Leilehua's Torenzo Vereen goes up to defend a shot attempt by Kauai's Ke'ali'i Colipano. Brien Ing | SL

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121813_kaualei131218_bi054.jpg - Brien Ing | SL

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PALOLO — Fueled by a 20-point opener quarter, Leilehua raced past Kauai Wednesday afternoon, 55-39, in an first-day matchup in the Walter Wong Invitational at Saint Louis' McCabe Gymnasium.

Junior forward Koa Kauhi scored seven points to lead the Mules in scoring, but 13 of the 15 players that got in the game recorded at least two points. Joseph Gouty, Chanse Ramires and Epeli Natoko scored six points apiece and Kevin Brown, Torenzo Vereen and Pomai Cozo added five points each.

"We're deep and we don't really have that guy that's going to get us 20 (points) a night," Leilehua coach Pat Wetzel said. "We probably have guys that can do that, but we platoon, we get 15 guys in — I think everybody got to play — and that's what preseason is all about. We're just trying to build lineups, build relationships, so all of a sudden when we go out there on Jan. 2 against Campbell we're ready to go."

Leilehua held a 20-6 lead after the first quarter and 30-13 at halftime.

"It definitely helps," Wetzel said of his team's hot start. "It helpes ease the nerves to get a good lead, but from there we've got to shoot more consistently."

The Red Raiders cut the Mules' lead to 40-29 after three quarters, but were outscored 15 to 10 in the final quarter.

Jassem Cumlat and Duke Yadao led Kauai with 10 points each.

"We played them last year and we won on a buzzer-beater in the most weird ending ever where a guy shoots it from half-court with five seconds left and everybody kind of quit on it and our guy puts it in at the buzzer," Wetzel said of Kauai. "I knew of them pretty well. (Cumlat) is tough — the point guard they got — we knew he was coming back and they do an excellent job with what they have."

The Red Raiders made five 3-pointers, including two by Yadao and were 6 of 10 on free throws. Gouty, a sophomore guard, made two of the Mules' three 3-pointers. Leilehua made just 6 of 16 free throws.

Overall, Wetzel is pleased with his team's progress in the preseason.

"We're getting better," he said. "The first game or so — and even in the (Jim) Alegre tournament — we did some good things, but we have a lot to work on and we still have a lot to work on, but the guys are comfortable playing with each other. They're getting used to each other and I'm excited. I can't wait until the season begins."

In other scores Wednesday, University High beat McKinley 42-41, Mililani topped Saint Francis 61-41 and Saint Louis defeated Campbell 50-34. The tournament continues Friday with games at 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.