Somewhere above, Lei Kinimaka is celebrating for her grandson.
She was a devout fan of the Warriors, and after she died recently, guard Noa Kinimaka was there at her funeral. Then, it was straight to the St. Francis Merv Lopes Hoops Classic championship game, where Kinimaka sparked his team to a 40-35 win over Santa Margarita (Calif.) on Saturday night for the tourney title.
Kinimaka finished with 10 points and three steals despite missing the first quarter to attend her funeral.
"That was rough, but I wanted to come here and support my teammates, so I got here when I could. She came to all my games, so this is dedicated to her," Kinimaka said. "She always told me to come out and play as hard as I could."
The No. 9-ranked Warriors (12-4) capped an unbeaten week and are playing their best basketball of the young season. Coach Greg Tacon got major effort again from his team on the defensive end, limiting the Eagles to 11 first-half points. He was grateful to see his senior guard, Kinimaka.
"What Noa went through today, it was great for him to spend time with his family and it was good that they allowed him to come here and support the kids. He made a difference," Tacon said.
|
MERV LOPES HOOPS CLASSIC
Monday
Third place
‘Iolani 49, St. Francis 36
Fifth place
Kahuku 60, Kamehameha-Hawaii 55
Seventh place
Farrington 68, Kalaheo 38
Mid-Pacific 52, Saint Louis 48
University 49, Campbell 39
Leilehua 52, Kamehameha II 45
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Joe Furstinger (Most Outstanding Player), Santa Margarita (Calif.). Brett Oosdyke, Santa Margarita (Calif.). Noa Kinimaka, Kamehameha. Ikaika Phillip, ‘Iolani. Matthew Nuumanaia, St. Francis. Jacob McEnroe, Farrington.
|
It took a hearty, team-wide effort to overcome Santa Margarita’s towers. The Eagles outrebounded the Warriors 36-22, and 11 of Santa Margarita’s boards were on the offensive glass.
"You got to give credit to them," Santa Margarita coach Jeff Reinter said. "They played their tails off. They did a great job. They stuck with their game plan and they did a great job."
Jaycob Smith was steady from the start and finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three steals for the Warriors.
"This was special because we beat a high-caliber team. They’re very tall, and us Hawaiian kids, we’re only 5-11 average height, and they’re 6-4 (and taller)," Smith said. "This was a big game, but we’ve got bigger games. We’ve got to get ready for ‘Iolani next week."
The junior swingman also hit two big treys, one of which gave Kamehameha its biggest lead at 24-11 early in the third quarter. From there, the Warriors hung on as the talented, tall visitors roared back.
"We just went out there, took it in stride and just had fun," Kinimaka said.
With guard Devonte Klines hustling for five second-half steals, the Eagles chipped away. Their fullcourt and halfcourt traps paid dividends, and they took a 31-30 lead on a left-handed post bucket by Joe Furstinger with 6:10 to play.
"The shot clock killed us," Tacon said. "If we weren’t playing with a shot clock, we could’ve been more deliberate."
Furstinger’s bucket capped a 20-6 run, but the Eagles went cold from that point.
Smith’s difficult 10-foot runner over Klines on the baseline pushed the Warriors back in front with 4:13 left, and they never relinquished the lead.
Furstinger drove the baseline to score with 1:10 remaining, cutting the lead to 34-33.
But Fatu Sua-Godinet answered with a bucket in transition on a pass from Kinimaka, and after Klines was whistled for an offensive foul, Kayson Smith-Bejgrowicz hustled for a follow shot. That gave Kamehameha a 38-33 lead with 34 seconds to go.
OIA East Girls
No. 7 Roosevelt 80, Kalaheo 20
Starr Rivera led all scorers with 22 points as the Rough Riders overwhelmed the Mustangs.
At Kalaheo
Roosevelt (6-0) 39 21 12 8 — 80
Kalaheo (1-5) 8 3 5 4 — 20
ROOSEVELT–Ashley Kiko 2, Sharice Kawakami 9, Tavae Sina Sofa 9, Starr Rivera 22, Kaohi Kapiko 5, Devyn Kauhi 12, Keala Quinlan 13, Destiny Holani 8.
KALAHEO–Esther Ilab 0, Kama Aveiro 0, Shauntay Sugse 3, Jadyn Silva 3, Tyler Meredith 2, Tiffany Beach 0, Tyra Meredith 4, Sierra Yamaguchi 8, Michelle Sasaki 0, Kylie Kaiahua 0.
