Rams knock off Trojans, 58-49


Radford guard TJ Reid slices to the hoop through two Mililani defenders. Scott Nishi | SL
MILILANI - In the end, size mattered to Radford.

The Rams used their significant height advantage to by controlling the boards to knock off Mililani, 58-49, Thursday night in O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West boys' basketball at the Trojans' gym.

Radford (7-1) will play at Leilehua (7-1) for sole possession of first in the division Saturday in Wahiawa.

T.J. Reid had a game-high 22 points, including three 3-pointers, Nashon George added 16 and 6-foot-8 Steve Watkins had 10 to help the Rams avenge a 47-38 loss to the Trojans nearly a month ago.

"Today, their size made a difference," Mililani coach Edward Gonzales said. "We had a lot of shots that the last time we played went in (but) weren't going in today. The size helped, that Radford was big all around.

"We wanted to control T.J., but T.J. was just on fire in the beginning, so he gave them that cushion and then they could go inside (with their tall players)."

Still, the Trojans (6-2) managed to pull to 39-37 when Brady Spiridigliozzi scored after a steal about a half-minute into the fourth quarter. But a 3-pointer just four seconds later by George ignited a 10-0 run by the Rams, who never saw their lead fall lower than nine points the rest of the way.

"That was a killer," Gonzales said. "That was a tough one."

Rams' coach Wayne Keys said his team worked on rebounding over the winter break.

"We didn't play over the holidays, resting without having practice, so we've been stressing rebounding a lot," Keys said.

But Rams will visit Central O'ahu again, this time to play Leilehua. Radford beat Leilehua, 62-56, in their first meeting on Dec. 11.

Hassan Richardson led the Trojans with 17 points.

"This was big," Keys said of the win. "We knew it was big. We have another big one Saturday morning against Leilehua. We have to come back tomorrow, work out and get ready for Leilehua."


Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].