Win or lose, coaches Duane Omori and Brandon Young are always friends on and off the court.

It took no time at all after Omori guided McKinley to a 61-50 win over Young’s Kaimuki squad before they were talking story, just like old times.

The visiting Tigers players were less friendly, thwarting Kaimuki’s trapping defense with eight 3-point bombs. Jeff Fronda led McKinley, now 3-3 in OIA East play, with 22 points. Two of his three treys came in the first half, and he was the delivery man on most of teammate Joseph Aizona’s four 3-point shots. Aizona finished with 18 points.

"We play to the strength of our kids. We stress to them that we have to spot up, to look for our shooters," Omori said.

Kui Williams (eight points, eight rebounds) and Jared Malaga (four points, 10 boards) anchored the Tigers in the paint.

Zach Bastatas had 17 points and eight caroms, and Jaypee Unabia tallied 16 points, five rebounds and five steals for Kaimuki, now 1-5 in league play. Hunter Young hustled for eight points and eight boards.

The game was tight for one quarter. Aizona’s 3-point buzzer-beater from the left corner stretched the Tigers’ lead to 16-12 entering the second quarter.

They opened the second with an 11-2 run to take control. Freshman Dan Villejo’s 16-footer from the wing gave McKinley its biggest lead, 31-17, just before the half.

Kaimuki opened the second half with a half-court press, and after Bastatas turned a steal into a layup, the Bulldogs were within 31-21. But the Tigers regrouped after a timeout and went to Williams for a low-post spin move and bucket to spark a 5-0 run.

Kaimuki got no closer than 11 the rest of the way.

Omori and Young coached under Bob Morikuni at McKinley for years. Young left to take over Kaimuki’s program two seasons ago when Kelly Grant departed for Maryknoll. Omori then took the helm at McKinley this season after Morikuni stepped down to become the school’s athletic director.

Morikuni’s influence is still there.

"Brandon has his own style. All of us do," Omori said. "Bob’s a little more conservative than me, but for the most part, we run through his stuff."

McKinley used some traps in the second half, and primarily relied on a matchup zone. It was an interesting chess match between longtime friends.

"We go back to small-kid time," said Omori, who saw his Tigers play efficient basketball in the first half, hitting five open treys in what was a one-sided battle much of the night. "I think it goes back to Moiliili PAL baseball."