Back at full strength, Punahou capped its Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship by avenging its lone loss of the regular season.
Since losing to Academy of the Pacific in their ILH opener, the top-ranked Buffanblu closed the league schedule with 11 consecutive wins, punctuating the run with a 53-43 victory over the No. 2 Dolphins on Tuesday at Le Jardin Academy’s Charles B. Wang Gymnasium.
Punahou, which clinched the ILH Division I boys basketball title last week, didn’t have two of its leading producers in senior DeForest Buckner and junior forward Kupono Fey for the first ILH meeting with AOP on Jan. 3. The duo combined for 26 points in the rematch to help send the Buffanblu into a two-week break before the Division I state tournament with momentum.
“We’re finally all together, which is nice. It’s pretty much the first time in a while,” Punahou head coach Darren Matsuda said. “We’re pretty deep when we have everybody and we’re a pretty flexible team, we can give you different looks. So we’re glad everybody’s back.”
Both teams arrived at the gym with their state-tournament berths secured and will take the next two weeks to recharge before making their push for the Division I title.
“We’re in the state tournament, that was one of our goals and the next goal is to win the state tournament,” AOP coach Wally Marciel said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us in the next two weeks.”
Buckner, who missed the first game against AOP while playing in an all-star football game, controlled the paint for much of Tuesday’s game and ended the third quarter by coming up with a steal near midcourt and banking in a 3-pointer just before the buzzer for the last of his team-high 13 points. The shot was part of a 12-2 run that put the game out of reach after AOP, which trailed by 13 early in the third quarter, had closed to 33-27 late in the period.
Buckner’s night ended early in the fourth quarter on an attempted dunk that likely had coaches both on Punahou’s bench and in the Oregon football offices wincing. After another steal, Buckner — a defensive end who signed with the Ducks last week — elevated toward the bucket, collided with an AOP player under the basket and came crashing to the court.
An intentional foul was called and the Dolphins player was ejected while Buckner stayed on the floor for a few tense moments. He said he hit his knee on the floor, but added he’d be fine for the state tournament.
“My face broke my fall,” he said. “So good thing.”
“It’s hard,” Matsuda said. “You want him to be aggressive, we teach our kids to attack the rim. But there’s always a risk in sports.”
Of the foul, Marciel said, “We’re sorry about that, we’ll fix that with our player. (Buckner’s) tough. He’s tough inside.”
Fey didn’t play against AOP in January due to a hand injury and returned to practice last week. He scored all 13 of his points in the second half on Tuesday.
“I felt really good about it,” Fey said. “I didn’t want to go into states really rusty so I wanted to get my nerves out of the way.”
AOP’s Wilson MacLeod led all scorers with 16 points, but the Dolphins couldn’t overcome Punahou’s hot start as the Buffanblu went on a 15-point run bridging the first and second quarters to take a 22-8 lead.
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At Le Jardin
| Punahou (11-1) |
17 |
8 |
13 |
15 |
— |
53 |
| AOP (8-4) |
8 |
6 |
13 |
16 |
— |
43 |
PUNAHOU—Sean Gruebner 3, Jordan Tanuvasa 3, Bryan Matsukawa 0, Micah Ma’a 0, Steven Lakalaka 0, Dayson Watanabe 0, Matthew Taniguchi 3, Kaaha McAfee-Torco 2, Taylor Henderson 1, Jeffrey Yamashiro 0, Nick Velasquez 8, Malik Johnson 5, Kanawai Noa 2, Kupono Fey 13, DeForest Buckner 13, Daniel Andrews 0.
AOP—Shai Brown 0, Carter Kauwenaole 2, Keomalu Akiona 0, Mattia Raebel 0, Kamana Keohohou 7, Arkadiy Mkrtychyan 4, Drew Viena 2, Artur Mkrtyrchyan 0, David Daniel 10, Wilson MacLeod 16, Marshall Gourley 0, Bret Kanoa 2.
