farrington Governors made sure of it. Still, Okesene Ale Jr. scored 12 points as the visiting Red Raiders pulled away for a 33-23 win last night at Richard Kitamura Memorial Gym.

Kahuku, ranked No. 5 in the Star-Bulletin Boys Basketball Top 10, improved to 4-0 in Oahu Interscholastic Association East play.

Nathan Serdenia led Farrington with 12 points, all from 3-point range. Farrington dropped to 0-4 in league play, but employed a strategy that kept Kahuku not only off balance, but within range.

Despite a few boos and catcalls from the home crowd, the Governors were within 28-23 after Glenn Ernest's follow shot with 1:45 left to play.

"We weren't worried. That's where leadership comes into play," said Ale, one of the top free-throw shooters in the league. "I told our guys, give me the ball."

Kahuku closed out the game with free throws by Ale, Kevin Unga and Pele Soliai. Ale finished with seven rebounds and three assists in a game that was played at a snail's pace.

After scoring 31 and 32 points in his recent outings, the slowdown affair didn't bother Ale.

"The scoring doesn't matter," he said, admitting that the strategy by Farrington coach Allan Silva was unexpected.

"It was a surprise. I thought they'd come out strong," said Ale, whose team had a 106-point night at Kalani last week. "When we're on a roll, that's when we're playing well. That was smart of Farrington. That made us think."

The Governors were deliberate and patient at the start, grabbing a 3-2 lead on Serdenia's 21-footer from the left corner. But with 4 minutes left in the first quarter, Silva ordered his team into a double-high set, with Govs stationed in pairs at each hashmark.

Kahuku remained in a 2-3 zone, allowing Farrington to kill time. It also gave the Red Raiders a minimum of possessions. Winston Matas' long tip-in with 1 second left in the opening quarter gave Farrington its final lead, 6-4.

The Govs weren't in a flat-out stall, but didn't take another shot from the perimeter for the rest of the first half. Ale tied the game with a drive, then fed Unga for a low-post turnaround jumper that gave Kahuku the lead for good, 8-6, midway through the second quarter.

By then, Kahuku switched from its zone to a man defense. That forced the Governors into five turnovers in the second quarter. Kahuku led 10-6 at halftime.

Kahuku 33, Farrington 23

At Farrington H.S. gym

Kahuku (4-0)	4	6	6	17	--	33
Farrington (0-4)	6	0	2	15	--	23

KAHUKU--Pele Soliai 2, Iona Teriipaia 0, Shiloah Te'o 4, Okesene Ale 12, Tiave Oto 0, Kevin Unga 6, Manti Te'o 5, Jacob Kahawaii 4.

FARRINGTON-- Nathan Serdenia 12, Elijah Filifili 0, Joeffer Duran 0, Elijah Lesu 2, Randy McKee 0, Jeff Valoria 2, Rey Bartian 0, Jarret Gabriel 0, Michah Kalingo 2, Cody Hua 1, Glenn Ernest 4, Rene Saycon 0.

3-point goals -- Kahuku 1 (Ale), Farrington 4 (Serdenia 4).

Junior varsity -- Kahuku 46, Farrington 31

Castle 51, Thompson 25

Alika Kalopodes and Lihikai Domingo combined for 15 second-half points as the Knights outscored the Sharks 35-11 in the final two quarters to pull away for the win.

Kalopodes finished with a team-high 10 points to lead Castle, while John Keen poured in a game-high 18 for the Sharks.

At Castle H.S. gym

Castle (2-1)	6	10	14	21	--	51
Thompson (0-3)	5	9	6	5	--	25

CASTLE--Lihikai Domingo 9, Barron Meyer 7, Micah Clore 4, Alika Kalopodes 10, Eric Tom 4, Matt Kodama 5, Bryce Kalaukaaea 4, Kyle Kia 6, Tyler Kanemori 2.

THOMPSON--John Collins 2, Travis Meyer 0, John Keen 18, Tyler Bramwell 2, Evans Gonda 0, DJ Farias 3, Jordan Eror 0, Jared Quick 0.

