LIHU‘E — It was run and gun versus run and gun at the Raiderdome last night, as the Hilo Vikings edged the Red Raiders, 74-71 in high school pre-season action. Led by Aukai Wong’s 34 points, the Vikings utilized their
LIHU‘E — It was run and gun versus run and gun at the Raiderdome last night, as the Hilo Vikings edged the Red Raiders, 74-71 in high school pre-season action.
Led by Aukai Wong’s 34 points, the Vikings utilized their trademark full-court press to generate a chunk of their points.
Hilo started the game up 10-5 and ended the first quarter ahead, 13-9.
Kaua‘i fought back with help from seniors Futi Tavana and Jeremy Manuel.
At the half, the Red Raiders held at 34-32 advantage.
Kaua‘i’s Josh Bradbury got off to a hot start at the start of the third period, ringing off seven straight points, which gave the Red Raiders a commanding 43-34 lead.
But Hilo’s Wong put up two straight trifectas to put his team back in the hunt. At the end of three, Kaua‘i led 57-53.
In the fourth, Wong knotted the score up at 53 thanks to a three-point conversion and a free-throw make.
Tavana and Manuel answered the challenge for the Red Raiders, but in the end it was Wong with the last laugh, as his team held on for the win.
Manuel’s three-point attempt with under 10 seconds to go rimmed out and the game then turned into a charity stripe contest, where Hilo nailed the coffin.
The Red Raiders were led by Manuel, who netted 22 points. He was followed by Bradbury with 13 points and Tavana ended up with 12 points on the night.