3-point goals—Punahou 5 (Velasquez 2, Gruebner, Tanuvasa, Buckner), AOP 3 (Daniel, MacLeod, Keohohou).
No. 5 Kamehameha 53, No. 7 Maryknoll 52
The Warriors clinched a crucial win over the Spartans.
Zerin Parker lifted Kamehameha’s offense with 18 points, followed by Dyrbe Enos with 13.
Maryknoll’s Austin Gaskins and Tobias Schramm led the Spartans with 17 and 14 points, respectively.
At Maryknoll
| KS (7-5) |
12 |
12 |
10 |
19 |
— |
53 |
|
| Maryknoll (6-6) |
14 |
11 |
11 |
16 |
— |
52 |
KAMEHAMEHA—Noa Kinimaka 0, JT Campbell 3, Mana‘o Salvani 0, Taylor Taliulu 0, Dyrbe Enos 13, Makoa Camanse-Stevens 8, Austin Gerard 5, Kamai Olowofoyeku 0, Noah Borden 6, Thor Latu 0, Zerin Parker 18.
MARYKNOLL—Andrew Wu 0, Kaleb Gilmore 3, Kekoa Welsh 2, John Mayer 0, Danny Danbara 3, Isaiah Dowdell 7, Tobias Powell 0, Joshua Burnett 6, Austin Gaskins 17, Wyatt Pedro 0, Tobias Schramm 14.
3-point goals—Kamehameha 4 (Camanse-Stevens 2, Gerard, Enos). Maryknoll 3 (Gilmore, Dowdell, Danbara).
ILH DIVISION II BOYS
Island Pacific 52, Hawaii Baptist 39
The Navigators stuffed the Eagles by holding on to a 13-point lead at halftime.
Malsom Okeke and Jackson Durrett scored 13 and 12 points for Island Pacific Academy. Kalei Hosaka finished with a game-high 16 points for Hawaii Baptist.
At Hanalani
| HBA (5-7) |
9 |
5 |
7 |
18 |
— |
39 |
| IPA (7-4) |
12 |
15 |
8 |
17 |
— |
52 |
HAWAII BAPTIST—Bryson Hirokawa 1, Aaron Miyasaki 3, Michael Dang 0, Travis Teramae 3, BJ Hosaka 9, Kalei Hosaka 16, Matthew Kishaba 4, Jordan Kauwe 1, Matthew Tommee 0, John Hirokawa 2.
ISLAND PACIFIC—Jason Brenner 2, Royce Ilar 8, Harvey Alexander 0, Jamison Kirk 6, Ian Schumaker 5, Jackson Durrett 12, Dalton Wood 0, Malsom Okeke 13, Colt Wallace 6.
3-point goals—Hawaii Baptist 7 (B. Hosaka 3, K. Hosaka 3, Kishaba). Island Pacific none.
Punahou II 46, St. Francis 35
Jaren McCartney scored 15 points and Taylor Barfield added 11 as the Buffanblu handed the Saints their first loss in conference play.
Mathew Nuumanaia had 11 points to lead St. Francis.
At Manoa Valley Recreation Center Gym
| Punahou II (8-2) |
11 |
4 |
15 |
16 |
— |
46 |
| St. Francis (10-1) |
9 |
6 |
15 |
5 |
— |
35 |
PUNAHOU II—Jaren McCartney 15, Ben Ota 1, John Kam 0, Taylor McClafferty 0, Raffy Howe 8, Alex Shin 0, Travis Matsuzaki 7, Gus Soderholm 0, Taylor Barfield 11, Zach Grief 2, Keith Dowsett 0, Nicholas Schilla 2.
ST. FRANCIS—Austin Ursua 9, Sosiua Havea 0, Keola Kealoha 0, Matthew Nuumanaia 11, Kaohukea Sanborn 0, Shabir Lynton 2, Drew Wilson 2, Kyle Lau 0, Henry Maumalanga 0, Kai Sun 4, Blayne Won 7.
