OIA Boys Basketball
Second quarter swing helps No. 9 Kahuku edge No. 8 Moanalua, 62-56


  



Sat, Dec 30, 2017 @ Kahuku


Final 1 2 3 4  
Moanalua (8-6, 18-14) 11 8132456
Kahuku (12-1, 27-5) 11 16 13 2262
T. Smith 21 pts  1/5 FTs
C. Casinas 35 pts  6 3pm  13/14 FTs
T. Smith 18 tot  7 off  11 def
S. Pulu 5 tot  2 off  3 def
T. Smith 2 ast
I. Sugiura 2 ast

KAHUKU — The saying "it's a game of runs" rang true Saturday night.

An 8-0 run to close out the first half was ultimately the difference as No. 9 Kahuku held off a late charge by No. 8 Moanalua for a 62-56 Oahu Interscholastic Association Eastern Division win at Thomas G.S. Walker Gymnasium.

The Red Raiders, the defending league and state Division I champions, took a 27-19 lead into the break before holding off a late Na Menehune rally to improve to 3-0 atop the OIA D1-East standings.

Kahuku needed every bit of its first half lead as Moanalua got a career-high performance from senior Caleb Casinas, who scored a game-high 35 points while going 6-for-7 from beyond the arc. Casinas also notched 23 of Na Menehune's 24 fourth quarter points.

While Casinas was red hot from the perimter, Kahuku dominated down low and outrebounded Na Menehune, 51 to 16.

Tolu Smith led the way with a double-double of 21 points and 18 rebounds and Marcus Damuni followed with 16 points and 11 rebounds of his own. The duo also shot the ball well from the field, combining to go 16-for-25 on the night.

Kahuku's Marcus Damuni powers his way in the paint in the first quarter. Michael Lasquero | SL    Purchase image

After a back-and-forth opening period that saw five lead changes and both teams tied at 11, Kahuku started to pull away after Smith started the second quarter with two easy buckets.

Moanalua's Saige Pulu knocked down 1 of 2 free throws to cut into Kahuku's lead, but Smith and Lokana Enos were able to find the bottom of the net to push the Red Raiders ahead, 19-12, and force a Moanalua timeout.

Na Menehune quickly responded after the stoppage in play with a shot attempt by Casinas. The Red Raiders went cold after that, which allowed Moanalua to tie the game at 19 after a Isaiah Sugiura jumper and a straightaway triple by Casinas.

Then Kahuku started to make its run. Smith put the Red Raiders ahead with a nice finish before Damuni sunk two shot attempts, one coming on a putback. Ruanui Winitana's free throws capped the run to give Kahuku a eight-point lead at the break.

The Red Raiders maintained their lead after the third quarter and looked like they would put the game out of reach when Pulu fouled out 10 seconds into the final period of play. Pulu, who was tasked with guarding Smith for most of the night, had nine points and five boards when he left the game.

Kahuku would then go up by 14 after two Ethan Erickson free throws and another basket by Smith before Casinas started to take over the game.



Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].




Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


IMAGE GALLERY



MORE STORIES

Aiea downs Radford to claim first OIA D2 title since 2017

Na Alii led early and rapped out 13 total hits to pull away from the Rams to clinch their first OIA Division...

Pagampao powers No. 1 Mililani past No. 7 Kapolei for 12th OIA crown

The senior belted three home runs, including the go-ahead and game-ending blasts, to lead the Trojans...

Kapolei dethrones Campbell to set up OIA D1 title tilt with Mililani

The Hurricanes pulled away from the Sabers in the final frame while the Trojans held off a late charge...

Surfriders cash in on Na Alii miscues to claim 15th league crown, ninth under Ishigo

Kailua sent eight batters to the plate and scored five runs in a tide-turning bottom of the third inning,...

Waianae rolls past Radford to claim first OIA championship since 2017

Shysten Nagasako did work on both the mound and at the plate in the Seariders' mercy-rule shortened win...

No. 1 seeds Aiea, Kailua to face off for OIA Division I baseball crown

Na Alii posted a 3-1 win over Roosevelt behind Aidan Yoshida's complete game, while two pitchers combined...