Kahuku outlasts late Moanalua charge, 73-61


Kahuku's Kawehena Johnson puts up a jumper against Moanalua. Peter Caldwell | SL
Red Raider guard Kawehena Johnson dropped 21 points, including 4 three-pointers, and Evan Ramirez added 16 more as Kahuku withstood a spirited comeback by Moanalua to advance to a Thursday rematch with Kapolei in the championship round of the OIA Red division playoffs.

Kahuku led 51-33 with just under 6 minutes left in the contest, but Moanalua proceeded to go on a 22-8 scoring run to trim the margin to 61-57 with 2:59 to play.

Na Menehune would not get any closer than four points, the Red Raiders would extend the lead on the charity stripe, while defensively holding Moanalua to just one field goal down the stretch.

The win sets up a Kahuku-Kapolei rematch on Thursday, following the OIA White title game. Both games will be televised live on OC16 starting at 5:00 p.m.

Kapolei, a 49-43 winner over Kahuku last Saturday that knocked the East top-seed into the elimination bracket of the modified double-elimination format tournament, can claim the Red title with one more victory, either on Thursday, or in a potential winner-take-all rubber match on Saturday.

Dillon Turk and Kahanu Pu'ulei-Auld had 11 points each to pace Na Menehune, who are eliminated from OIA title contention, but have already clinched a spot in next week's state tournament.