KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i High School boys basketball team could have walked off with the first round Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys basketball title in its gym bag on Saturday at Bernice Hundley Gym. Instead, the Red Raiders will be facing
KAPA‘A — The Kaua‘i High School boys basketball team could have walked off with the first round Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys basketball title in its gym bag on Saturday at Bernice Hundley Gym.
Instead, the Red Raiders will be facing Kapa‘a in a rematch, starting at 7 p.m. today at the Kaua‘i High School gym, the first-round title being on the line.
The Warriors, reeling from a 57-55 overtime loss to Waimea on Wednesday, capitalized on numerous Raider turnovers to take a solid 57-34 win before a good-sized hometown crowd Saturday night to force the playoffs.
Earlier in the evening, Kanai Thronas pocketed 10 points and Denmark Aladin added seven points to lead the Kapa‘a Junior Varsity to a 45-33 win over the Kaua‘i JV squad.
Jassem Cumlat, coming off a strong community program with the Papalina program, led the JV Raiders with a game-high 11 points, Tyler Fernandez adding six points.
Kainoa Colipano proved to be the driving force for the varsity Warriors, working not only in scoring, but key in rebounds, putbacks and defense in the paint.
Colipano, whose Saturday night performance was previewed in Waimea, Wednesday, opened with four of his game-high 16 points to headline the Kapa‘a offense with James Stevens, a JV upgrade who also posted four of his game-total six points.
Mikal Moranz, the Raiders’ tall man, was able to get off four of his game-total 13 points as Kapa‘a opened with a 13-4 first quarter lead and increased to 30-17 at the half.
“They’re turning the ball over too much,” said Ross Shimabukuro, the Kaua‘i athletic director, who watched the game progress, audibly counting out the Red Raider turnovers. “They’re giving them the game.”
With about five minutes remaining, Kaua‘i coach Ipo Yoshioka exchanged his floor with the bench, Aeron Inouye promptly launching a three-ball, the only one for Kaua‘i in the game.
The effort was late, Kaua‘i getting only one other basket from Donavan Harrison, finishing with five points, before the buzzer forced the three-way playoff.
The floor exchange moved Kapa‘a coach Phil Baclayon to do the same, Kala Kauhane capping the Warrior win with back-to-back buckets for his only four points of the game.
Colipano topped all scorers with 16 points followed by James Paik adding nine points, including two treys. Stevens finished with six first-half marks along with Willis Batol, who drained a three-ball for Kapa‘a in the second quarter.
Following Moranz who finished with 13 points for Kaua‘i, guard Kerwin Morano added six points, Harrison netted five and Ricky Tommy finished with four points.
With the Kapa‘a win, Waimea drew the bye on the opening round of the playoffs scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, the winner of the Monday game hosting Waimea on Tuesday.
However, the scenario is not that simple as Kapa‘a hosts Waimea in KIF girls basketball Tuesday while Kaua‘i hosts Island School on the same night.
“We’ll talk about it Monday night,” Kapa‘a Athletic Director Greg Gonsalves said.
“The important thing is there is a single game Monday at Kaua‘i High School starting at 7 p.m.”
