Good shooting will negate almost any other flaw, at least for the Kamehameha Warriors.
Sinking 13 of 15 attempts from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, third-ranked Kamehameha fought off No. 2 Punahou 61-48 last night at Kekuhaupio Gym.
The Warriors improved to 5-0 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu play (14-2 overall) and set up a showdown with No. 1 Iolani tonight.
Rykin Enos led the Warriors with 13 points, including all four of his foul shots in the final quarter. Mitchell Kauweloa added 12 points. Jacob Ho, who grabbed seven rebounds, had another clutch performance in the late going with 6-for-6 shooting at the line in the fourth quarter.
"That's gonna be the difference between winning and losing," Kamehameha coach Jesse Nakanishi said of the Warriors' free-throw proficiency. In all, they shot 76 percent from the line (19-for-25), matching their accuracy from last week's narrow win at Saint Louis.
Miah Ostrowski led Punahou with 20 points on 6-for-18 shooting. Spencer McLachlin added 13 points and three rebounds. Kamehameha outrebounded Punahou 29-21.
Another key was Kamehameha's ability to handle Punahou's fullcourt press for most of the night. The Warriors committed 13 turnovers, including six in the final quarter, but took care of the ball after building a double-digit lead in the final 4 minutes.
The Buffanblu were within 40-37 after McLachlin fed Kameron Steinhoff for a backdoor layup, but Kamehameha responded with an 8-0 run against the fullcourt press. After Enos drove for a bucket, the Warriors led 48-37 with 3:26 remaining.
Kamehameha spread the floor and ran the clock with its next possession. Punahou got no closer than six the rest of the way.
"It took us a little while. We had to get the right personnel out there," Nakanishi said. "Our boys keep finding a way to win. They play well in their roles and they know the team philosophy."
Kauweloa, a 6-foot-1 junior, was a sparkplug on both sides of the floor. His interior passing gave the Warriors four easy buckets on the low post. He had six rebounds and four assists.
"It's one of his strengths," Nakanishi said of Kauweloa's passing skills. "But at the start, it was the energy he brought, the rebounds and deflections."
Kauweloa, one of Kamehameha's many contributors, pointed to his squad. "It's team unity. That's the big thing," he said.
The Warriors have little time to celebrate. "We haven't beaten them in a couple of seasons. They're our rivals, so it's a little extra sweet," Nakanishi admitted. "But it's only one win, and we have to get ready for a tough game tomorrow."
Punahou also has little time to lament the loss. "Not to be a martyr, I have an extremely talented team," Punahou coach Greg Tacon said. "I can't get them to play at a higher level. Either I need to get them to play better or they need to find someone else. Not to take anything away from Kamehameha, and I'm not mad at our kids. We have to regroup and face a tough Saint Louis team tomorrow."
Punahou made 16 of 46 shots from the field and dropped to 3-2 in league play (15-5 overall).
The Warriors went to their arsenal of defenses to stifle Punahou at the start. After opening with a man-to-man defense, Kamehameha switched to a 2-3 zone that sparked a 17-4 run midway through the first half.
By the start of the second quarter, Nakanishi had backup guard Brandon Ahlo follow Punahou sharpshooter Danny Cho all over the floor as part of a box-and-one defense. It was the same defense the Warriors used in a win over Maryknoll last week.
Reserve guard Randy Cummings sank a pair of 3-pointers to help the Warriors seize a 21-8 lead with 3:55 left in the second quarter. Punahou pulled within eight after a pair of foul shots by Ostrowski and a layup by McLachlin, but Cummings sank two free throws before the end of the half to give Kamehameha a 26-16 lead at the break.
Cummings' foul shots were the result of a technical foul assessed to Punahou for having six players on the court.
At Kekuhaupi'o Gym
| Punahou (3-2) |
8 |
8 |
18 |
14 |
-- |
48
|
| Kamehameha (5-0) |
13 |
13 |
14 |
21 |
-- |
61 |
PUNAHOU--Trenton Zane 0, Miah Ostrowski 20, Ed Wong 0, Danny Cho 2, Brandon Kapana 0, Kimo Makaula 0, Freddie Hart 0, Kameron Steinhoff 10, Ted Hawkins 0, Spencer McLachlin 13, Kealii Frank 3.
KAMEHAMEHA--Randy Cummings 8, Jesse Moniz 4, Brandon Ahlo 0, Andrew Godinet 2, Mitchell Kauweloa 12, Jacob Ho 9, Pono Hanson 5, Rykin Enos 13, Jay Kauka 0, Kanoa Mokiao 8, Kea Smith 0.
3-point goals -- Punahou 4 (Ostrowski 2, McLachlin 2), Kamehameha 4 (Cummings 2, Ho, Enos).
No. 1 Iolani 74, Mid-Pacific 40
Liloa Nobriga socred 16 points and Kawika Shoji added 12 as the Raiders cruised past the Owls.
