Pearl City holds off Campbell to start league play

Pearl City's Deltha "Malosi" Viena draws a blocking foul against Campbell in the third quarter. Michael Lasquero | SL

Deltha "Malosi" Viena turned in a 20-point performance as visiting Pearl City held off Campbell for a 43-39 win Saturday night to open up OIA West play.

The Chargers (8-4 overall, 1-0 league) trailed 13-11 after the opening quarter, but outscored the Sabers - 10 to 2 - in the second period to take a 21-15 lead at the break.

A strong defensive pressure allowed Campbell (4-9, 0-1) to get back into the game with timely steals and buckets in the third quarter.

Blaze Peleki, who finished with a team-high 11 points, completed a three-point play after getting a steal to cut into the Chargers' lead, 28-27.

Another steal and finish by Peleki tied the game at 32, but Viena's corner triple with a hand in his face gave Pearl City a 35-32 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Sabers ultimately lost the game at the free throw line, missing all six attempts in the fourth quarter as they finished 6-for-17 from the charity stripe.

Campbell took the lead for a brief moment, 37-36, with 4:25 remaining on a Josiah Batala field goal, but free throws by Viena put the Chargers back ahead.

After a Viena bucket, Peleki had an opportunity to tie the game at 40 after making a tough shot through contact, but he was unable to complete the three-point play to leave the score at 40-39 with 33 seconds remaining.

Pearl City went back up by three with 19 seconds remaining after the Chargers broke the press, but two 3-point attempts by the Sabers in the final seconds were off target and Pearl City went on to win the game.