Kapa’a takes its turn

t’s dog-eat-dog in KIF basketball as Warriors win, 63-62By NICK ABRAMO

TGI Sports Editor

LIHU’E — Come one, come all to the Kaua’i

Interscholastic Federation basketball circus where there is a winner every

night.

It was Kapa’a’s turn on Tuesday night. The Warriors nipped the

Kaua’i Red Raiders 63-62 in yet another game that went down to the

wire.

All three KIF teams are now 1-1 in second round games thus far, and

all three teams are still very much alive in the title chase.

Compared to

the other KIF games this season, it was a high-scoring affair.

Both teams

were running — and huffing and puffing and sweating — and scoring.

Brad

Lum-Tucker kept his high-scoring tear intact with 25 Red Raider points. But it

wasn’t enough at the end. Lum-Tucker’s three-point attempt at the buzzer missed

as the Warriors erupted in celebration on the Raiders’ home court.

The lead

shifted back and forth all night long, leading to a hotly contested fourth

quarter.

Kaua’i’s Jason Kashiwabara scored from underneath the hoop with

1:20 left in the game to knot it up at 60-60 and Lum-Tucker put the Raiders

ahead 62-60 with two free throws.

Kapa’a’s Willy Carollo hit one from the

charity stripe to make it 62-61 before both teams were called for critical

back-court violations.

The Raiders had possession, but Kapu Hendrickson

busted in for a steal and passed to Justin Matsukawa for an apparent go-ahead

lay-up. Hendrickson, though, was fouled on the play, and he went to the line to

promptly make both shots for the 63-62 Kapa’a lead with 27.9 seconds to

go.

Lum-Tucker’s 15-foot attempt missed and Kapa’a’s Kekoa Chun hauled in

the rebound. Chun two shots from the line missed, giving Kaua’i another shot at

overtaking the lead.

This time down the court, Kaua’i’s R-Jay Pillos fired

up a 17-footer and Carollo cradled the rebound. A Raider quickly grabbed at the

ball, leading to a jump-ball call, and possession went to Kaua’i with 5 ticks

left.

The in-bounds pass went smoothly, and the Raiders pushed it over to

Lum-Tucker — who has proven himself in clutch situations countless times —

but the shot was too long.

The game marked the return of strong inside play

from Kapa’a’s Chun who ended with 18 points.

Hendrickson, the Warriors’

floor leader, added 14 points. John Patch collected 11 and Justin Matsukawa

finished with 10.

Mason Ceria had a hot hand again for Kaua’i, notching 11

points, while Lionel Tomacder added eight.

Overall, Kaua’i is 4-2 and

Kapa’a is 3-3.

Kapa’a visits Waimea (2-4) Friday night.