Kapa‘a falls to University in quarterfinals

LIHU‘E — The Kapa‘a Warriors boys basketball team, representing the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation as conference champions, was knocked out of the state tournament after a huge fourth quarter by University High School, Thursday.

The second day of action at the Hawaiian Airlines HHSAA Boys Basketball Championships was the first day on court for the Warriors, the No. 4 seed in the Division II bracket.

A 19-7 fourth quarter for University gave it plenty of separation in a game that had limited scoring to that point, as it moved past the Warriors with a 43-33 victory at Kaimuki High School on O‘ahu.

Kapa‘a (10-4) was led in scoring by Keane Agoot and Kainoa Colipano, who each finished with eight points. Agoot knocked down the team’s only 3-pointer.

Point guard Willis Batol scored six and Daniel Reis had three. Kevin Esteban, David Kanoho, Jude Cruz and Adam Clark had two points apiece to round out the Warrior effort.

University’s Gilherme Aires had a game-high 12 points, while Cameron Conant had 10. Benjamin Keller and Nalu O’Conner scored eight apiece, while Andrew Canencia and Ryan Alvarado had two points each. Makena Suan-Rothenborg completed the scoring with one.

Guard Daniel Reis was injured in the game and did not return. Bradley Coloma also suffered a first-half injury, which limited his availability the rest of the night.

The Warriors had the early advantage, taking an 8-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and was still ahead 14-11 at halftime.

But University (12-4) made its adjustments, one being a zone defense, and started putting up points much more frequently, scoring 13 in the third quarter. Despite being suddenly undermanned, the Warrior bench players helped keep them on top as the team still fought its way to a six-point lead in the third. Kapa‘a stayed with the quicker pace and led 26-24 heading into the fourth quarter.

Assistant coach John Kaneholani said the team was beginning to chase towards the end of the third quarter and the game began to slip away at that point.

University made its move in the final eight minutes, busting out for 19 points and limiting Kapa‘a to just seven.

With the team turning the ball over and passing up shots, Kaneholani said it appeared to have a lack of chemistry that reminded him of the first two games of the KIF season — both losses.

Despite some of those struggles, he said it was not that Kapa‘a was playing bad, but that University played better.

Kapa‘a was 2 for 8 from the foul line, while University was 12 for 30.

The loss sends Kapa‘a into the consolation bracket, where it will take on St. Joseph at 7 p.m. tonight at Kalani High School.

The four teams in the consolation bracket will play out to determine fifth place in Division II.

St. Joseph was knocked out by No. 1 seed Farrington, 40-33. Keke Williams led the top-seeded squad with 11 points. St. Joseph’s Sebastian Ohara-Saft scored 20 in the loss.

No. 2 seed Pahoa survived its bout with McKinley with a 68-64 overtime victory, led by Nicklas Fisher’s 17 points. Alex Ironside had a game-high 23 for McKinley.

Pahoa will face No. 3 seed Island Pacific in the semifinals, after IPA came back for a 55-51 win over Seabury Hall. Theo Duplechain led IPA with 18 points, while David Dunn scored 17 for Seabury Hall.

Division I

No. 1 seed ‘Iolani cruised in its quarterfinal win over Radford, 64-24. It advances to take on Kahuku, which knocked off No. 4 Lahainaluna, 66-56.

‘Iolani and Kahuku will tip at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Academy of the Pacific also pulled off an upset with a 51-50 overtime win over No. 2 seed Moanalua. Micah Dunhour had the game-winning jumper with 37 seconds left in OT for the win. He had 29 points on the night.

AOP moves on to face No. 3 Kamehameha-Big Island, an 80-51 winner over Kamehameha-Kapalama.

That game starts at 5 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

TGI photographer and staff writer Dennis Fujimoto contributed to this report.