Kalaugher helps Cougars close out Mustangs, 59-55

Kaiser's Chance Kalaugher scored 21 points and pulled down 19 rebounds in a win over Kalaheo. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Chance Kalaugher scored 21 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to help Kaiser hold on for a 59-55 win over visiting Kalaheo Tuesday night.

The Cougars, who are ranked second in the Hawaiian Electric/ScoringLive Boys Basketball Power Rankings, improved to 23-4 overall and 9-1 in the Eastern Division of the Oahu Interscholastic Association.

With the win Kaiser clinched the East's top seed and a first-round bye in the upcoming 12-team league tournament.

"We just came together as a team," senior point guard Nic Tom said. "It was probably the biggest crowd we've ever had, its senior night, its for the top seed in the East; That kind of gets you going."

Kalaugher had just six points in the first half and was held scoreless in the third quarter before pouring in 15 points in the fourth.

"Pretty much it was take-over time." Kalaugher said. "The fourth quarter is big; You have to pull through and make plays."

Keoua Mahiko added 16 points and Isaiah Lundell chipped in 10 for Kaiser, which shot 43 percent (22 of 51) from the field and 11 of 17 on free throws.

Kalaheo held a 37-35 lead early in the final period before Kaiser went on a 12-2 run — capped by a Kalaugher 3-pointer — to seize a 47-39 lead.

"We (didn't) come out as strong in the first half, so if we're not hitting shots we just have to stay with it and stay together and we're going to get the lead back," Kalaugher said.

Captain Whitlock led the fifth-ranked Mustangs (19-6 overall, 8-2 OIA East) with 21 points. Alex Layi added 14 points and Kekai Smith contributed 10 in a losing effort.

"That's an all senior-based team, but hats off to them, they did well," Kalaheo coach Rob Pardini said of the Cougars. "They finished well in that fourth quarter. We had some opportunities to get back in it and we did, but came up a bit short tonight."

Kaiser held a 23-22 lead at halftime.

It was the second loss for Kalaheo in its last three games, but it can still clinch a first-round bye and the East's second seed in the OIA tournament with a win over Castle Thursday.

"We know we can play with anybody, (but) we're still not 100 percent healthy," Pardini said. "The positive is that we're not 100 percent and we're still right there. I think the boys understand that and we're a relatively young team."

Kaiser concludes the regular season at Moanalua Thursday night.