The Iolani defense held Marcus Holyfield, the Owls' top scorer, to just eight points.
At Mid-Pacific gym
| Iolani (5-0) |
9 |
24 |
16 |
25 |
-- |
74
|
| Mid-Pacific (1-5) |
6 |
3 |
19 |
12 |
-- |
40 |
IOLANI--Kela Marciel 2, Vinny Nip 8, Barry Kang 4, Ryan Dung 3, Case Miyahira 6, Taylor Mounts 8, Kekai Kealoha 2, Kawika Shoji 12, Berton Wong 4, Brandon Ball 2, Jon Takamura 0, Liloa Norbiga 16, Blayne Yama 0, Wally Marciel 2, Kiran Kepo'o 5.
MID-PACIFIC--Sampson Won 7, Josh Mun 0, Marcus Holyfield 8, Jaime Rivera 0, Danny Gordon 6, Robert Hsu 0, Jarryd Yasui 0, Kellar Ellsworth 8, Tiger Hill 2, Josh Grant 0, Reid Fujimoto 0, Sililo Pale 9.
3-point goals -- Iolani 6 (Miyahira 2, Nip 2, Dung, Nobriga), Mid-Pacific 3 (Gordon 2, Won).
No. 4 Saint Louis 50, No, 8 Maryknoll 48
Jeremiah Masoli scored 10 of his game-high 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Crusaders held off the Spartans.
Masoli hit the last two baskets of the game for the Crusaders, and Scott Smith added 13 in the win.
At Damien gym
| Saint Louis (3-2) |
18 |
13 |
6 |
13 |
-- |
50
|
| Maryknoll (1-4) |
17 |
10 |
9 |
12 |
-- |
48 |
SAINT LOUIS--Rickkson Pacarro 0, Kulia Aiona 0, John Quindara 0, Scott Smith 13, Cameron Bayne 9, Joshua Yuen 0, Cole Shidaki 0, Jeremiah Masoli 27, Mona Aigamaua 1, Kalua Noa 0, Elliot Purcell 0, Jamison Miller 0, Jacob Barit .0
MARYKNOLL--Tyler Tsukazaki 13 , Chris Hsia 8, Tommy Nguyen 4, Garrick Chock 0, Travis Liu 8, Zachary Misajon 2, Jordan Ho-Ching 6, Richard Herring 7.
3-point goals -- Saint Louis 6 (Bayne 3, Masoli 3 ), Maryknoll 4(Liu 2, Herring, Hsia).
Division II varsity boys
Hawaii Baptist 62, Lanakila Baptist 42
Iolani 65, Assets 36
Le Jardin 43, Hanalani 28
Kamehameha 65, Word of Life 44
University 50, Saint Louis 39
Leading scorers--HBA: Landon Herder 15. LB: Charles Hazlewood 12, Alika Borabora 11, Keawe Ochman 11. Iol: Josh Starbuck 21. Asst: Lucas Arnold 11. LJ: Jono K. 12. Han: Matt Simbre 12. Kam: Brede Souza 21, Logan Rodrigues. WOL: Jordan Ranche 24, Aaron Tipoti 12.
OIA EAST
Farrington 54, Kalani 40
Elijah Lesu scored 16 points as the Governors defeated the winless Falcons.
Farrington outscored Kalani 19-9 in the second quarter to pull away for the win. Josh Markwith scored 10 points for Kalani.
At Farrington H.S. gym
| Kalani (0-7) |
9 |
9 |
14 |
8 |
-- |
40
|
| Farrington (2-6) |
12 |
19 |
8 |
15 |
-- |
54 |
KALANI--Reed Cressman 4, Anthony Asuncion 0, Brandon Liao 3, Jeff Khautakoun 5, Jonah Letoto 8, Max Fujio 0, Holu Kaaihue 2, Josh Markwith 10, Daniel Morisato 5, Brandon Cabacungan 2, Chris Pieper 0, Troy Kashiwabara 1, Ian Garrod 0, Will Birdsong 0.
FARRINGTON--Nathan Serdenia 4, Elijah Filifili 8, Elijah Lesu 16, Winston Matas 2, Randy McKee 0, Jeff Valoria 9, Rey Bartian 4, Michah Kalingo 9, Glenn Ernest 2.
3-point goals -- Kalani 4 (Letoto 2, Liao, Morisato), Farrington 1 (Filifili).
Junior varsity -- Farrington 94, Kalani 17
OIA WEST
No. 10 Radford 56, Aiea 50
Gary Satterwhite scored 16 points as the Rams held off a late rally by Na Alii.
Matt Alofaituli and Michael Goodman added 11 points each for Radford.
