Three-pointers light up Kapa‘a

KAPA‘A — Fireworks lit up the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapa‘a as Jordan Cox finished with 16 points to lead Kaua‘i to a 68-63 win over an unrelenting Kapa‘a squad last night.

Bombs from beyond the three-point arc provided the firepower as Cox launched a pair in his scoring, but Bradley Semana rocketed three in the first half as Kaua‘i finished with a total of eight buckets from three-pointland.

Not to be outdone, Kapa‘a, strong and controlling in their loss, launched their own barrage from the outside with Kekoa Prem notching three of the Warriors’ six three-pointers.

Kapa‘a took an early lead, capitalizing on empty Raider shots. Buckets from Halem Medina and Matt Lindsey built a 4-point margin before Kaua‘i started launching the bombs.

A trey from Tyrus Ceria-Lux pulled Kaua‘i back in 4-3, and another from Justin Ramos pulled the Raiders ahead 10-11.

Kapa‘a outgunned Kaua‘i 22-18 in the second period to pull to a 33-33 halftime deadlock on a Prem bucket in the final minute of the quarter.

Kaua‘i could not miss in the third period and despite that firing streak, Kapa‘a stayed close until time ran out.

Besides Cox, Kaua‘i got 12-point performances from Ramos and Basil Walton, 9-point finishes from Travis Stine, who fouled out with 4:23 showing, and Semana.

Prem finished with a game-high 17 points to lead Kapa‘a followed by Daniel Lizama adding 14 points to the effort.

With the win, Kaua‘i holds runner-up position in the round with a 1-1 standing. Kapa‘a, 0-2, will attempt to get that elusive “W” Friday night when Waimea, whose entire squad and coaching contingent watched, comes back to the Bernice Hundley Gym.

Tipoff for the JV game is 5:30 p.m. with the varsity contest to follow 20 minutes following the completion of the JV matchup.

Anahola Joel Pahukula will provide play-by-play broadcast of the varsity contest on KQNG Am570.