KAPA‘A — The Kohala Cowboys survived three basketball games in less than three days to earn the title of the six-team basketball tournament hosted by the Kapa‘a High School basketball team. Makani Kuali‘i nailed nine of his game — total
KAPA‘A — The Kohala Cowboys survived three basketball games in less than three days to earn the title of the six-team basketball tournament hosted by the Kapa‘a High School basketball team.
Makani Kuali‘i nailed nine of his game — total 15 points in the second half as the Cowboys pulled ahead of the Warriors en route to winning the title, 59-46 in a physical, intense match at the Bernice Hundley gym.
Kohala, returning to the tournament for the second time, advanced to the title game after surviving a strong comeback by the Kaua‘i High School team, 51-49, Thursday.
With two of the Red Raiders benched by fouls in the third quarter of the physical matchup, guard Donavan Harrison posted 12 of his game-total 17 points in the final stanza, Kaua‘i outscoring the Cowboys 18-13 in the effort.
Kaua‘i finished in sixth place after dropping to Seabury Hall, 67-36 on the final day of the tournament played at Kapa‘a High School, Seabury of Maui getting 17 points, including four three-balls from Max DeLyon. Mikal Moranz set the pace for Kaua‘i with 11 points.
Christopher Rosburgh, the high-point Cowboy with 20 points in its win over Kaua‘i, was held to eight points in its win over Kapa‘a for the title.
Earlier in the tournament, Kohala overcame an 11-point halftime deficit against Waimea, Wednesday to post its first win in the 6-team basketball tournament.
Waimea, after dropping to Seabury, 49-42, Thursday, advanced to finish in third place after taking a 59-41 win over Kau High School of the Big Island.
Kaili Schumacher-Lagundino, setting the pace with 13 points, including two treys against Seabury, posted a sizzling 21 points against Kau for third place in the tournament. Brandon Palacio posted 14 points in the third place game.
Kapa‘a turned to the press to overcome a halftime deficit against Seabury, Wednesday, posted a 64-38 win over Kau, Thursday to advance to the finals, both the host Warriors and the Cowboys being undefeated in tourney play.
The Cowboys took a tentative lead from the onset, but Kapa‘a went to the press against the swarm defense of the black-and-gold, the torrid swarm defense being the key to Kohala’s win over Waimea.
But the Warrior press took its toll with three in foul trouble at the half and Kohala holding a two-point lead, 31-29, but Kapa‘a managing to tie the game twice before the lead slipped away.
During the second quarter, Kapa‘a got the hot hand from Lance Miyashiro who netted eight points in outscoring the Cowboys, 18-12 to pull to within a pair at the half.
A bad pass in the physical battle where one Cowboy fouled out in the third period pushed Kohala’s lead to six points, 35-29 at the 5:44 mark, the Cowboys finishing the stanza with a 13-8 offensive showing over Kapa‘a and continuing to outgun the Warriors 21-17 in the second half.
Willis Batol, the lead guard for Kapa‘a, fouled out in the final minute of play with 12 points to lead the Kapa‘a shooting followed by Miyashiro’s eight points and Kainoa Colipano lending seven points.
Hana Caravalho topped the Kohala scoring with 16 points followed by Makani Kuali‘i adding 15 points.
The Seabury Hall team also traveled with its girls team, the squad playing an add-on to the tournament and finishing 0-3 after Reggie McCabe led the Kapa‘a team to a 47-23 win, Friday morning.
Vakeesha Lagazo lit up the boards with 15 points to lead Waimea to a 46-26 final, Thursday, the Seabury team getting nine points from Tiana Camarillo.
The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation boys basketball season starts Jan. 4 when Kapa‘a’s junior varsity travels to Island School for a single 5:30 p.m. exhibition game while Waimea hosts Kaua‘i with the JV game tipping off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity game starting 20 minutes following the completion of the JV game.
