No. 5 Punahou got the better of Kamehameha in most aspects of Friday night’s Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys basketball postseason tournament championship game.
The Buffanblu outmuscled and outhustled the Warriors at Hemmeter Fieldhouse, but the place where it hurt the most was 3-point land. Punahou (9-5) shot 8-for-16 from beyond the arc and ran away for a 64-49 victory that clinched an all-important state-tournament berth. Kamehameha (8-6), which is tied with the Buffanblu at No. 5 in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Top 10, watched its season come to an end.
“We were pretty hot (shooting) today and it helped out,” said Buffanblu coach Darren Matsuda, whose team will play regular-season winner ‘Iolani today for the overall league championship and a seed in the states. “And for my young team that was really nice to see how focused they can be and how mature they can be.”
With a strong ending to the first quarter and a fast start to the second, Punahou turned a 17-7 deficit into a 28-20 halftime lead. The inside work of Akahi Troske and Duke Clemens, and the inspired passing of Cole Arceneaux and Zayne Chong paved the way in pulling ahead.
In the third quarter, Chris Kobayashi lit up the scoreboard with two straight 3-point bombs on quick, efficient tosses from Arceneaux, who — when he’s in the game — controls the pace with his speed and ballhandling ability. Cole Mausolf and Chong added treys soon after, and the Buffanblu were in complete command at 42-27.
“We started the season off going 1-4 and we matured as a team and have started to play like we should play and as a family,” Arceneaux said. “That’s something we preach every day at practice — we’ve got to play like a family. We’re not going to have a guy come out and score 28 points a game. We’ve just got to do it as a family.”
The Warriors got within six points, 47-41, thanks to 3-pointers by Jayden Zarriello and Kaeler Kahana, and a baseline drive by Saint Gelacio midway through the final quarter. But Troske’s drive on an Arceneaux dish, Chong’s 3-pointer from the corner and a 12-foot Kobayashi jumper stymied that comeback attempt and built the Punahou lead back to 54-41 with four minutes left. The Buffanblu had no trouble closing it out from there.
“We fell short and there’s nothing we can do about it now,” the Warriors’ Zarriello said. “Lack of concentration. Sometimes we’re not aware of the shooter and we should have been out there on them more. Sometimes things don’t go your way.”
Kahana had a game-high 16 points for Kamehameha. Kobayashi finished with a team-high 11 points for the Buffanblu and Troske added 10.
“Punahou played their absolute best tonight and I don’t think we matched them,” Warriors coach Greg Tacon said. “My guys are devastated, but only two teams from our league make it.
“We started off so well. We were up 17-7, and next thing you know, they go on a 21-3 run the rest of the half. They shot the ball so well. Darren’s done such a great job with changing how they play.
“In the preseason, they were shooting 3 after 3. Now, and having Troske back sure helps, they’ve established some post play, so now you have to worry about that. He kicks it out to open shooters, not just open shooters, but good open shooters.”
ILH DIVISION I TOURNAMENT
No. 5 Punahou 64, No. 5 Kamehameha 49
| At Punahou |
| Kamehameha |
17 |
3 |
12 |
17 |
— |
49 |
| Punahou |
12 |
16 |
14 |
22 |
— |
64 |
KAMEHAMEHA–Jayden Zarriello 8, Kamren Victorino-Kato 3, Saint Gelacio 2, Noah Gelacio 4, Fatu Sua-Godinet 5, Peter Hanohano-Hashimoto 0, Kobe Young 7, Kaeler Kahana 16, Pono Arias 2, Nakoa Pauole 2, Andrew Aleki 0.
PUNAHOU–Cole Arceneaux 7, Zayne Chong 6, Hunter Hosoda 2, Maninoa Tufono 0, Kyle Yoshino 0, Hunter Lee 2, Christopher Kobayashi 11, ‘Akahi Troske 10, Cole Mausolf 6, Kaulana Makaula 5, Jack-Eli Thompson-Tufono 2, Jared Lum 4, Tamatoa Falatea 3, Duke Clemens 4, Falcon Kaumatule 2.
3-point goals – Kamehameha 5 (Zariello 2, Kahana 2, Victorin-Kato). Punahou 8 (Kobayashi 3, Chong 2, Mausolf 2, Falatea).
Also
ILH Division I-AA Punahou II 54, ‘Iolani II 51
