Kalaheo's Derick Morgan drives to the hoop against Mililani. Ryan Sakamoto | Special to SL

×

022113__DSC6016.jpg - Ryan Sakamoto | Special to SL

Purchase this image
4x5 5x7 8x10 image download

The forecast called for precipitation, and Kalaheo made it rain from beyond the three-point line as the Mustangs destroyed the Trojans, 56-32, to advance to play Punahou in the semifinals of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Division I Boys Basketball Championships.

Kalaheo's Josh Ko came off the bench to score a team high 14 points, hitting 3 three pointers and he relishes the sixth man role.

"Earlier in the season I started, but as time went on Coach Alika found that I play better coming off the bench and I can give my team the spark to get things going offensively," said Ko.

Kalaheo nailed 8 three pointers, Ko (3), Kalei Zuttermeister (2), Silila Tucker (1), Derick Morgan (1), Shem Sukumaran (1).

Zuttermeister said, "Coach gives us the green light to shoot and the decision to see whether or not it's a good shot."

"It's our typical offense, we like to do the run-and-gun. Coach is trying to prep us to play at the next level, so we have to be able to shoot threes. Everyone on the team can shoot the three," said Ko.

In the first quarter, Kalaheo jumped out to a 11-0 lead after a deep 3 pointer from Josh Ko.

Mililani got on the scoreboard after Riley Borges hit a jumpshot with 2 minutes remaining in the quarter, which turned out to be their only field goal of the half.

"We always try to come out strong in the first quarter to get us going," said Zuttermeister.

In the second quarter, Ko made a rare four-point play as he was fouled when he nailed a three pointer to go up 15-4. From there Kalaheo blew it wide open and took a 30-7 lead going into halftime.

The Trojans who scored 51 points at halftime and finished with 84 points against Kamehameha-Hawaii, definitely caught Kalaheo's attention. However, Mililani mustered only 7 points the whole first half and made only one field goal.

"Defensively is where we won the game. Anytime you hold a team to 7 points is remarkable. We always stress that's what will take us to the top. If anyone can score that many points (84) in a high school game, they're dangerous because they put the ball in the basket. We had to concentrate more and work on it in practice and walk-throughs," said Kalaheo head coach Alika Smith.

In the third quarter, Kalaheo came out of the half with an 8-0 run. Mililani would find some offense and would outscore the Mustangs 14-10.

With Kalaheo up big, Coach Smith put in several reserves to finish the game.

Kalaheo will play Punahou in an anticipated matchup at the Blaisdell Center at 5 p.m.

"We got to come out strong and shooting how we did tonight," said Zuttermeister

"We have to play together as a team and everyone has to contribute and hopefully our shots will fall like tonight," added Ko.