Considering how familiar the boys basketball coaching staffs at Kohala and Kealakehe are with each other, there aren’t going to be many secrets to victory when the teams meet.
So the Cowboys relied on ever-reliable staples such as hard work, uptempo play and denying the ball to win their BIIF season-opener Wednesday night. O’Shen Cazimero scored 18 points and Molonai Emeliano added 10 in a 42-35 win a the Waveriders’ gym.
“Loved our effort” said first-year coach Kihei Kapeliela, a former Cowboys assistant, “We knew it was going to be a tough game. Players from both teams play together on travel teams in the offseason.”
He and assistant Reeve Cazimero as well as Kealakehe coach Benny Alcoran grew up together in Kohala.
“We know each others’ style really well,” Kapeliela said. “I knew Benny was going to have them ready for us. It was a battle till the end.”
Howard Robert scored 14 points and Tito Cabico added nine for Kealakehe (1-1)
Led by O’Shen Cazimero, the co-BIIF Division II player of the year as a freshman, Kohala is searching for its first league crown since 2014.
“Our goal is to keep improving everyday, and probably being the shortest team on the island – 5 feet, 11 inches, is our tallest – speed and defense is what’s going to win us games. We have a lot more to improve … but that’s a good thing.”
In JV, Kealakehe won 59-43.
Thursday
Hilo 61 boys, St. Jospeh 17: Kaukahi Alameda scored 21 points and Rayson Padilla added 11 as the Vikings (2-0) cruised at home.
Jensen Dela Cruz scored six points for the Cardinals (0-2).
Kamehameha girls 73, Christian Liberty 32: Nique Pacheco led a balanced scoring effort with 18 points as the host Warriors poured it on during a big second half.
Sarah Schubert scored 16 points and Sierra Scanlan had 15 for Kamehameha (3-0), which surged from a 29-18 halftime lead.
Brooke Perreira led the Canefire (1-2) with 12 points and Kamille Febo-Santiago had nine.