LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High basketball program split its series against Kapa‘a High Saturday night during Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys basketball games at the Kaua‘i High School gym.
Rolling behind Josh Rego’s 13-point contribution, including a trio of bombs from outside the three-point arc, the junior varsity Red Raiders picked up a 48-29 win over the JV Warrior men, who got nine points from Reimel Camacho and eight points from Ty Kamoku.
Kala‘i Esteban added seven points, and Camren Holt-Ho finished with six points in the JV win.
The Kapa‘a varsity Warriors rallied behind a strong second half to take a 56-46 win over the varsity Red Raiders before a near-capacity audience at the Red Raider home.
“This was a classic tale of two halves,” said Kamahalo Kauhane, the Kapa‘a head coach. “Nothing rolled in for us in the first half. But it was a physically strong defensive effort. Our two forwards, Solomone Malafu and Epoki Tafea, were like animals. Kaua‘i had a strong point with Hekili Dizol. He was right in there, and everybody was pounding.”
Trailing 29-22 at the break, Kapa‘a sparked its comeback in the final two and a half minutes of the third quarter when Kala Rall ignited a flurry of points that included a three-ball from Mikey Questin to end the period with a 43-34 bulge.
Things did not get better for Kaua‘i when Dizol fouled out with more than five minutes remaining, and Kapa‘a held on for the win.
Questin poured in a game-high 22 points, including four three-pointers, Rall added 13 points, including his drive-triggering three-ball. Keaka Kauhane finished with 11 points, and Malafu added seven marks to lead the victory.
Mikey Manera led the Red Raider effort with 20 points, including a trey in the first quarter, and Cade Myers followed with 13 points, including three-balls in the first and final stanzas. Mareyon Cromartie was limited to just five points, being joined by Dizol, who marked his points in the second quarter.
Results of the KIF boys basketball game featuring Waimea visiting Island School were not available at press time.
With no losses to blemish its record, Kapa‘a will next host Waimea Tuesday at its home Bernice Hundley Gym. Kaua‘i will visit the Wilcox Gymnasium at Island School in Puhi.
The JV games tip off at 5:30 p.m. at both sites, with the varsity games to follow 20 minutes following the completion of the JV games.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
