Leilehua took a four-point lead into the locker room midway through its OIA Red quarterfinal game against Moanalua on Saturday, yet the Mules weren’t particularly pleased.
They turned up the energy coming back for the third quarter and opened up a double-digit advantage over the first four minutes. The Mules maintained the cushion into the fourth quarter, then held off Moanalua’s last-ditch rally to pull out a 60-54 home win and secure a spot in the Division I state tournament.
"That was our No. 1 goal — go back to states and do better than we did last year," Leilehua guard Joseph Gouty said.
"Last year we got knocked down in the first round. We plan on pushing past what we did last year."
Gouty led three Mules in double figures with a game-high 19 points and sparked a 9-0 Leilehua run early in the third quarter. He scored on a layup off an assist from Jayeson Baine, who finished with 12 points, then grabbed a rebound and went the distance for a layup while drawing a foul.
"We were angry at ourselves because we weren’t doing what we needed to be doing," Gouty said of the Mules’ outlook at halftime. "The second half, we were talking, we needed to push the ball, we have to rebound, we just had to do that."
Nicholas Duran hit two 3-pointers in a 16-point performance for the Mules, who advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals at McKinley along with clinching a state berth for the third time in the past four years.
"Any time you can consider yourself one of the 12 better teams in the state it’s a big honor we don’t take that lightly," Leilehua coach Pat Wetzel said.
Leilehua, which went 10-0 in the OIA West, mixed in several different zones along with an occasional man-to-man look in the first half in forcing 16 turnovers while working to limit Moanalua forward Kyrie McRaven’s opportunities in the post.
"We always wanted to make sure we had a spy on him because he’s such a load," Wetzel said. "We know we’re not going to stop him — he’s just too good of a player. But we wanted to throw some different looks at him. … But that kid is tough."
McRaven spent much of the first half on the bench with foul trouble, but scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter to spark Moanalua’s comeback bid. Eric Miyauchi finished with 14 points and hit two 3-pointers in the Moanalua rally, the second cutting Leilehua’s lead to 55-52 with 43.6 seconds left.
But with Na Menehune forced to foul, Koa Kauhi hit two free throws and Baine hit two more after a Moanalua turnover and Leilehua managed to hang on.
"They didn’t quit. They kept hitting 3 after 3, and luckily for us we were able to hit our free throws down the stretch," Wetzel said.
It also helped to have Gouty running the offense for the Mules, and the junior went 11-for-14 from the line in the game.
"He’s kind of like my security blanket," Wetzel said. "We know he’s a good free-throw shooter, excellent ballhandler, he’s really hard to trap.
"I don’t know where he ranks in the state, but he’s definitely a guy I’m glad I don’t have to try to figure out how to stop. I’m glad he’s with us."
Moanalua, the OIA East’s fourth seed, fell into the fifth-place bracket and can still earn one of the league’s six state tournament berths with a win Tuesday.
At Leilehua |
MOANALUA |
7 |
16 |
10 |
19 |
— |
54 |
LEILEHUA |
12 |
15 |
17 |
16 |
— |
60 |
MOANALUA–Eric Miyauchi 14, Domenick Bailey 2, Jacob Ramelb 0, Rodson Kealohi 0, Darren Fontanilla 4, Karson Cruz 13, Kyrie McRaven 15, Elijah Davis 3, Isaiah Jackson 0, James Wilkins 3, RJ Dominguez 0.
LEILEHUA–Jarron Kim-Raguirag 0, Liam Fitzgerald 2, Joseph Gouty 19, David Tibayan 5, Diego Aguirresaenz 0, Jayeson Baine 12, Nicholas Duran 16, Koa Kauhi 6, Anterrio Gainwell 0.
3-point goals–Moanalua 6 (Cruz 2, Miyauchi 2, Davis, Wilkins). Leilehua 3 (Duran 2, Baine).
Farrington 60, Campbell 55 OT
Tua Unutoa and Jake Smith combined for 11 points in overtime as the visiting Governors rallied to stun the Sabers.
Campbell led for much of regulation, but the visitors rallied to take a 44-43 lead late in the fourth quarter when Smith got a steal and fed Ranan Mamiya for a layup.
Farrington had a 46-43 lead, but David Marrero hit a putback and Lamart Dudley made two free throws for a one-point Campbell lead with 42 seconds left.
Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo tied the game at 47-all with a foul shot with 42 seconds left. Campbell had the ball for a last shot, but turned it over with 5.8 seconds to go. Farrington’s Kapono Kakalia drove for the potential go-ahead basket, but was whistled for charging with one-tenth of a second to go.
