Sticking perfectly with their on-again, off-again script, the OIA champs are done.
The executioners, the unseeded Campbell Sabers, started strong and fought off second-seeded Farrington 51-45 in the Division I quarterfinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Basketball Championships on Thursday night at McKinley.
Now, the Sabers (13-2) want to keep their strong postseason push going in the semifinals Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center against ‘Iolani.
"We let ’em get away the first time," said Campbell coach Wyatt Tau, referring to a 60-55 home loss to the Governors in the OIA quarterfinals.
"We wanted to correct our mistakes this time, taking good shots, high-percentage shots, not getting caught up in the run and gun. That’s Farrington’s game, not ours. We got caught up in it a little, but came back and corrected it."
Aside from an early 10-2 Campbell lead, the game remained close the rest of the way. The Govs (11-5), who fluctuated between the top and bottom tiers of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Top 10 all season, led 26-25 at the half.
In the high-energy third quarter, there were five lead changes, and it ended with Jomar Gapusan’s 3-pointer from the wing for a 36-34 Campbell lead.
The Sabers never gave up the advantage, although Farrington remained right on their heels. After Michael Merchant sped in for a layup on an inbounds pass from Jayce Bantolina to make it 45-41, Campbell’s 6-foot-7 center David Marrero hauled in two huge defensive rebounds.
From there, Campbell ran an effective four-corners stall with about 2:50 left. With 56 seconds to go, Farrington’s Ranan Mamiya missed two and the Governors still trailed by four, 47-43.
Campbell sealed it by going 4-for-4 from the stripe.
"We beat them twice (once in the preseason)," Farrington coach Alan Silva said. "It’s hard to beat a team three times. Offensively, we didn’t play as well as we could have. We didn’t make a lot of easy shots. We had a great year, back-to-back OIA championships. Farrington had never done that."
Merchant, who connected on three 3-pointers in the first quarter, finished with 22 points, and Marrero delivered eight points and 12 rebounds.
Lamart Dudley and Bantolina also had huge performances for Campbell. Dudley grabbed 10 rebounds and scored all 10 of his points in the pivotal fourth quarter. Bantolina had eight assists.
"This is amazing, a great team win," Marrero said. "We wanted to beat them more than anything else. Now we want to make it to the final on Saturday more than anything else. We knew it was going to be a physical game and the coaches made sure we were ready to come in and fight."
Mamiya scored 16 points and Jake Smith added 14 with four assists for Farrington. The Govs’ Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo suffered a cut on his chin when he took a charge against Bantolina that required medical attention twice, and he scored 10 points with six rebounds.
At McKinley |
CAMPBELL |
14 |
11 |
11 |
15 |
— |
51 |
FARRINGTON |
6 |
20 |
8 |
11 |
— |
45 |
CAMPBELL–Lamart Dudley 10, David Marrero 8, Jomar Jett Gapusan 5, Michael Merchant 22, Jayce Bantolina 2, MeShack Leapaga 2, Alika Bantolina 2, Isaiah Gibson 0.
FARRINGTON–Bryson Tatupu-Leopoldo 10, Kaohu Kealoha 2, Ranan Mamiya 16, Tuamasaga Unutoa 0, Jacob Smith 14, Nicholle Selga 0, Makana Correia 0, Jay-ar Sebastian 0, Bernard Dela Cruz 2, Kapono Kakalia 0, Montana Liana 1.
3-point goals–Campbell 5 (Merchant 4, Gapusan). Farrington 1 (Mamiya).
‘Iolani 44, Lahainaluna 34
The Raiders broke open a close game with two key inside drives by Robby Mann and Zach Gelacio for an 11-point, 37-26, lead with 5:32 remaining and they held off the Lunas the rest of the way to advance to the semifinals against Campbell.
The Lunas held some small leads in the first half, but couldn’t hold them.
"’Iolani is such a disciplined team," Lahainaluna coach Jason Justus said. "They’re really hard to rattle and it’s hard to get under their skin. We played flat. It was a rough night. It happens."
Hugh Hogland’s flying dunk highlighted the early going for ‘Iolani, which held a 26-22 lead at halftime.
"Tonight’s win was huge against a great Lahainaluna team," said the sweat-drenched, 6-foot-8 Hogland, who had eight points, nine rebounds and three blocks. "They’ve got some really good bigs. We’ve got Campbell (on Friday), a team we have a lot of respect for, at the Sheriff, in such a great atmosphere and we’ve got to keep playing ‘Iolani basketball to beat them."
Erik Yamada scored 13 points for the unseeded Raiders (10-4) and Gelacio added 10.
At McKinley |
‘IOLANI |
8 |
18 |
7 |
11 |
— |
44 |
LAHAINALUNA |
14 |
8 |
4 |
8 |
— |
34 |
‘IOLANI–Robby Mann 9, Kamu Borden 2, Zach Gelacio 10, Bryson Hamada 0, Erik Yamada 13, Helam Baldomero 0, Justin Genovia 0, Nick Kennedy 0, Shane Lay 0, John Lee 0, Pikai Winchester 2, Cameron Chang 0, Hugh Hogland 8.
