LIHU‘E — Four points in the final 24 seconds proved to be the deciding factor in the 49-46 win in Kapa‘a’s win Monday night at the Kaua‘i High School gym. Makana Aki, scoring all of his four points in the
LIHU‘E — Four points in the final 24 seconds proved to be the deciding factor in the 49-46 win in Kapa‘a’s win Monday night at the Kaua‘i High School gym.
Makana Aki, scoring all of his four points in the final period, tied the contest, 45-45 with 43 ticks remaining, dropping both ends of a charity pair.
Then, with 24 seconds showing, Aki netted his second game pair, dropping a bucket from in the paint for the 47-46 go-ahead.
Lance Miyashiro, copping high score honors for the victorious Warriors with 16 points, iced the win with a charity pair in the final ticks for the 49-46 win.
In his performance, Miyashiro fired off two three-point bombs, including his first which pulled Kapa‘a into its first tie, 5-5, in the opening stanza.
Playing before a vocal supportive audience for both teams, Miyashiro went on to drop his second three-point bomb in the final stanza when Kapa‘a outscored Kaua‘i, 16-13, Miyashiro firing seven of the Kapa‘a points.
Kapa‘a opened in the chase, but a late-quarter bucket from James Paik pulled the Warriors ahead 8-7 after the first period.
Fumbling through turnovers, Kapa‘a recovered in the second period, fueled by Miyashiro dropping a pair of field goals and Daniel Reis igniting the crowd with his trey for the 22-21 bulge at the half, both teams netting 14 points in the frame.
Kaua‘i got the momentum on its side, ignited when guard Jassem Cumlat netted a three-ball, his first of two in the night, and Archie Vallatini fired off a pair of long distance buckets to lead the Red Raiders to a 12-11 third quarter, the scoreboard reading 33-33 at the end of three quarters of play.
Cumlat topped the Kaua‘i scoring with a 12 points, including a pair from outside the three-point arc, but dropped just a pair from the foul line on seven tries.
Overall, Kaua‘i finished with seven points on 17 tries at the free throw while Kapa‘a was nine-for-16 tries on the line.
Following Cumlat, guard Kerwin Morano dropped eight points along with Mikal Moranz. Vallatini finished with six points, all coming in the second half from the outside. Angelo Ramento scored six points, and Kalawaia Judd, invaluable in the paint for boards and a strong throw-in, added five points. Kelson Andrade rounded out the math with a digit.
Following Miyashiro’s lead, Kapa‘a got 11 points from James Paik, including a three-ball in the final frame, and he finished two-for-three at the line. Morean Clemente, James Stevens and Reis each pocketed four points. Kana‘i Kahoonei-Thronas added three, Brison Nacapuy had a third-period pair and a digit from Marlon Cudiamat figured in the win.
With the win, Kapa‘a, the defending Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation champions, claim Round 1.
Round 2 starts Wednesday when Kaua‘i travels to Waimea with the Junior Varsity tipping off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity starting approximately 20 minutes following the completion of the JV game.
