There’s smashmouth football, and there’s big-boy basketball.

The Kahuku Red Raiders employed a massive frontcourt to dominate No. 2 Farrington 55-39 on Friday night. Kahuku had a 42-12 edge on the boards against the tough, but much smaller visitors in the OIA regular-season opener for both teams. Denhym Brooke, one of the Raiders’ three transfers from New Zealand, had 14 points and eight rebounds, and brought the home crowd of about 300 fans to life with a resounding third-quarter rejection during a key run. The 6-foot-7 jumping jack also scored on a three-point play on a fast break to spark Kahuku, which was 5-5 in preseason play.

"At home (in New Zealand), we’re just used to running the floor as fast as we can," he said. 

He wasn’t alone. Fellow Kiwi Hyrum Harris, a burly 6-5 center, had 10 boards to go with seven points, and swingman Samuta Avea had 13 points and seven caroms. 

Farrington was undersized, but used its quickness to stifle the home team into 21 turnovers. Ranan Mamiya had 11 points and seven steals.

"That dude is fast like lightning," Kahuku coach Alan Akina said. "We didn’t want (Jake) Smith to go off. Our guys played good defense. They talked to each other and held down." 

Smith, the long-range gunner who has been accurate through nonconference play, finished with six points on 2-for-10 shooting.

Kahuku switched from its 1-3-1 zone to a sticky 2-3 zone and managed to keep Smith covered. Farrington also hurt itself at the foul line, making just 12 of 27 attempts. 

"We played better than last time we faced them," Farrington coach Allan Silva said, referring to a third-place game against Kahuku last week at the Punahou Invitational. "The shots were just not falling. Kahuku played excellent tonight. (Keanu) Akina’s one of the best shooting guards in the state and they have two big guys who are good inside. We just missed easy shots." 

Farrington stayed close before Akina (12 points) hit three free throws for a 17-15 lead late in the first quarter. The Red Raiders opened the lead to 11 late in the second quarter and were up 29-20 at halftime. 

Mamiya had three steals to spark Farrington early in the third quarter, but Tua Unutoa fouled out with 4:09 left. His replacement, Montana Liana, hit a foul-line jumper to cut the lead to 30-29 with less than three minutes left in the third, but Kahuku answered the challenge. 

Harris drove for a reverse layup, Brooke scored in transition off a bullet pass from guard Alohi Gilman, and by the end of the third, Kahuku led 38-29. 

Farrington got within 42-37 on a steal and layup by Mamiya, who had left the game earlier with a knee injury. But Kahuku closed out the battle with a 13-2 run. Kahuku shot 12-for-12 at the charity stripe in the final 2:36. 

The third Kiwi transfer, Tama Green, did not play. Coach Akina said the school is working through his transcripts to make sure he is eligible. 

FARRINGTON–Keola Kealoha 1, Ranan Mamiya 11, John Paul Raymundo 1, Tua Unutoa 6, Jake Smith 6, Paul Madamba 0, Makana Correia 1, Kapono Kakalia 0, Montana Liana 2, Hezekiah Iaea 0, Allan Dudalao 0, Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo 11. 

KAHUKU–Kieran Spencer 0, Alohi Gilman 4, Kenny Spencer 1, Mhelvic Juan 0, Keanu Akina 12, Tamanui Nagy 0, Bradlee Anae 4, Raniera Smallman 0, Samuta Avea 13, Denhym Brooke 14, Hyrum Harris 7. 

33-pointer goals– Farrington 1 (Smith), Kahuku 3 (Avea 2, Akina). 

Junior varsity–Farrington 49, Kahuku 47. 

OIA EAST BOYS

No. 10 McKinley 73, Anuenue 30

Dan Villejo scored 15 points, Niko Pader added 14 and Isaac Lu had 11 as the Tigers beat Na Koa.

Kimo Romena scored 14 points for Anuenue.

ANUENUE–Kamanaopono Grace-Kekawa 6, Kailau Keola 2, Kamanao Dureg 8, Kimo Romena 14, Kalani Jesse 0, Keoua Roy 0, Kaleokalani Gaspar 0.

MCKINLEY–Kyle Moraga 8, Dan Villejo 15, Kevin Nagasawa 4, Marcus Aikau 6, Isaac Lu 11, Huthifa Abdel-Jawad 7, Niko Pader 14, Kyle Coloyan 8.

3-pointer goals–Anuenue