According to the BIIF Handbook, host schools are responsible for reporting scores. By BILL O’REAR ADVERTISING Tribune-Herald sports editor Shaun Kagawa scored 11 of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter and Lanaki Apele added 16 points to lift
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
Shaun Kagawa scored 11 of his game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter and Lanaki Apele added 16 points to lift defending champion Kamehameha to a 67-56 win over Hilo in a battle of Division I basketball title contenders on Thursday night.
The Big Island Interscholastic Federation boys game was played before about 300 fans at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
In other games Thursday, it was: Pahoa 52, St. Joseph 44; Waiakea 59, Keaau 46; Hawaii Prep 63, Honokaa 52; and Konawaena 51, Kealakehe 45.
Kagawa, a junior, had only two points at the intermission, but the Warriors (1-0) held a 33-32 lead in the hard-fought contest. He then scored six points in the third period and went bananas in the fourth with his 11 points, sparking a Kamehameha surge that helped the visitors hold a 26-13 advantage over the final eight minutes.
Kagawa scored 11 of the Warriors’ first 13 points in the fourth quarter as Kamehameha built a 54-47 lead. And then with a comfortable cushion, the senior point guard handled the ball and attacked the Hilo defense to either score, get fouled or hit an open teammate for a basket.
Apele, a 5-foot-11 senior fighting off a cold, scored eight points in the second half, including 4 of 6 free throws in the final 1:31 of the game to seal the key victory.
Seniors Kaeo Alapai and Kekoa Turner each had nine points and Jacob Kackley seven in a balanced attack.
Sophomore Jodd Carter came off the bench to spark the Vikings (1-1). He led the hosts with 17 points, including nine in the first half as Hilo remained up-and-up with the favored Warriors.
Jacob Genegabus followed Carter with 13 points and senior guard Rico Loeak had 11.
Kamehameha, under coach Dominic Pacheco, led 15-13 at the end of the first period before the Vikings outpointed the Warriors 19-18 in the second quarter to trail by only a point at the half.
Hilo, under coach Jason Mandaquit, then outscored the visitors 11-8 in the slow-paced third period and led 43-41 heading into the final quarter.
But in the fourth period, Kagawa and Apele took over to help the Warriors prevail over their gutsy division rivals.
JV: Hilo 45, Kamehameha 36. Hilo: Sione Atuekaho, 11. Warriors: Quinten Anastacio, 13.
Kamehameha 15 18 8 26 — 67
Hilo 13 19 11 13 — 56
* Pahoa 52, St. Joseph 44: Junior Nick Fisher scored 21 points and Sonny Miguel added 14 as the host Daggers pulled away to win a battle of D-II contenders.
Pahoa (2-1) trailed by a point at halftime but limited the Cardinals (1-1) to only five points in the third quarter.
Seniors Austin Lee (12 points) and Thomas Fairman (11) scored in double figures for St. Joseph.
It was the final boys game played at the ageless Pahoa Gym. The school’s new gym will be used for the first time on Tuesday when the Daggers host Ka’u in a girls basketball game.
The Pahoa boys then host Waiakea in their first game in the spacious new gym, on Friday, Jan. 13.
St. Joseph 9 15 5 15 — 44
Pahoa 10 13 15 14 — 52
* Waiakea 59, Keaau 46: At Waiakea, sophomore Lucas St. George scored 19 points and junior Owen Sandstrom 14 to lead the D-I Warriors (1-1).
Roger Carlos scored 13 points to lead the D-I Cougars (0-4).
JV: Keaau 51, Waiakea 40. Keaau: Isiah Segobia, 24; Edgar Ventura, 12. Wai: Kyle Kua-Ramirez, 17.
Keaau 2 9 12 23 — 46
Waiakea 13 17 9 20 — 59
* Hawaii Prep 63, Honokaa 52: At Honokaa, Tyler Van Kirk scored 20 points and Kama DeSilva 12 to lead the D-II Ka Makani (1-0).
Keanu Freitas scored 16 points and Isaiah Meyer 11 to lead the D-II Dragons (0-1).
Hawaii Prep 18 19 10 16 — 63
Honokaa 18 11 12 11 — 52
Reporting results
Schools may report game results immediately following the boys and girls varsity contest by calling 930-7332, emailing sports@hawaiitribune-herald.com or faxing them to 961-3680.
Information should include varsity score by quarters and final score, high scorers from both teams with the first and last names, and the JV final score and high scorers.
Games that are reported before 9:45 p.m. will be published the following day; late reported games will be run when space is available.
According to the BIIF Handbook, host schools are responsible for reporting scores.
