WAIPAHU - Dexter Williams poured in 22 points and Moanalua rolled past Mililani, 65-43, Saturday in the final day of the Waipahu High tournament.

Na Menehune improved to 5-2 in nonleague, while the Trojans dropped to 2-5.

Moanalua opens the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East season Tuesday by hosting Roosevelt, while Mililani hosts Pearl City in the OIA Red West.

Mililani took an 11-6 lead entering the second quarter, when Moanalua turned up the volume offensively and defensively. Na Menehune opened with a 16-0 run to take a 22-11 lead at 3:37. Williams scored eight points in that span and had 12 for in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, Na Menehune's pressure defense held the Trojans - without 6-foot-4 Hassan Richardson and 6-foot Trent McKinney who had not much practice time on the court this past week because of their participation in Friday's all-star football game - without a field goal in the third quarter. Brady Spiridigliozzi's drive to the basket with about three minutes left was nullified by a charging foul. The Trojans didn't score in the second quarter until 2:18 left when Riley Borges made two free throws.

"Hassan was averaging 18 points and 15 rebounds last year (during the regular season)," Mililani coach Edward Gonzales said, "and Trent is our best rebounder. Plus, they have the senior leadership."

But not having the two wasn't a total loss.

"It was valuable for the other boys to get playing time in preseason," Gonzales said.

For Moanalua, the first quarter was basically getting adjusted during a hectic 24 hours. Its game with Waipahu Friday night ended late. Players were scrambling all morning with SAT testing. And Saturday's game was scheduled for 4 p.m.

"No excuses, but we didn't have a routine today...We were all kind of late getting in," Moanalua coach Greg Tacon said. "Our rhythm was a little off, but we got some energy going when we substituted and got another group in."

Tacon was pleased with his team's half-court defense, but the press set the tone for Na Menehune.

"It's about energy for us and it creates the pace," Tacon said of the press."Even if we don't steal the ball, we want them to go a little more faster."

Although the regular season starts Tuesday, Na Menehune will be in three different tournaments this month. They play in the Academy of the Pacific Basketball Classic Dec. 9 to 11; the 'Iolani Prep Classic Dec. 16 to 21; and host the Na Menehune Holiday Classic Dec. 27 to 30. In between those tournaments are three regular season games.

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