In JV, Honokaa beat Kealakehe 49-48 in overtime. By JOE FERRARO ADVERTISING Stephens Media KAPAAU — Kohala’s team kept counterpunching, responding with a run every time it seemed Konawaena might put Thursday’s boys basketball game out of reach. However, the
By JOE FERRARO
Stephens Media
KAPAAU — Kohala’s team kept counterpunching, responding with a run every time it seemed Konawaena might put Thursday’s boys basketball game out of reach.
However, the Wildcats 3-point barrage in the third quarter put the Cowboys in a hole they couldn’t escape.
Konawaena went 5-of-6 from behind the 3-point arc in the third quarter, helping the Wildcats open up a 14-point lead and turn back Kohala 63-54 in a battle of undefeated Big Island Interscholastic Federation teams.
Junior Kenan Gaspar led Konawaena (5-0) with 17 points and eight rebounds, and Viliamu Uulopa collected 12 points, four assists and four rebounds, despite playing only in the second half.
Uulopa hit one of the Wildcats’ five 3-pointers in the third quarter. The other four helped Konawaena pull away after Kohala junior Jeremiah Kanehailua-Torres hit a layup that got the Cowboys (4-1) within 34-32 with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter.
The Wildcats responded with a 14-4 run to take a 48-34 advantage with 1:40 left in the period. Sophomore guard Brandon Awa, who also had seven assists, nailed two treys from the right wing, and junior guard Trevor Tanaka drained back-to-back 3s from the left corner.
“It was just ball movement and making the defense move,” Gaspar said.
Awa and sophomore guard Pookela Hanato-Smith each finished with eight, while Tanaka and junior Nick Mims had six points apiece.
Konawaena needed every bit of its balanced scoring attack.
Sophomore Jonah Bredeson, a slashing forward who also shoots well from the perimeter, injured his back during practice on Monday and sat out Thursday’s game. Uulopa missed practice the same day. According to team rules, Wildcats who miss practice must sit out a half in the team’s next game.
“In the second half, I told myself, ‘Bring it hard, get this win'” Uulopa said. “We needed it.”
Also, Konawaena coach Donny Awa demanded more scoring from Gaspar.
“I told Kenan, ‘It’s your turn to look to score. Be aggressively offensively, but be smart'” Donny Awa said.
Junior Makani Kualii and junior Kalai Kapeliela each scored 10 points for Kohala, senior Chris Roxburgh added eight, and freshman Kealen Figueroa had seven.
Konawaena shot 49 percent from the field (25 of 51), while Kohala shot 45 percent (21 of 46).
“We fought hard, we just didn’t shoot the ball well,” Cowboys coach Don Fernandez said. “But I’m glad with our effort.”
In the JV game, Kona beat Kohala 38-37.
Konawaena 13 14 23 13 —63
Kohala 9 12 15 18 —54
Kealakehe 47, Honokaa 45: Nalu Marks hit a game-winning jumper with 2.9 seconds left to help the host Waveriders even their record at 3-3,
The Dragons fell to 1-4.
In JV, Honokaa beat Kealakehe 49-48 in overtime.
