By BILL O’REAR Tribune-Herald sports editor ADVERTISING KEAAU — Kekoa Turner scored 19 points, Shaun Kagawa 15, Kaeo Alapai 13 and Lanaki Apele 10 to lead unbeaten Kamehameha to a 68-53 win over Waiakea on Tuesday night. The Big Island
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
KEAAU — Kekoa Turner scored 19 points, Shaun Kagawa 15, Kaeo Alapai 13 and Lanaki Apele 10 to lead unbeaten Kamehameha to a 68-53 win over Waiakea on Tuesday night.
The Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I boys basketball game was played at Koai’a Gym.
The host Warriors (6-0) didn’t show much internal fire to open the contest and Waiakea led 13-11 at the end of the first period. But Kagawa, a junior guard, and Turner, a senior forward, fueled a strong second quarter as Kamehameha outscored the visitors 21-13 and led 32-26 at the intermission.
Kagawa had nine points, Turner eight and Alapai seven in the first half to spark the offense. But the Warriors’ trademark high-intensity defense didn’t show up in the first half.
“Hats off to Waiakea, they played well,” Kamehameha coach Dominic Pacheco said. “We beat them by a lot (75-49) the first time we played them, but we knew tonight would be tougher.
“Waiakea gave us a real battle. It wasn’t until the fourth quarter when we finally picked up the defensive intensity and got out into transition. We also held Waiakea to just one shot at a time and that helped.”
The visiting Warriors, under coach Paul Lee, outpointed the hosts 17-16 in the third period and trailed only 48-43 heading into the final eight minutes. But Kamehameha spread the floor better in the fourth quarter with Apele or Kagawa handling the ball in transition or attacking in the half-court sets.
The host Warriors outscored Waiakea 20-10 in the final period.
“We played better tonight than the first time we played them,” Lee said. “But we’re playing against an experienced, well-coached team and every time we would make a run, they’d come back with a six- or eight-point run of their own.
“It’s hard to prepare for Kamehameha. We can’t duplicate in practice what they can do defensively with their quickness and athleticism. They’re a very good team.”
Turner was a key off the bench.
“Kekoa brought us energy off the bench,” Pacheco said. “He did a great job. That’s the kind of intensity and effort we need from our guys coming in to help the starters.”
Besides Turner’s game-high 19 points, he also had nine rebounds, teaming with the muscular Alapai (six rebounds) and senior Jacob Kackley (eight points, seven rebounds) to battle the visiting Warriors on the glass.
Junior Owen Sandstrom led Waiakea with 13 points. Sophomores Lucas St. George, Dillon Rellez and Maikai Gahan added 12, eight and seven points, respectively.
JV: Kamehameha 41, Waiakea 39 OT.
Waiakea 13 13 17 10 — 53
Kamehameha 11 21 16 20 — 68
Pahoa 68, Keaau 53: Senior Sonny Miguel led the way with 24 points to lead four scorers in double figures as the host Daggers improved to 6-1.
Freshman Tolby Saito scored 14 points for Pahoa, which led by four at halftime then pushed its lead to double digits in the third quarter. Junior Nick Fisher and senior Khalil Luis both added 10.
The defending Division II champions have a chance to avenge their only loss of the season Saturday when they host unbeaten Kamehameha.
Senior Cliff Eriksson led the Cougars (1-5) with 22 points and senior Roger Carlos had 10.
In junior varsity, Edgar Ventura scored 14 points and Charlie Belmes had 13 in Keaau’s 45-39 victory. Isaiah Segobia added 11. Kainalu Kawaihalau-Blyth led the Daggers with 10.
Keaau 12 16 8 17—53
Pahoa 16 16 15 21—68
St. Joseph 56, Ka’u 29: At Pahala, Thomas Fairman scored 20 points to lead the Division II Cardinals (3-3).
Donald Garo Jr. scored seven points and Royden Esperon had six to lead the D-II Trojans (1-6).
St. Joseph 13 13 14 16 — 56
Ka’u 2 13 7 7 — 29
