To measure the true value of BJ Hosaka to the Hawaii Baptist boys' basketball team, one must look beyond the numbers.

Hosaka, a senior guard, is among the state's premier scorers, averaging 23.5 points per game. He scored 31 points Thursday night to lead the Eagles to a 61-55 win over host Hanalani, but it wasn't always smooth sailing.

The Royals held Hosaka scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting from the field in the first quarter, but he made up for it the rest of the way, going 11 of 16 on field goals in the final three quarters. He made a pair of 3-pointers and was 7 of 8 at the free-throw line.

"BJ will do what he does," HBA junior center Isaac Liva said. "He'll step it up and score for us when we need him to."

Hosaka scored 11 straight Eagles' points during a second-quarter stretch and scored a large chunk of his points by penetrating the paint and finishing at the bucket.

During a key fourth-quarter stretch, Hosaka showed some emotion with a fist pump and yell after finishing a three-point play to cap a 5-0 Eagles' run. However, it was just minutes later that his maturity was on full display for all to see.

A loose ball was initially ruled to be in possession of Hanalani, much to the dismay of HBA coach George Weeks. The play was overturned twice, which further incensed Weeks. All the while, Hosaka stood calmly between the official and his coach, even putting a hand on the latter's shoulder in a kind of role reversal.

"I told him just 'Next play,' and just shake it off," Hosaka said. "We're going to face adversity, but it's how we respond that matters."

Weeks praised Hosaka for all of his contributions to the team over the years.

"Any coach would be proud and honored to have a kid like him on their team," Weeks said. "Aside from his tremendous basketball skill, he's just a tremendous leader, a team player and just has grown and matured so much. We've been lucky to have him for four years on the varsity and six years in the program. He's just a phenomenal kid and I'm just going to hate to see him go, but we've got a couple of games to go, so I'm just going to enjoy it while I can."

The Eagles will have nearly two weeks off before taking part in the eight-team New City Nissan/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II State Championships Feb. 26-28.