No. 2 Kahuku is deep, big, strong and athletic.

And, according to No. 10 Kaiser coach Branden Kawazoe and Cougars forward Chance Kalaugher, Kahuku is a "great team."

They got an up-close look at the Red Raiders on Wednesday night in a 61-45 loss at the Kahuku gym.

Red Raiders coach Alan Akina was grateful for the Cougars’ kind words, but he knew his team was in a dogfight all night long.

"We haven’t played our best basketball yet," Akina said. "We (figuratively) punched them (the Cougars) in the nose early, but they got back up. They kept coming back. We had to buckle down against a very competitive team. We still need better execution of the offense."

The Red Raiders improved to 9-1 in the OIA East and are still looking up at unbeaten Kalaheo. They built a 17-6 lead late in the first quarter.

Throughout the second and third quarters, Kahuku’s lead fluctuated between 2 and 12 points until Kesi Ah-Hoy and Tamanui Nagy each hit 15-footers to make it a 14-point, 46-32 game heading to the fourth.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5 Kalaugher was having a hard time down low for Kaiser (6-4). He finished with 13 points, but Kahuku’s bigs got in his way and threw off his inside shot by the slightest of margins.

"They took me out of my game," Kalaugher said. "I wasn’t getting the looks I usually get. We don’t usually play great teams like this."

The hot shooting of Kaiser’s Kelsey Lewis kept the Cougars in striking distance. He fired up four 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 14 points.

Kahuku shooting guard Keanu Akina, the coach’s son, put some ice on Kaiser’s plans to come back in the fourth quarter. He hit two 3-pointers — early and midway through the period — boosting the Red Raiders’ leads to 14 and 13 points.

Akina scored a game-high 15 points, and Nagy, off the bench, delivered 10 second-half points. Center Hyrum Harris, who is 6-6, and forward Denhym Brooke, who is 6-7, were immense off the boards and on defense for Kahuku.

Harris had nine points, with four athletic, swerving moves through the lane.

"That’s a great team," Kaiser’s Kawazoe said. "They’re balanced. They can shoot it and they can finish inside. We didn’t come out with enough intensity in the third quarter. No. 22 (Nagy) really gave them a spark."

KAISER–Keoua Mahiko 11, Kelsey Lewis 14, Jalen Pinks 0, Isaiah Lundell 5, Isaiah Akiona 2, Nic Tom 0, Jonah Chinen 0, Chance Kalaugher 13.

KAHUKU–Kesi Ah-Hoy 6, Kieran Spencer 0, Alohi Gilman 0, Kenny Spencer 0, Mhelvic Juan 0, Tamamoko Green 5, Keanu Akina 17, Tamanui Nagy 10, Bradlee Anae 3, Samuta Avea 6, Denhym Brooke 5, Hyrum Harris 9.

3-point goals–Kaiser 5 (Lewis 4, Mahiko), Kahuku 5 (Akina 4, Green).

Junior varsity–Kahuku 64, Kalani 40

No. 1 Kalaheo 51, Roosevelt 41

Kaleb Gilmore posted 22 points and Kupaa Harrison added 15 as the Mustangs beat the Rough Riders. 

KALAHEO–Zachary Marrotte 0, Kekai Smith 6, Alec MacLeod 2, Captain Whitlock 2, Kaleb Gilmore 22, Jalen Smith 0, Alex Layi 2, Ashton Arnold 2, Kupaa Harrison 15.

ROOSEVELT–Chaston Marcos 0, Valen Inaura 13, Keanu Furtado 0, Jake Kawasaki 3, Henry Maumalanga 4, Brent Quakenbush 9, Kevin Foster 10, Jason Talbo 2, Jared Elwin 0, Tali Hayme 0, Ben Likio 0, Triton Ramos 0, Kaela Verece 0. 

3-point goals–Kalaheo 2 (Gilmore 2). Roosevelt 1 (Quakenbush).

Junior varsity–Kalaheo 66, Roosevelt 25

Farrington 63, Castle 58

J.R. Francisco scored 15 points, Jake Smith provided a spark with 13, and solid bench play allowed the Governors to remain in the OIA East mix.