LAHAINALUNA–Cyrus Kama 8, Ryan Madera 4, Marvin Sidon 6, Josh Chapital 10, Renzo Corpuz 0, Carver Locke 2, Kevin Lammer 2, Kalalani Kaaikala 2, Zac Carlton 0, Gage Johnson 0.
3-point goals–‘Iolani 4 (Gelacio 2, Mann, Yamada). Lahainaluna 3 (Sidon 2, Chapital).
Consolation
Leilehua 39, Kamehameha-Hawaii 35
At McKinley |
LEILEHUA |
11 |
6 |
14 |
8 |
— |
39 |
KS-HAWAII |
7 |
8 |
7 |
13 |
— |
35 |
LEILEHUA–Jayeson Baine 0, Nicholas Duran 2, Koa Kauhi 10, Anterrio Gainwell 6, Joseph Gouty 8, Jarron Kim-Raguirag 4, Liam Fitzgerald 0, David Tibayan 9.
KS-HAWAII–Micah Kanehailua 0, Pukana Vincent 14, Dayson Alip 2, Ka’eo Batacan 6, Bayley-Allen Manliguis 2, Makana Fong 0, David Kalili 0, Kavaia Vera 0, Ola Calip 2, Solomon Escalante 2, Cody Cook 2, Samuel Kahapea 0, Solomon Kia 5, Isaiah Ignacio 0.
3-point goals–Leilehua 2 (Gainwell 2). KS-Hawaii 2 (Vincent 2).
HHSAA Division II Boys
Kaiser 61, Damien 58
The Cougars made 13 more free throws than their opponents and received 19 points and 12 rebounds from Chance Kalaugher en route to a come-from-behind victory over the Monarchs.
Kapiina King led Damien with a game-high 26 points and also hauled in 10 rebounds.
Kaiser led 16-8 after the first period, but trailed 40-39 entering the final period.
At Kalani |
DAMIEN |
8 |
16 |
16 |
18 |
— |
58 |
KAISER |
16 |
13 |
10 |
22 |
— |
61 |
DAMIEN–Crummel Mooring 0, Ernie Kornya IV 0, Kobe Ikari 10, Malik Adeniji 2, Storm Maldonado 0, Reggie Luinoras 4, Kapiina King 26, Rocklen Mori 5, Brandon Galang 2, Shaun Apiki 9.
KAISER–Keoua Mahiko 15, Kelsey Lewis 10, Jalen Pinks 1, Isaiah Lundell 6, Isaiah Akiona 2, Nic Tom 8, Jonah Chinen 0, Brayden Nueku 0, Chance Kalaugher 19.
3-point goals–Damien 1 (Ikari). Kaiser 5 (Lewis 2, Mahiko 2, Kalaugher).
Hawaii Baptist 57, Kauai 45
Isaac Liva finished with 19 points and 17 rebounds and BJ Hosaka added 13 points as the Eagles beat the Red Raiders.
At Farrington |
KAUAI |
7 |
11 |
12 |
15 |
— |
45 |
HAWAII BAPTIST |
9 |
8 |
16 |
24 |
— |
57 |
KAUAI–Charvis Garma 0, Jassem Cumlat 13, Michael Booth 4, Camren Henry 0, Melsin Tingzon 4, Kelvin Ganotisi 0, Kaone Miguel 1, Lanakila Wilson 3, Tyler Fernandez 0, Josaiah Coatie 20, Braden Armstrong 0, Solomone Manupule 0, Inok Lautej Jr. 0, Kekoa Tecson-Kalani Jr. 0.
HAWAII BAPTIST–Michael Dang 7, BJ Hosaka 13, Micah Mitchell 9, Ty Minatoya 5, Isaac Liva 19, Matthew Sakai 0, Tanner Miyoi 0, Kellen Takatsuka 0, Brandon Hirokawa 0, Danton Tominaga 4, Preston Thiede 0.
3-point goals–Kauai 8 (Coatie 4, Cumlat 3, Wilson). Hawaii Baptist 3 (Mitchell 3).
Kalani 57, Pahoa 52
Alexander Tungpalan notched 16 points and pulled down six rebounds and Cory Mitchell added 11 to pace the Falcons.
Tolby Saito poured in
20 points for the Daggers.
At Farrington |
KALANI |
14 |
14 |
9 |
20 |
— |
57 |
PAHOA |
10 |
7 |
17 |
18 |
— |
52 |
KALANI–Jon Suda 2, Juwon Bohannon 2, Cory Mitchell 11, Jaron Yamauchi 6, Alexander Tungpalan 16, Max Pepe 0, Dunavan Hahn 7, Blaise Manabe 4, Kapaa Nishimura 7, Jeremy Robinson 2, David Faletoi 0.
PAHOA–Keinan Agonias 12, Joel Rosario Jr. 5, Tolby Saito 20, Torrell Thomas 2, Kilinaheho Oliveira 9, Kallen Cardines 0, Kealii Luis 4, William Stinnett 0.
3-point goals–Kalani 2 (Nishimura, Tungpalan). Pahoa 4 (Agonias 2, Rosario Jr., Saito).