LIHUE — Kauai High School boys basketball split against Waimea, and Kapaa boys basketball outgunned Island School on Thursday night to open the Kauai Interscholastic Federation boys basketball season at the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea, and the Wilcox Gymnasium on the Island School campus.
The Junior Varsity matchup saw Waimea edge Kauai, 41-37 behind Noah De La Pena dropping 13 points, including treys in the first and fourth quarters. Titus Daligcon dropped a three-ball in the fourth quarter en route to finishing with 10 points toward the JV win.
Kauai High School JV’s Jose Mikemund finished with a game-high 20 points, including a pair of third quarter treys, to lead the JV Red Raiders’ efforts.
Continuing the effort at the Clem Gomes Gym, the varsity Red Raiders roared back with a 60-30 victory over the Menehune behind a game-high 22 points bucketed by Camren Holt-Ho that included treys launched in the second and fourth stanzas.
Kauai got off to a fast start and finished the night by scoring double digits in all four quarters. Red Raider Barkley Gilman set the pace early when he marked six points toward the Raiders’ 20-7 production in the opening frame.
Reese Jenkins finished with four marks in the opening frame, and exploded for nine second-half marks for a game total 13 points, including a third quarter trey that counted toward his seven-point contribution in the frame.
Mykah Brun and Brayden Mira set the pace for the Menehune effort with each player finishing with six points apiece, followed by Mar Ruiz contributing five points. Vincent Lizzio finished with four points.
Over at the Wilcox Gymnasium, the Voyagers’ 8-player roster was smothered by the Warriors who posted 12 players on its roster.
In response to the deficit, the Voyagers went to the three-ball, firing eight bombs that was answered by the Warriors launching nine of its own distance shots.
Lucas Summerhays finished with a game-high 22 points, including four treys — three coming in the second half — set the pace for the Voyagers. Orion Magaoay followed with seven points, including a three-ball, and Garrett Hadley and Matt Dobashi each marked six points — all treys.
Kapaa’s victory came from the balanced attack of Reimel Camacho and Austin Green, including Camacho’s third quarter three-ball, and Green’s trio of treys. AJ Johnson followed with 10 points and a good share of boards, and Emry Piturachbatit added a trio of treys. Shayden Mandel and CJ Jenkins each bucketed six points.
Boys basketball action continues on Saturday when the Menehune take a trip to the Bernice Hundley Gym to face the Warriors, and Kauai High School visits the Wilcox Gymnasium to face the Voyagers.
The JV game at Kapaa tips off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity contest tipping off 20 minutes following the JV contest. Over at the Wilcox Gymnasium, the varsity match tips off starting at 6:30 p.m.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