David Benevedes had 24 points for Castle.

CASTLE–Chad Figueroa 0, Akea Tolentino 0, Justin Pang 8, Jeremy McGoldrick 0, KJ Ng 20, Bryson Aiwohi 0, David Benevedes 24, Cody Castillo 2, Clay Mitchell 4, Micah Halemanu 0.

FARRINGTON–Keola Kealoha 2, Ranan Mamiya 5, Jake Smith 13, Paul Madamba 0, Makana Correia 4, J.R. Francisco 15, Kapono Kakalia 4, Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo 6, Montana Liana 5, Ton Selga 6, Bernard Dela-Cruz 3.

3-point goals–Castle 7 (Ng 5, Pang 2). Farrington 2 (Smith 2).

Junior varsity: Farrington 58, Castle 41

Kailua 58, Kaimuki 54

Christian Mejia scored 16 points and Hano Kohatsu added 13 to help the Surfriders rally past the Bulldogs.

KAIMUKI–Calvin Henry 9, Nixon Siona 15, Christian Ono 12, Sloan Fuller 1, Joshua Kim 0, Tevita Lino 0, Brian Boyd 2, Sifo Lauvao 6, Shanson Kapanui 5, Billy Masima 4.

KAILUA–Noah Ahyat 6, Kamu Scheer 8, Noah Kawai 3, Nainoa Mercado 5, Hano Kohatsu 13, Martin Tigilau 0, Noah Auld 5, Matthew Gaspar 0, Christian Mejia 16, Miga Gaisoa 2, Kawika Manaba 0, Tristen Akiona 0. 

3-point goals–Kaimuki 7 (Henry 2, Lauvao 2, Ono 2, Siona). Kailua 3 (Ahyat 2, Mercado).

Junior varsity–Kailua 65, Kaimuki 62

McKinley 52, Kalani 49

Macjun Otarra’s 15 first-half points pushed the Tigers past the Falcons.

Jaron Yamauchi had 13 points and Alex Tungpalan 12 for Kalani.

KALANI–Cory Mitchell 0, Dunavan Hahn 9, Jaron Yamauchi 13, Alex Tungpalan 12, Blaise Manabe 3, Chase Santos 0, Jeremy Robinson 0, David Faletoi 1, John Lam 0, Jonathan Suda 3, Juwan Bohannon 8.

MCKINLEY–Dan Villejo 15, Kevin Nagasawa 0, Mark Burke 0, Gilbert Antonio 7, Jonah Howard 9, Macjun Otarra 18, Keanu Pratt 1, Huthifa Abdel-Jawad 2, Niko Pader 0.

3-point goals–Kalani 7 (Tungpalan 4, Manabe, Suda, Yamauchi). McKinley 2 (Antonio, Villejo).

Junior varsity: Kalani 54, McKinley 35

Moanalua 84, Anuenue 46

Statistics not reported.

OIA WEST BOYS

No. 5 Leilehua 55, Waianae 31

Koa Kauhi hit three 3-pointers and finished with 16 points and Joseph Gouty added 11 points as the Mules remained unbeaten in league play.

LEILEHUA–Christian Alvarez 0, Jarron Kim-Raguirag 0, Liam Fitzgerald 1, Latrell Cobb 1, Joseph Gouty 11, Keion Anderson 1, David Tibayan 7, Diego Aguirresanz 0, Jayeon Baine 7, Nicholas Duran 0, Koa Kauhi 16, Anterrio Gainwell 9, J. Alfonso 0, Milton Kaupoe 2. 

WAIANAE–Tyger Rohr 12, Natano Namulauti 4, Jory Mahuka 0, Zeffaniyah Kauihana Kaimimoku 0, Cameron Palmeteer 10, Ikaika Trueman-Reed 0, Paa Manoi-Hyde 0, Kimo Pennington 0, Kade Ambrosio 0, Brendan Ayala 0, Sione Taukolo 0, Greg Agustin 0, Sage Cruz 0, Justice Jardine 5, Losi Mauga 0.