At McKinley H.S. gym
| Aiea (1-4) |
11 |
15 |
9 |
15 |
-- |
50
|
| Radford (4-2) |
18 |
18 |
13 |
7 |
-- |
56 |
AIEA--Lofa Liilii 4, Lito Alvarez 0, Josh Asuncion 0, Kali Kuia 12, Jerry Miller 12, Seth Nelson 6, Eric James 0, Kekoa Baptista 5, Kai Ah-Mook-Sang 0, Ryan Mora 2, Robert Holiday 2, Miah Tausaga 2, Darryl Talaro 1, Adrian Labuda 4, Chris Galicia 0.
RADFORD--Garriet Canteen 2, Mike Sooto 7, Justin Lord 4, Joe Brundidge 5, Gardner Nakatani 0, Matt Alofaituli 11, John Watson 0, Gary Satterwhite 16, Michael Goodman 11.
3-point goals -- Aiea 3 (Nelson 2, Baptista), Radford 3 (Brundidge, Satterwhite, Sooto).
Waialua 54, Pearl City 45
Marc Nacapuy scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures as the Bulldogs defeated the Chargers.
At Pearl City H.S. gym
| Waialua (2-4) |
13 |
8 |
16 |
17 |
-- |
54
|
| Pearl City (2-3) |
1 |
5 |
24 |
15 |
-- |
45 |
WAIALUA-- Kyle Kinney 11, Marc Nacapuy 15, Jordan Chun 0, Bernard Menor 0, Edwin Rubio 10, Robert Kroeger 0, Ilikea Chavez 0, Brian Graziano 1, Aaron Lapitan 5, Tauese Tapusoa 0, Caleb Fore 12, Joshua Whittaker 0,
PEARL CITY-- Alan Agni 3, Sheldon Luicus 0, Troy Antoque 4, Travis Cruz 8, Andrew Blue 9, Kawika Borden 15, Skye Kaapuni 2, Karlo Rarangol 4.
3-point goals -- Waialua 1 (Rubio), Pearl City 2 (Cruz 2).
Junior varsity -- Pearl City 39, Waialua 35
Nanakuli 54, Waianae 40
Anson Amaral scored nine of his game-high 19 points in the first half as the Golden Hawks defeated the Seariders.
Nanakuli pulled away by outscoring Waianae 14-2 in the second quarter.
At Nanakuli H.S. gym
| Waianae (2-3) |
10 |
2 |
14 |
14 |
-- |
40
|
| Nanakuli (3-3) |
15 |
14 |
13 |
12 |
-- |
54 |
WAIANAE--Alfred Coffin 4, Charlton Taitin 3, Nathaniel Kahala 4, Kaipo Punihaole 0, Ramsey Beers 7, Junior Faliuga 11, R.J. Beers 7, Jeremy Green 0, Alex Tupulua 0, Liko Manuel 4, Leroy Lee-Kiaaina 0, Aukai Lai 0.
NANAKULI-- Anson Amaral 19, Kalai Kahalekai 7, Alika Willacker 0, Kalani Kahalekai 6, Travis Hulama 4, Levi Luavasa 6, Issac Iuta 6, Micahel Patronis 4, Jerry Kea 2, John Smith 0, Julis Seabrook 0.
3-point goals -- Waianae 1 (R.J. Beers), Nanakuli 4 (Amaral 3, Kalai Kahalekai).
Junior varsity -- Waianae 34, Nanakuli 32
Mililani 56, Leilehua 37
Ken Moses scored 12 points and Donovan Olmos contributed 11 as the Trojans rolled over the Mules to remain undefeated and in sole possession of first place in OIA West play.
Leilehua's Kennedy Orteza scored a game-high 16 points.
At McKinley H.S. gym
| Mililani (6-0) |
9 |
18 |
15 |
14 |
-- |
56
|
| Leilehua (3-3) |
7 |
6 |
15 |
9 |
-- |
37 |
MILILANI--Fred Nillo 0, Nick Kanno 4, Jordan Torres 4, Ken Moses 12, Donovan Olmos 11, A.J. Clark 7, Kristian Guillen 5, David Otte 3, Brandon Dela Cruz 4, David Rivers 4, Darnell Johnson 2.
LEILEHUA--Dustin Pauu 2, Kennedy Orteza 16, Kolwin Dixon 2, Boris Williams 0, Daniel Omalza 0, Mike Tryon 0, Antonio Pereira 2, Josh Brooks 0, Art Laurel 3, Viliami Haunga 0, Clayton Laurel 12, Trentt Kennard 0.
3-point goals -- Mililani 3 (Olmos 2, Clark), Leilehua 3 (Orteza 2, C. Laurel).
Junior varsity -- Mililani 51, Leilehua 33
MIL
Varsity boys
Thursday
No. 7 Baldwin 64, Seabury Hall 31
Leading scorers--
Bald: Matt Heyd 11.
Sea: Justin Endo 10, Jake Fergus 10.
