By CLINT ZAVODNY ADVERTISING By CLINT ZAVODNY Stephens Media Hawaii KAILUA-KONA —Kohala exploded for 23 points in the fourth quarter to erase a five-point deficit and defeat Kealakehe 65-55 in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation basketball game Monday night at
By CLINT ZAVODNY
Stephens Media Hawaii
KAILUA-KONA —Kohala exploded for 23 points in the fourth quarter to erase a five-point deficit and defeat Kealakehe 65-55 in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation basketball game Monday night at Kealakehe Gymnasium.
Kealakehe led 47-42 following a jump shot by Arthur Freddy in the starting moments of the fourth quarter, but from there the Cowboys (6-2) went on shooting spree. Mikala Jordan and Ryan Caravalho took the reins for Kohala, combining to score 21 of the Cowboys’ fourth-quarter points. Jordan and Caravalho finished the night with 18 points apiece.
“We knew we just had to keep running, wear them out,” said Jordan, who also had five steals. “We kept pressing the ball and didn’t let up. We didn’t get too worried when we were down early; we just waited for our time.”
Said Caravalho: “We struggled a little in the beginning, but played with our heart and came out strong in the end.”
Keanu Tilfas led the Waveriders (2-5) with 18 points, while Freddy had 11, including three 3-pointers.
Kealakehe got the tip and went up 6-0 early, after Malu Akiona scored the game’s first three baskets. Kohala shrugged off its slow start and eventually got on the board with a pair free throws by Shawn Ray Ramos, but the Waveriders’ offense patiently worked the ball around on the other end before finding Freddy wide open for a 3-pointer to put Kealakehe up 9-2.
Kohala didn’t get its first field goal until Jordan nailed a 3-pointer from the corner with 3:12 left in the first quarter, which seemed to spark the team. The Cowboys closed out the opening frame on a 11-2 run, capped by Bronson Fuertes’s steal and basket in the waning seconds to tie the game at 15-15.
The Waveriders then quickly jumped up by five after a Tilfas basket underneath and another 3-pointer by Freddy. However, the Cowboys came charging back behind a steal and hoop from Justin Agbayani, and Kohala took its first lead when Caravalho made a layup at the 5:02 mark to make it 21-20.
There were five lead changes over the ensuing five-minute span in what was a very physical first half of basketball. Akiona, who was leading the Waveriders with eight points and six rebounds at that point in the game, went down with an injury late in the quarter and did not return. Then Kealen Figueroa made a string of free throws for the Cowboys, Agbayani made a nice move to the rim in the final minute, and Kohala entered the locker room with a 32-30 advantage.
Kealakehe started the second half strong as Tilfas connected on three quick baskets, and the Waveriders led most of the third quarter. And after a jump shot by Freddy put them up by five just moments into the fourth quarter, Kealakehe looked to have the situation under control. But then the Waveriders got cold shooting while Kohala got hot, and were outscored 23-8 from that point on.
Kealakehe won the JV game 43-16.
Kohala 15 17 10 23 – 65
Kealakehe 15 15 15 10 – 55
Waiakea 64, Hilo 45: Lucas St. George scored 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the host Warriors dominated their rival en route to their third straight victory.
Waiakea (6-2) featured better balance and rebounding, holding a 40-25 edge on the boards.
Dillon Rellez finished with 15 points and Calvin Mattos chipped in with 11 for the Warriors, who have the inside track on the No. 2 seed in the BIIF Division I semifinals.
Hilo (4-4) managed only three third-quarter points and trailed 44-27 entering the fourth. Jalen Carvalho (27 points) and Austin Dante (13) combined to score all but five of the Vikings’ points.
In JV, Waiakea won 56-35.
Hilo 10 14 3 18 —45
Waiakea 15 15 14 20—64
Keaau 66, Honokaa 64, 2OT: Edgar Ventura scored 24 points and Isiah Segobia added 17, including a 3-pointer to tie the game late in regulation that saved the visiting Cougars, who went on to win in double overtime.
Keaau (4-4), which moved into a three-way tie for third place in Division I, was trailing by five points with less than a minute to go in the fourth quarter before it mounted a comeback.
Wayne Vaoga led the Dragons (2-6) with 16 points. The senior came up with a steal late in the second overtime, missing on a game-winning 3-point attempt. Kysen Datuin (nine) couldn’t get a 3-pointer to fall for the Dragons near the end of the first overtime.
Shyrome Batin scored 15 points for Honokaa and Cjay Carvalho had 14. Coach Jayme Carvalho felt his team was in control of the game early in the fourth quarter when Cjay Carvalho had to leave with an ankle injury.
Keaau 17 14 8 13 9 5 —66
Honokaa 11 14 12 15 9 3—64
Hawaii Prep 61, Kamehameha 50: Kalan Camero powered a balanced scoring attack in Waimea that helped Ka Makani stay perfect in league play.
Camero led all scorers with 19 points, while David Ovbagbedia and Justas Gecas each finished with 17. HPA (8-0) started to pull away in the third quarter after leading 29-26 at halftime.
Micah Carter paced the Warriors (4-4), losers of two in a row, with 18 points and Pukana Vincent had 12.
Kamehameha won the JV game 58-36.
Kamehameha 12 14 9 15 —50
Hawaii Prep 13 16 17 15 —61
Konawaena 55, St. Joseph 29: Kevin Medeiros led three scorers in double-figures with 13 points and the Wildcats took control from the start to win on the road and remained the undefeated front-runner in Division I.
Brandon Awa and Jonah Bredeson each posted 10 points for Konawaena (8-0), which led 30-7 at halftime.
Michael Silva finished with 13 points for the Cardinals (0-7) and Cole DeSilva had eight.
Konawaena 16 14 15 10—55
St. Joseph 3 4 11 11—29
Pahoa 66, Ka’u 56: Joel Rosario scored 20 points to power four Daggers in double figures as Pahoa prevailed in Pahala.
Tolby Saito (18 points), Keinan Agonias (14) and Kili Oliveira (10) also helped the cause for the Daggers (3-5), who owned the third quarter, outscoring the Trojans 16-4, to win their second consecutive game.
Chance Emmsley-Ah Yee finished with 15 points for the Trojans (0-8).
In JV, Ka’u won 64-48.
Pahoa 18 19 16 13—66
Ka’u 20 15 4 17—56
