The challenge has been thrust upon Jeremiah White, and he is embracing it.
The junior guard poured in 34 points as Kaimuki edged McKinley 48-45 in the opening round of the Kaimuki Invitational on Thursday. In other games at Kaimuki, No. 3 Punahou and No. 10 Kahuku advanced with wins.
At the Kapaa Invitational, Pupu Sepulona scored 18 points as No. 4 Saint Louis routed Kauai 63-35.
At the Moanalua Invitational, No. 9 Kamehameha edged No. 5 Kailua 53-51 to avenge a loss to the Surfriders last week.
Thursday’s boys basketball scores
Nonconference
@ Kalani 66, Hawaii Baptist 44
> KLN: Josh Schutter 16, Brandon Chance 13, Luke Seno 13.
Kaimuki Invitational
Kaimuki 48, McKinley 45
> KAIM: Jeremiah White 34. MCK: Aries Mejias 12 (4 treys), Zaniel Ortega 10.
No. 3 Punahou 91, Kapolei 35
> PUN: Tucker Lam 20 (4 treys), Dillon Kellner 12, Jon Yoshimoto 12. KPO: David Edwards 11.
No. 7 Leilehua 54, Mid-Pacific 40
> LEI: Ui Muti 12, Twain Wilson 12. MPI: Daris Chizer 9.
No. 10 Kahuku 63, Saint Louis I-AA 42
> KAH: Leonard Ah You 32, Kache Kaio 13. STL2: Hayden Hannemann 22.
Kapaa Invitational
At Kapaa HS
Kohala 54, Seabury Hall 35
> KOH: Layden Kauka 20, Landon Kauka 17 (3 treys). SEAB: Zack Devane 14.
No. 4 Saint Louis 63, Kauai 35
> STL: Pupu Sepulona 18. KAUAI: Joshua Rego 13, Syrus Delos Reyes 12 (4 treys).
@ Kapaa 37, Le Jardin 34
> KPA: Keaka Kauhane 20 (8-8 FT). LJA: Espn Bennett 17 (5 treys).
At Wilcox Gym
Waipahu 45, Waimea 32
> WAIP: Noah DeLeon 15, Adonys Hill 10. WAIM: Kelani Lewis 12.
University 48, Island 14
> ULS: Trey Ambrozich 14, Duke Mobley 11. ISL: Lukas Meyer 6.
Moanalua Invitational
No. 1 Maryknoll 44, No. 6 Mililani 35
No. 2 ‘Iolani 43, Kamehameha-Maui 34
No. 9 Kamehameha 53, No. 5 Kailua 51
Moanalua 52, Kamehameha-Hawaii 39
Friday’s games
Nonconference
Roosevelt at Pearl City
Kaimuki Invitational
Semifinals
No. 7 Leilehua vs. No. 10 Kahuku, 6:30 pm
No. 3 Punahou vs. Kaimuki, 8 pm
Consolation
McKinley vs. Kapolei, 8 pm
Mid Pacific vs. Saint Louis I-AA, 5 pm
Kapaa Invitational
At Kapaa HS
University vs. Kauai, 4:30 pm
No. 4 Saint Louis vs. Waipahu, 6 pm
Kohala vs. Kapaa, 7:30 pm
At Wilcox Gym
Island vs. Kauai, JV, 4:30 pm
Island vs. Seabury Hall, 6 pm
Waimea vs. Le Jardin, 7:30 pm
Moanalua Invitational
Kamehameha-Maui vs. No. 1 Maryknoll, 3:15 pm
No. 5 Kailua vs. Kamehameha-Hawaii, 5 pm
Moanalua vs. No. 9 Kamehameha, 6:45 pm
No. 2 ‘Iolani vs. No. 6 Mililani, 8:30 pm