LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i High boys basketball team utilized the full four extra minutes to get past Kapa‘a High, 79-75 on Tuesday during a Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys basketball playoff game waged before a standing-room-only crowd at Kaua‘i High gym.
The Kaua‘i High win gives the KIF first round title to the Red Raiders, who stayed close to the Warriors throughout the night, and stayed away from the trouble trap being teased by the Kapa‘a squad.
Kapa‘a high-pointer Keaka Kauhane, finishing the contest with a high 19 points for Kapa‘a, was high contributor for the overtime period with five marks, including his only trey in the contest.
The Raiders matched that with two of its players — Isaac Mirey and Cade Myers — who dropped the game-winning charity pair, notching four points apiece. Syrus Delos Reyes, who finished as high pointer for Kaua‘i High, added three points in overtime.
Coming from a 38-31 halftime deficit, the Raiders copped their first lead of the contest when Joshua Rego, finishing with 11 points, including a fourth-quarter trey, dropped both ends of a one-and-one with 6:33 showing on the regulation game clock.
Kapa‘a battled back to knot the contest 59-59 with 4:47 showing on a Mikey Questin assist to Braxton Brooks. That was the last big play for Questin, who finished with a game-high 21 points for Kapa‘a, including a third-quarter trey, and a 14-point contribution in the first quarter where Kapa‘a pulled off a 26-20 frame.
Questin later hobbled to the sidelines and went down, attracting the corps of athletic trainers.
Reimel Camacho, one of Kapa‘a leading scorers, who put in 17 points before fouling out, put the Warrior edge to 64-61 with the clock ticking at 3:35. Following fruitless turnover exchanges, a Noah Louis bucket and Delos Reyes score had Kaua‘i High chasing one, 64-63, as the clock broke the two minute mark.
With 1:21 showing, Kapa‘a deadlocked the contest, 66-66, but retained possession. A turnover to the Raiders forced the overtime play, where two of the Warrior floor leaders were sidelined.
The same two teams go at it again on Thursday when the KIF starts round 2 with Kaua‘i High traveling to Bernice Hundley Gym to face the Warriors. Waimea High makes the trip to the Wilcox Gymnasium to take on Island School in Puhi. The junior varsity contests at both sites start at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity contest tipping off 20 minutes following the JV game.