3-point goals—Punahou 2 (McCartney, Howe). St. Francis 1 (Nuumanaia).
Hanalani 54, Lanakila Baptist 45
Kainoa Souza-Chaves scored 21 points as the Royals beat the Warriors.
E.J. Butler of Lanakila Baptist also scored 21 points, but Hanalani’s Christian Peterson tallied 12 points to help the Royals seal the victory.
At Hanalani
| LBA (2-10) |
7 |
12 |
15 |
11 |
— |
45 |
| Hanalani (9-2) |
13 |
12 |
19 |
10 |
— |
54 |
LANAKILA BAPTIST—Jeremy Clark 2, Isaac Shubert 2, Hikaru Kamikubo 0, Roycen Routt 3, Matthew Kakilala 5, Richard Pajarillo 0, EJ Butler 21, Jordan Cabato 8, Andrew Walker 4, Colton Salvador 0.
HANALANI—Lucas Leaman 2, Michael Milton 5, Mark Milton 3, John Brady 5, Kainoa Souza-Chaves 21, Tyler Cruz 2, Christian Peterson 12, Duane Teem 4.
3-point goals—Lanakila Baptist 2 (Routt, Butler). Hanalani 3 (Mark Milton, Souza-Chaves, Peterson).
OIA RED PLAYOFFS
Leilehua 63, Mililani 57
Jeremiah Andrade racked up 20 points to help the Mules defeat the Trojans in overtime.
Russell Siavii added 14 points for Leilehua, while Damon Shimabukuro scored a team-high 14 points for Mililani.
The Mules will play at their home gym again on Friday against Moanalua at 6 p.m. Mililani will host Pearl City at 6 p.m. Friday for fifth place in the OIA.
At Leilehua
| Mililani |
19 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
5 |
— |
57 |
| Leilehua |
14 |
16 |
8 |
14 |
11 |
— |
63 |
MILILANI—Skyler Gayhart 0, Josh Stevens 0, Chedan Pascual 0, Damon Shimabukuro 14, Alex Bumgarner 11, Deshawn Duncan-Benson 7, Marcus Beamon 0, Riley Borges 9, Jonathan Makaiau 3, Peter Bueno 0, Taylor Tuia 13, Sylvester Panoncillo 0, Jo Juan Richardson 0.
LEILEHUA—Russell Siavii 14, Darrien Bobbitt 0, Jeremiah Andrade 20, Mikal Peyton 0, Reece Acohido 5, Larry William-Rutkowski 9, Kenneth Hill 0, Troy Ross 5, Cody Halvorson 3, Christian Manzo-Loera 2, Penetito Mele 5, Marvin Roldon 0.
3-point goals—Mililani 3 (Shimabukuro 2, Bumgarner). Leilehua 5 (Andrade 3, Acohido, Halvorson).
Moanalua 59, Pearl City 47
Kahanu Puulei-Auld scored 13 points as Na Menehune defeated the Chargers.
Kailon Sabate scored 18 points to lead Pearl City in a losing effort.
At Farrington
| Pearl City |
8 |
8 |
14 |
17 |
— |
47 |
| Moanalua |
9 |
16 |
12 |
22 |
— |
59 |
PEARL CITY—Kailon Sabate 18, Ryan Arguelles 0, Kainoa Perez 5, Tysen Hickcox 0, Lawrence Glisson 0, Marc Suniga 5, Kapena Akiona 3, Paul Perry III 13, Isaac Amorin 3.
MOANALUA—Kreig Kepa 8, Daib Starks 3, Kahanu Puulei-Auld 13, Alex Hutson 8, Eliet Donley 10, Dillon Turk 2, Shane Ratledge 8, Chris Hammond 5, Josh Kang 2.
3-point goals—Pearl City 1 (Suniga). Moanalua 2 (Donley 2, Puulei-Auld).