3-point goals–Leilehua 4 (Kauhi 3, Gouty). Waianae 1 (Rohr).

Junior varsity–Waianae 47, Leilehua 45 

Pearl City 32, Aiea 30, OT

Garrette Kanamu scored 12 points, including the only two of overtime on a shot in the paint, as the Chargers edged Na Alii.

AIEA–Cory Walton 0, Kysen Helepololei 10, Joshua Hill 0, Shawn Aque 3, Noah Tadena 0, Michael Jones 4, Christian Kessell 10, Ryan Aquino 3.

PEARL CITY–Sape Tupuola 6, Tylor Canon 0, Chris Roy 6, Pierce McMoore 3, Gilbert Tapat 3, Grant Carter 0, Josh Arrellano 0, Kasey Villalon 2, Garrette Kanamu 12, Brandon Burgher 0. 

3-point goals–Aiea 3 (Aque, Helepololei, Kessell). Pearl City 1 (Tapat).

Junior varsity–Aiea 65, Pearl City 35 

Kapolei 64, Nanakuli 44

Abdel-Kader Zane scored 10 of his game-high 30 points in the third quarter as the Hurricanes blew away the Golden Hawks.

NANAKULI–Kama Van Geison 6, Joshua Lincoln 6, Kale Kanehailua 6, Iversan Sione 6, Lejje Harry 4, Kaleo Kaohu 10, Kahio Kanehailua 6, Sosaia Ofa 0.

KAPOLEI–Zhaine Canne 2, Jayson Manapui 0, Abdel-Kader Zane 30, Josh Wallwork 2, Christopher Metcalf 8, Dillon Pakele 4, Jeremiah Sanchez 7, Saione Faumaina 0, Kainoa Barden 0 , Koa Alvarado 9, Tyquan Womack 2. 

3-point goals–Nanakuli 1 (Lincoln). Kapolei 5 (Zane 4, Alvarado).

Junior varsity–Kapolei 46, Nanakuli 34

Mililani 73, Radford 46

Three Trojans scored double-digits to rout the Rams. 

Kekoa Fields led Mililani with 17 points. 

RADFORD–Jay Horton 15, Jordan Gober 0, Isaiah Lavatai 5, Brandon Campbell 3, Latoine Thompson 0, Tyreese George 4, Jonah Soakai 0, Devin Burrus 0, Deontae Williams 0, Jordan Riley 16, Jordan Annaguey 3. 

MILILANI–Chanse Ramirez 6, Kamaki Pacleb 6, Braiden Rosario 2, Cameron Muh 0, Raekwon Cherry 5, Clarence Rodriguez 0, Jonathan Orpillia 0, Teylor Kaneshiro 2, Kingston Nishimura 3, Kekoa Fields 17, Micah Harrell 0, Kalakaua Timoteo 16, Mason Mackey 0, Clarence Gathers 16, Marcus Mafi 0.

3-point goals–Radford 4 (Horton 3, Riley). Mililani 2 (Ramirez, Nishimura).

Junior varsity–Radford 47, Mililani 27

Waialua 66, Waipahu 59

Royce Tashiro and Lancen Kuni combined for 30 points to lead the Bulldogs over the Marauders.

WAIALUA–Lancen Kuni 14, Royce Tashiro 16, Royce Gasper 6, Gian Layugan 11, Sean Murphy 11, Virgilio Bareng 0, Kaimi Kamai 5, Richard Kamakea 0, Caleb Apau 3.

WAIPAHU–Airon Castaneda 4, Dan Viloria 0, Daniel-Alen Ramos 0, Kevin Pilotin 0, Richard Maifea 0, Jasper Sebastian 2, Andrew Pecpec 6, Khyrsster Ipalari 9, Christian Castrence 4, Aerianne Paned 10, Jeminai Solomua 3, Elijah Taimatuia 18, Kameron Tomas 3.

3-point goals–Waialua 3 (Apau, Layugan, Tashiro). Waipahu 3 (Castaneda, Ipalari, Tomas).

Junior varsity–Waipahu 54, Waialua 37