In OT, Unutoa’s two foul shots broke a 52-all tie with 1:25 left, and with two Sabers fouled out of the game, Farrington’s halfcourt traps created two turnovers. Tatupu-Leopoldo’s steal led to a layup by Smith and a 56-52 lead.
At Campbell |
FARRINGTON |
12 |
14 |
10 |
11 |
13 |
— |
60 |
CAMPBELL |
16 |
16 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
— |
55 |
FARRINGTON–Keola Kealoha 0, Ranan Mamiya 8, Tua Unutoa 17, Jake Smith 21, Makana Correia 0, Jay-ar Sebastian 0, Kapono Kakalia 3, Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo 11, Montana Liana 0.
CAMPBELL–Jomor Gapusan 5, Michael Merchant 23, Jenesus Su’e 0, Jayce Bantolina 8, Lamart Dudley 6, Meshack Leapaga 0, Alika Bantolina 7, Alphonzo Gamble 0, David Marrero 6, Isaiah Gibson 0.
3-point goals–Farrington 3 (Smith 2, Mamiya). Campbell 4 (Merchant 2, A. Bantolina, Gapusan).
Kahuku 78, McKinley 29
Keanu Akina was dialed in from behind the arc, making five 3-pointers and finishing with 24 points as the Red Raiders overpowered the Tigers.
Bradlee Anae added 11 points for Kahuku, which advanced to the semifinals.
At Kahuku |
McKINLEY |
8 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
— |
29 |
KAHUKU |
24 |
13 |
22 |
19 |
— |
78 |
MCKINLEY–Kyle Moraga 0, Dan Villejo 0, Kevin Nagasawa 0, Mark Burke 5, Marcus Aikau 0, Gilbert Antonio 4, Isaac Lu 4, Jonah Howard 3, Macjun Otarra 13, Keanu Pratt 0, Huthifa Abdel-Jawad 0, Niko Pader 0, Kyle Coloyan 0.
KAHUKU–Kesi Ah Hoy 2, Kieran Spencer 0, Alohi Gilman 3, Kenny Spencer 0, Tamamoko Green 7, Keanu Akina 24, Tamanui Nagy 4, Bradlee Anae 11, Samuta Avea 22, Denhym Brooke 2, Hyrum Harris 3.
3-point goals–McKinley 1 (Antonio). Kahuku 8 (Akina 5, Avea, Gilman, Green).
Kalaheo 60, Mililani 32
Kaleb Gilmore notched a game-high 23 points, and nailed five 3-pointers, while Kupaa Harrison chipped in 16 to lead the Mustangs over the Trojans.
At Kalaheo |
MILILANI |
5 |
11 |
5 |
11 |
— |
32 |
KALAHEO |
17 |
11 |
18 |
14 |
— |
60 |
MILILANI–Chanse Ramirez 2, Kamaki Pacleb 0, Braiden Rosario 7, Cameron Muh 3, Raekwon Cherry 0, Clarence Rodriguez 3, Jonathan Orpillia 6, Kingston Nishimura 2, Kalakaua Timoteo 2, Mason Mackley 1, Clarence Gathers 2, Marcus Mafi 0, Kekoa Fields 4.
KALAHEO–Zachary Marrotte 2, Kekai Smith 8, Alec MacLeod 9, Captain Whitlock 0, Andrew Kearney 2, Kaleb Gilmore 23, Jalen Kuhia-Smith 0, Kekoa Thompson 0, Ashton Arnold 0, Kupaa Harrison 16, Markus Laquihon 0, Harry Wallace 0.
3-point goals–Mililani 4 (Orpillia 2, Muh, Rosario). Kalaheo 7 (Gilmore 5, MacLeod, Smith).
OIA WHITE PLAYOFFS
Kaiser 57, Kaimuki 44
Keoua Mahiko and Kelsey Lewis posted 17 and 15 points to lead the Cougars past the visiting Bulldogs.
Christian Ono led Kaimuki with 11 points, while teammate Calvin Henry added 10.
At Kaiser |
KAIMUKI |
10 |
9 |
7 |
18 |
— |
44 |
KAISER |
14 |
10 |
12 |
21 |
— |
57 |
KAIMUKI–Calvin Henry 10, Nixon Siona 8, Christian Ono 11, Sloan Fuller 5, Tevita Lino 0, Brian Boyd 2, Sifo Lauvao 0, Shanson Kapanui 3, Jeffery Cu 0, Fred Pauiung 3, Andries Toussant 2.
