Nanakuli surges past Pearl City, 45-40

Nanakuli's Iverson Sione drives to the hoop against Pearl City. Sione scored a game-high 19 points to help the Golden Hawks improve to 2-0. CJ Caraang | SL

Nanakuli overcame a 16-8 first quarter deficit to trip up host Pearl City, 45-40 in an Oahu Interscholastic Western Division contest Tuesday night.

Senior guard Iverson Sione scored a game-high 19 points on 8 of 14 shooting to help the Golden Hawks notch their second consecutive victory to begin league play. Pearl City suffered its first loss of the regular season and dropped to 1-1.

The Golden Hawks were able to climb back into the game thanks to a strong shooting performance, going 17-for-32 from the field. Pearl City converted on six of its 12 shot attempts in the first quarter, but was 14 of 44 shooting for the entire contest.

Nanakuli scored the first eight points of the second stanza to force a Pearl City timeout with the score tied at 16 apiece with 3:33 remaining before halftime. Sione did not miss in the period and was a big reason why the Golden Hawks were able to take a 21-19 lead at the break.

The Golden Hawks won the third quarter, 11 to 6 and was able to fend off a late Pearl City charge thanks to Darius Irvin, who scored all of his nine points in the second half. The 6-foot-2 senior was 4-for-5 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter.

Gilbert Tapat had a season-high 18 points to lead the Chargers in the loss. The 5-foot-8 senior guard knocked down four of his six first quarter attempts, but was 2-for-9 shooting the rest of the way.