KAPAA — The Kapaa Warriors worked hard in both junior varsity and varsity boys basketball Tuesday during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation boys basketball games before a large contingent of fans at the Bernice Hundley Gym in Kapaa.
The effort on both fronts came up short as the Kauai High School JV claimed a 44-37 edge, and the Red Raider varsity surged to a 67-56 margin.
Over at the Wilcox Gymnasium, the Menehune JV claimed a 62-28 victory over the Kauai Christian Academy in an exhibition contest, and the varsity Menehune were a 74-50 winner over the Island School Voyagers in a varsity matchup.
During the exhibition JV contest, no fewer than nine JV Menehune touched the ball. Kali Thundah led the blueshirts with 10 points, including a pair of treys, and Brix Padren finished with 10 points.
Jed Van Zee finished with a game-high 14 points for the KCA.
On the varsity court, Rhenz Punzalan exploded for 18 second-half points, including four bombs from long distance. Daniel Kaohelaulii-Kala fueled the Menehune scoring with 17 points followed by Vincent Lizzio adding 15 points, including a trio of treys.
Garrett Hadley finished with a game-high 23 points followed by Lucas Summerhays marking 11 points, and Rocco Sand adding seven points, six dropping in the second half.
At the Bernice Hundley, Kauai JV’s Jose Mikemund set the pace for the Kauai win with 15 points. Julian Deleon followed with 10 points.
Kapaa JV’s Naki Tuulangavalu finished with 12 points in the effort. Kaisen Yanos ended with nine points, including a pair of threeballs.
The next KIF boys basketball games take place on Friday when Kauai meets Waimea at the Clem Gomes Gym, and Kapaa meets Island School at the Wilcox Gymnasium.
The JV contest tips off at 5:30 p.m. at the Clem Gomes Gym followed by the varsity game starting 20 minutes following the end of the JV game. There is a single contest at the Wilcox Gymnasium with a 6:30 p.m. start.
Trailing by four points at the break, Kapaa varsity charged back with a 17-15 third quarter to leave a 2-point gap at the buzzer. So close. The lead see-sawed through the final stanza until the final two minutes of play when the Kauai redshirts enjoyed a scoring flurry to a 10-point margin.
AJ Johnson fired the Warrior ranks with 14 points before fouling out with about four minutes showing on the clock, and Austin Green launched a pair of long distance bombs toward his game-total 13 points.
Kauai’s Reese Jenkins finished with a game-high 21 points, including 11 points in the final quarter where Kauai ran away with a 22-13 run. Camren Holt-Ho finished with 15 points, and Barkley Gilman came off the bench for 13 second-half marks. Kanaloa Yasutake finished with 11 points.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