KAISER–Keoua Mahiko 17, Kelsey Lewis 15, Jalen Pinks 2, Isaiah Lundell 8, Isaiah Akiona 0, Nic Tom 5, Jonah Chinen 0, Bryan Iha 0, Micah Okamoto 0, Chance Kalaugher 10, Brayden Nueku 0, Cameron Ma 0, Shaun Kim 0.
3-point goals–Kaimuki 5 (Ono 2, Fuller, Henry, Pauiung). Kaiser 2 (Kalaugher, Lewis).
Kalani 38, Aiea 34
The Falcons got balanced scoring to advance to the OIA White postseason tournament final after holding Na Alii to just two points in the fourth quarter.
Kalani will face Kaiser for the league title on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at McKinley.
At Aiea |
KALANI |
11 |
9 |
10 |
8 |
— |
38 |
AIEA |
13 |
5 |
14 |
2 |
— |
34 |
KALANI–Cory Mitchell 7, Dunavan Hahn 0, Jaron Yamauchi 7, Alex Tungpalan 3, Blaise Manabe 3, Kapa’a Nishimura 3, Jeremy Robinson 8, David Faletoi 0, Jonathan Suda 1, Juwan Bohannon 6.
AIEA–Cory Walton 0, Kysen Helepololei 2, Joshua Hill 6, Shawn Aque 8, Noah Tadena 0, Kame Ah Lo 6, Keyson Goins 10, Ty-Cole Alcantra 2, Jayden Chaviera 0, Noah Taiese 0.
3-point goals–Kalani 3 (Manabe, Nishimura, Tungpalan). Aiea 3 (Aque 2, Goins).
ILH DIVISION I
Maryknoll 52, Mid-Pacific 46
Justice Sueing Jr. poured in a game-high 18 points, and connected on 12 of 15 free-throw attempts, to help lead the Spartans past the Owls.
With the victory, Maryknoll advances in the ILH single-elimination tournament. Daniel Florenco scored 13 and Jacen Kimura 11 for Mid-Pacific.
At Maryknoll |
MID-PACIFIC |
11 |
9 |
10 |
16 |
— |
46 |
MARYKNOLL |
11 |
11 |
15 |
15 |
— |
52 |
MID-PACIFIC–Codey Mita 0, Nathan Ng 0, Lamar Carter 0, Isaiah Browning 0, Daniel Florenco 13, Travis Hayashi 0, Den Suehiro 2, Zion Shepherd 4, Ken Colombe 4, Andrew Kargol 8, Logan Hutchinson 4, Jacen Kimura 11.
MARYKNOLL–Isiah Gelacio 0, Michael Miske 5, Jordyn Perez 0, Jaylen Cain 0, Darin Miyamoto 0, Calvin Koo 7, Hayato Kamata 0, Sage Pulu 8, Justice Sueing Jr. 18, Kaulana Schmidt 3, Matthew McGivern 0, Brian Washington 11, Tenchi Robinson 0, Kainoa Ferreria 0.
3-point goals–Mid-Pacific 3 (Kimura 3). Maryknoll 2 (Koo, Miske).
Kamehameha 51, Saint Louis 48
Jayden Zarriello racked up 17 points and collected three treys to help the Warriors fend off the Saints in the ILH single-elimination tournament.
Kevin Marks tallied 13 points to pace the Crusaders. The Warriors defenders held Saint Louis to just one successful 3-pointer in 16 attempts from beyond the arc.
At Damien |
KAMEHAMEHA |
19 |
7 |
8 |
17 |
— |
51 |
SAINT LOUIS |
17 |
5 |
5 |
21 |
— |
48 |
KAMEHAMEHA–Jayden Zarriello 17, Kamren Victorino-Kato 2, Saint Galacio 4, Noah Galacio 0, Fatu Sua-Godinet 11, Kapu Mau 0, Kobe Young 9, Peter Hashimoto-Hanohano 2, Kumoku Noa 0, Pono Arias 6, Cade Pedro 0.
SAINT LOUIS–Ihaka Johnson 2, Jimmy Nunuha III 12, Kevin Marks 13, Jaymason Nunuha 5, Colten Nascimento 4, Drew Kobayashi 8, Jon Manalo 0, Jayce Smalley 2, Chris Sykes 0, Lance Sataraka 2.
3-point goals–Kamehameha 4 (Zarriello 3, Sua-Godinet). Saint Louis 1 (Jay. Nunuha).
ILH Division I-AA
Kamehameha 63, Saint Louis 48
Single-elimination tournament play-in
High scorers–KS: Keoni Gibson 12, Marcus Silvestre 10. StL–Rayson Canencia 8.