Kahuku took advantage of a slow Moanalua start and held off a frenzied Na Menehune comeback for a 57-55 boys basketball victory at the Red Raiders’ gym Thursday night.

The win evened both teams’ records at 3-3 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association East, and goes down as a big victory for Kahuku over its rival, especially considering what the Red Raiders are going through. Coach Alan Akina is on an indefinite suspension for moving up his son, Kawika, from the junior varsity after being told by the administration not to.

Former Hawaii assistant Brandyn Akana has taken the Kahuku helm on an interim basis. He has been involved in controversy of his own. Prior to the 2014-15 season, he and head coach Gib Arnold were fired by UH for their roles in violations later substantiated by an NCAA investigation.

On Thursday, Akana had his troops ready to roll and the Red Raiders sprinted out to a 10-0 lead before having to wrestle to wrap up the victory late.

“These are some great kids,” Akana said. “They want to do well and they’re very coachable. When I came aboard, I said, ‘Guys, are we going to do this? Stick together and play hard.’ They’ve played hard and they’re still playing hard.”

Kahuku was without two of its biggest scorers in 6-foot-4 Hirkley Latu and 6-5 Bradlee Anae, both on football recruiting trips.

“With those guys missing, the bench really stepped up,” Akana said.

Taimona Wright filled in up front and scored 14 points. Kawika Akina played some valuable minutes and was in the game at crunch time. Stennett Alapa and Kenny Spencer were big forces off the boards and Spencer hit some big shots.

Keanu Akina, the veteran guard and also Alan Akina’s son, led the way with 15 points, including three 3-pointers.

Moanalua’s Saige Pulu put his team on his back and Na Menehune nearly pulled it off. Pulu scored a game-high 24 points, including eight in the team’s 18-point fourth quarter.

“We weren’t ready, and we started in a big hole that we couldn’t get out of,” Moanalua coach Byron Mello said.

Added Pulu: “We didn’t play like ourselves. We just weren’t playing defense early in the game and we weren’t getting back in transition.”

The Red Raiders held a 30-22 halftime lead, but Na Menehune clawed back with a nine-point run to take a temporary 31-30 lead midway through the third quarter. Pulu and RJ Dominguez had three-point plays in that run.

Keanu Akina followed a three-point play with a 3-point bomb, giving Kahuku a 38-33 cushion late in the third. The Red Raiders held leads between three and nine points all the way until less than a minute remained, when Na Menehune’s James Wilkins leaped high for a putback of a Pulu 3-point shot to make it 56-55.

Cody Sauvao’s free throw put the game’s final point on the board for the two-point margin with 16 seconds to go. Moanalua’s final attempt — a Wilkins 3-pointer — hit the rim at the buzzer.

“Our bigs really stepped up without Hirk and Brad — Stennett, Ra Elkington and Taimona,” Keanu Akina said. “It was a really good team effort.”

MOANALUA–Jacob Ramelb 0, James Wilkins 8, Elijah Davis 4, Rodson Kealohi 8, RJ Dominguez 6, Ryan Ramones 0, Caleb Casinas 5, Isaiah Jackson 0, Sage Pulu 24, Devin Leslie 0.

KAHUKU–Kenny Spencer 10, Codie Sauvao 3, Keiran Spencer 9, Ethan Christensen 0, Mark Viloria 0, Kawika Akina 3, Taimona Wright 14, Stennett Alapa 3, Ra Elkington 0, Keanu Akina 15.

3-point goals–Moanalua 3 (Kealohi, Casinas, Pulu). Kahuku 6 (Keanu Akina 3, Kenny Spencer 2, Keiran Spencer).
Junior varsity–Moanalua 40, Kahuku 30