Moanalua’s hot starts out of the locker room spurred Na Menehune to a 52-37 win over Kaimuki to open the OIA East schedule on Thursday.
No. 8 Moanalua shot 68 percent from the field in the first and third quarters, including an 8-for-9 performance coming out of halftime, to build a 20-point lead going into the final period. Na Menehune then withstood a charge from the Bulldogs to close out the victory.
"That’s probably our biggest hurdle to get over this whole preseason, just making shots," Moanalua coach Greg Tacon said. "We’ll see if we can carry that over."
Moanalua outscored the Bulldogs 32-12 in the first and third periods combined and shot 59 percent for the game. Guard Jamaal Willis led Na Menehine with 15 points and forward Eliet Donley provided production in the post in the second half, scoring nine of his 11 points after halftime.
Willis, a speedy junior, had 10 points in the first half, scoring in transition off rebounds or turnovers and on quick drives to the basket.
"I just think they were really extended in their zone so it gave us opportunities around the basket and we had some run-outs and that helped," Tacon said. "If we can get some defensive rebounds, we have some fast guards who can get up and down the court so if we can extend the floor that way we’ll try.
"(Willis) got some long rebounds and some perimeter steals that allowed him to get out there and he’s really fast so he finished and that’s really important."
Kaimuki guard Jaypee Unabia hit four 3-pointers and scored seven of his game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs chopped a 20-point deficit to nine with 3:22 left in the game.
But after Kaimuki’s 14-3 run to open the period, Moanalua guard Kahanu Pu‘ulei-Alud scored on a layup off an inbound play from the sideline to push the lead back to double digits and Na Menehune held the Bulldogs scoreless the rest of the way.
"For us I just keep telling them to fight and stay positive," Kaimuki coach Brandon Young said. "Moanalua’s a really good team, they run their offense really well."
"They knocked down some 3s and teams that like to shoots 3s can get back into the game," Tacon said.
"It’s a matter of finding shooters. That’s the way a lot of teams in our league like to play, they like to find guys open behind the arc. It’ll be a good film for us to watch."
Moanalua will travel to Kalaheo on Saturday for a key early-season meeting with the Mustangs.
The matchup will test both teams’ preparation through challenging preseason schedules. Moanalua came out of the preseason at 7-6. Included among the losses were defeats to Findlay Prep (Nev.), the nation’s top ranked team, two to Kamehameha and tight games with ‘Iolani and Hilo.
"Our losses were against legitimate good teams and our wins were against good teams so we’re fine with where we’re at," Tacon said.
At Moanalua
Kaimuki (0-1) 6 11 6 14 — 37
Moanalua (1-0) 16 11 16 9 — 52
KAIMUKI—Kency Owens 0, Zachary Bastatas 7, AJ Kamanao 0, Kenny Fujioka 0, Hunter Young 8, Tai Boyd 2, Jaypee Unabia 16, Daniel Uikiriti 4.
MOANALUA—Jon-Michael Sharsh 0, Ola Brown 4, Reyn Okimoto 0, Eli Badua 0, Kahanu Pu’ulei-Alud 8, Aljohn Bumanglag 0, Jamaal Willis 15, Antoine Hines 3, Justin Hudcovic 4, Eliet Donley 11, Alaziar Torres 0, Aaron Stuart 5, Austin Failauga 2.
3-point goals—Kaimuki 5 (Unabia 4, Bastatas). Moanalua 2 (Willis, Hines).
Junior varsity—Moanalua 53, Kaimuki 36.