3-point goals -- Castle 0, Thompson 2 (Farias, Keen).

Junior varsity -- Castle 56, Thompson 14

Kaimuki 57, Kailua 36

Daniel Colon scored 15 points and Thomas Pyo and Keone Reyes added 8 points each as the Bulldogs remained undefeated with the win.

At Kailua H.S. gym

Kaimuki (4-0)	12	15	14	16	--	57
Kailua (1-3)	8	10	11	7	--	36

KAIMUKI--Daniel Colon 15, Brandon Madamba 0, Bryan Lim 0, Alika Higa 0, Shaun Dela Calzada 6, Swaine Seto-Mook 0, Keone Reyes 8, Shadrach Ramos Dias 7, Thomas Pyo 8, Phillip Miyasaka 0, Jarett Shiu 7, Beau Albrechtson 6.

KAILUA--Gerald Ho 0, Tim Maghinay 2, Zach Akamine 5, Darren Sugimoto 3, Sam Truemen 3, Makana Atisanoe 3, Billy Oden 3, Nathan Botts 6, Ryan Naluai 6, Dustin Naki 5, Brian Rexroat 0.

3-point goals -- Kaimuki 2 (Pyo, Shiu), Kailua 1 (Oden).

Junior varsity -- no score reported

McKinley 56, Kalani 48

Jefferson Pou scored 11 of his game-high 19 points in the first quarter and helped the Tigers go on a 7-0 run in the final minute of the game to pull away from the Falcons.

Eben Napoleon scored 16 points for the hard-luck Falcons, who are still searching for their first league win.

At Kalani H.S. gym

McKinley (3-0)	17	10	13	16	--	56
Kalani (0-4)	7	14	16	11	--	48

MCKINLEY--Jin Liang 0, Bryce Ishikawa 0, Dat Vo 8, Earvin Sione 9, Nainoa Lessary 12, Josaiah Aina 0, Jefferson Pou 19, Oliver Diguc 8.

KALANI--Reed Cressman 0, Anthony Asuncion 0, Brandon Liao 0, Jeff Khautakoun 9, Jonah Letoto 8, Max Fujio 2, Holu Kaaihue 3, Josh Markwith 0, Daniel Morisato 7, Brandon Cabacungan 0, Eben Napoleon 16, Chris Pieper 3.

3-point goals -- McKinley 1 (Pou), Kalani 4 (Letoto 2, Morisato, Khautakoun).

Junior varsity -- McKinley 70, Kalani 40

Moanalua 51, Kaiser 36

Wayne West scored a game-high 17 points and Bao Jun Lei and Steve Austin each added 14 as the Menehunes used a 24-12 third quarter to defeat the Cougars.

Pa'a Kamauoha had 12 points to lead Kaiser.

At Kaiser H.S. gym

Moanalua (4-0)	7	6	24	14	--	51
Kaiser (0-4)	3	12	12	9	--	36

MOANALUA--Bao Jun Lei 14, Stephen Kina 2, Jay Yoshizawa 3, Paul Wasada 0, Eric Garcia 0, Stevie Austin 14, Casey Schuler 0, Stanford Leti 0, Chris Holt 1, Wayne West 17, Jehan Brown 0, Tyler Thornton 0, Savali Eselu 0.

KAISER--Scott Uehara 5, Kalani Calizar 0, Pa'a Kamauoha 12, Timothy Philipps 1, Andrew Wingert 6, Andy Uehara 0, Adam Aila 6, Jake Esteban 0, Dustin Chang 0, Noel Okuma 0, Race Chun-Ming 6.

3-point goals -- Moanalua 2 (Jun Lei 2), Kaiser 1 (S. Uehara).

Junior varsity -- Moanalua 35, Kaiser 29

ILH

Division II varsity boys

Saint Louis 66, Lutheran 26

High scorers--StL: Shane Andrade 15. Luth: Jeffrey Yong 8, Derek Alik 8.