Kauai boys lose to Saint Francis 71-61

HONOLULU – Kauai High School’s boys basketball team lost to Saint Francis 71-61 in the consolation semifinal of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state tournament on Friday.

Kauai was in a 13-0 hole at the beginning of the first period and wasn’t able to dig itself out.

“These are a great bunch of kids and they played hard from beginning to end,” said Red Raiders head coach Ipo Yoshioka. “Can’t take anything away from these kids. Yeah, we’re 0-2 and we’re out, but they’re winners.  They represented (well).”

Saint Francis was last season’s state champion and was seeded No. 1 going into this year’s tournament.

The Saints, representing the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, lost to Kalani High during the first round.

“Tonight, the No. 1 seeded Saint Francis, they played their hearts out,” Yoshioka said. “We hung in there basically the whole game … You got to learn from it and keep building on it.”

Red Raider junior guard Michael Booth said the trip was a positive experience despite not coming away with a win.

“A loss is a loss, and it sucks. Saint Francis is a really good team,” he said. “This is pretty much just an experience. We hope to be back next year.”

He added the team’s struggle with rebounding was a factor in the loss.

Booth scored 13 points in the game. Kauai’s leading scorer was junior guard Jassem Cumlat with 19.

Senior forward Devan Ferreira hit a three-pointer as time ran out. His teammates and Kauai supporters in the crowd cheered as the final buzzer sounded in the Kaimuki High School gym.

Ferreira said he practiced three-point shooting every day and is glad he was able to make one before the season ended.

“We planned it whole season. Just didn’t have the chance and it finally (happened),” he said.

“We just wanted to try our best going up against the (Division II) state champs,” Ferreira added. “We had and it showed on the court.”