LIHU‘E — Sean Shigematsu finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots, Duke Pauli had nine rebounds and sunk two key fourth-quarter free throws to seal the win as the Kapa‘a High School boys basketball team
LIHU‘E — Sean Shigematsu finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots, Duke Pauli had nine rebounds and sunk two key fourth-quarter free throws to seal the win as the Kapa‘a High School boys basketball team takes Round 1 with a 49-45 victory over rivals Kaua‘i High School.
Kekoa Prem finished with 13 points and two steals. Kekoa Colipano added 10 points.
Kapa‘a was up 8-0 in the first quarter before Kaua‘i finally got a pair of points from Kaleo Cummings. Cummings, a Kapa‘a transfer who played in the Red Raiders opening game but was forced to sit out the next two due to questions about his eligibility, returned to the court last night to help lead Kaua‘i.
But Kaua‘i got the ball stolen four times in the first quarter, each time resulting in points for Kapa‘a.
A Niko Chow tip also caused a Kapa‘a turnover resulting in Cummings closing the gap.
Kapa‘a held the lead throughout the half all except once when Teila Huni snagged a rebound and banked it to bring Kaua‘i within a point at 25-24. A Kapa‘a turnover put the hands into Davone Florence who scored with 12 seconds left to give Kaua‘i (1-3) its first, and later only, lead of the night at 26-25.
A foul on Thomas Gausepohl with 4 seconds left sent him to the line. Despite the miss, Shigematsu got the rebound and beat the buzzer to score and put the Warriors (3-1) back into the lead heading into the break, 27-26.
Florence finished with 13 points and two rebounds. Cummings finished with 12 points — 10 of which were all in the first half. Kapa‘a held him to only two second half points. Huni finished with five points and six rebounds. Austin Simao added six points and four rebounds.
Kaua‘i got close so many times, playing it down to the wire. The Raiders trailed by only a point with a minute left in regulation. With the clock winding down to 33.8 seconds, Kaua‘i fouled Colipano sending him to the line. He missed, but Pauli was there for the rebound. Colipano was fouled again, having shaved just a few seconds off. Colipano made the second of the two shots to go up 47-45 with 22 seconds to go.
Florence went for the tie at 9 seconds left, but missed and the rebound was picked up again by Pauli. Fouled and sent to line for the second time of the night, and made both for the win.
Round 2 will start on Feb. 4
Junior varsity:
Kaua‘i 70, Kapa‘a 49
Kaua‘i got it’s fourth win in a row, defeating Kapa‘a 70-49. The Raiders were led by Willis Batol who finished with 23 points.
Kapa‘a was led by Bradley Coloma who also finished with 23 points.