3-point goals–Roosevelt 8 (Holani 2, Rivera 2, Kapiko, Kawakami, Quinlan, Sina Sofa). Kalaheo 1 (Silva).
Junior varsity–Roosevelt 55, Kalaheo 25
Also
BIIF girls
Hawaii Prep 55, Ka’u 37
ILH Division II Girls
St. Francis 58, Punahou II 48
Hunter Roberts scored 17 points and Alissa Pacarro chipped in with 16 as the Saints defeated the Buffnblu.
At Punahou
St. Francis (4-1) 12 20 8 17 — 58
Punahou II (3-1) 8 12 12 16 — 48
ST. FRANCIS–Kelli Okubo 8, Alissa Pacarro 16,Hunter Roberts 17, Natashya Enos 2, Rya Omong 0, Tayler Bellevou 4, Kahili Liu 2,Lacey Satele 9, Chasey Abrams 0, Dayna Romero 0.
PUNAHOU II–Rachel Garcia 2, Kelly Honda 3, Becky Yim 0, Melissa Nakamoto 2, Malia Mizuno 1, Brieanna Goo 1, Laakea Marquez 1, Mackenzie Feldman 9, Cassandra Uyema 9, Kayla Amano 1, Kasey Li 10, Monica San Luis 0, Emily Young 0, Kealohilani Myers-Rosa 1, Tatiana Garzon 4, Megan Lau 4.
3-point goals–St. Francis 1 (Satele). Punahou II 4 (Uyema 3, Honda).
University 68, Hanalani 21
Markayisha Masani poured in a game-high 22 points and Brooke Kodama added 12 as the Junior ‘Bows defeated the Royals.
At Klum gym
Hanalani (1-2) 2 7 6 6 — 21
University (2-2) 14 24 20 10 — 68
HANALANI–Isabelle Aki 0, Rebekah Yamada 2, Alexa Nava 0, Shanel Taparra 6, Lexi Hee 2, Jonnisty Monalim 2, Cameron Peterson 0, Kacy Shimabukuro 2, Erica Barro 0, Kyla George , Kiara Peterson 0, Kara Tanaka 7.
UNIVERSITY–Malia Parpana 4, Markayisha Masani 22, Brenna Dela Rosa 6, Paige Salavea 2, Michelle Au 2, Kyra Young 6, Malie Adams 4, Brooke Kodama 12, Jocelyn Ki 2, Karley Yoshioka 8, Courtney Park 0.
3-point goals–Hanalani 0. University 2 (Kodama 2).
ILH division III girls
Hawaiian Mission 64,
Christian Academy 13
Sarah Jordan Banister led all scorers with 13 points as the Knights raced past the Patriots.
Lydia Earles added 12, while Kalena Kanuakua added 11 for Hawaiian Mission.
At Hawaiian Mission
CA (0-2) 1 4 1 7 — 13
HMA (1-1) 16 11 20 17 — 64
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY–Alyssa Yee 0, Andrale Domligan 0, Sierra Kurihara 1, Carissa Yamada 0, Bethany Agcaoili 5, Colleen Teruel 6, Kristyn Fujii 0, Aileene Amadis 0, Sara Kimhan 0, Heaven-Lee Asato 1, Dara Kimhan 0, Gabriella Ader 0.
HAWAIIAN MISSION–Grazielle Abaya 10, Savanna Valencia 2, Julia Johnson 8, Bella Olsen 4, Kalena Kanuakua 11, Sarah Jordan Banister 13, Sarah Yasin 2, Annie Polinski 2, Lydia Earles 12.
3-point goals–Christian Academy 1 (Tervel). Hawaiian Misson 2 (Bainster, Kaneakua).
Island Pacific 42,
Lanakila Baptist 36
Erica Brenner scored 14 points as the Navigators held off the Warriors.
At Hawaiian Mission
IPA (2-0) 13 8 7 14 — 42
lbs (2-1) 5 4 8 19 — 36
ISLAND PACIFIC–Chelsea Robello 3, Kiana Flemming 4, Erica Brenner 14, Tia Odoardi 8, Taylor Kodani 7, Victoria Nishii 6, Kalena Spotkaef 0, Keekee Broadwater 0.
LANAKILA BAPTIST–Jeizylin Panagani 12, Caitlyn Guererro 3, Precious Mariano 0, Aolani Lum 0, Kanani Kahehailua 2, Katherine Walker 16, Michelle Ponancial 0, Jummer Guererro 3, Yasmin Powell-Santiago 0, Andrea Corla 0, Shores Abajail 0.
3-point goals–Not reported.
