Boys Basketball
Saint Louis rallies past Kohala on final day of Kapaa Invitational


  



Sat, Dec 10, 2022 @ Kapaa


Final 1 2 3 4  
Kohala (12-1, 19-2) 7 1691042
Saint Louis (9-4, 27-7) 7 10 18 1045
P. Sepulona 16 pts  2 3pm  0/1 FTs
L. Kauka 13 pts  3 3pm  0/0 FTs
S. Revuelto 1 tot  1 def
T. Figueroa 6 tot  1 off  5 def

Defending Division I state champion Saint Louis got all it could handle from Kohala, but the Crusaders rode a big third quarter and some key halftime adjustments to prevail 45-42 on the final day of the Kapaa Invitational held at the Warriors' gymnasium.

Trailing 23-17 at the break, the Crusaders leaned on Sepulona, who delivered on both the inside and the perimeter, notching 10 points and two big three point shots, one coming at the third quarter buzzer.

"It was good, it was for my team," Sepulona remarked on the go-ahead shot that ended the quarter. "We needed that to get that lead going into the fourth quarter."

Saint Louis coupled Sepulona's offensive output along with racheted up the perimeter pressure, in particular on Layden Kauka and his brother Landon, who combined for 21 of the Cowboys 23 points in the first two quarters, to turn the tide.

"During halftime we just focused and locked in," said Sepulona. "The first half we kind of started slow but second half we started to pick it up and we knew who was the shooters and we locked down and played as a team on defense."

Despite the lack of output from their first half weapons, Kohala hung around, getting two big threes from Isaac Libron and had the opportunity to tie the contest in the final seconds, but Libron's last gasp step around three at the buzzer was off target.

A trio of Crusaders chipped in seven points, post Jordan Posiulai, and guards Shancin Revuelto and JC Ramos.

"Our coach always says to always get better," said Sepulona. "Even though we play D2 or D1, its all about getting better for the ILH season."





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...