Punahou, Saint Francis win state basketball titles
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Punahou head coach Darren Matsuda, right, smiled as his team hoisted the championship trophy.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Led by guard Kameron Ng, left, Saint Francis defended its Division II state championship.
Punahou turned on the heat and its pressure defense to stifle Kahuku in a 64-37 runaway win in the final of the Snapple/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships tonight at Stan Sheriff Center.
Tamatoa Falatea scored 12 points off the bench, center Duke Clemens added 10 and Punahou shot 51 percent (23-for-45) from the field. Cole Mausolf, Cole Arceneaux and Hunter Hosoda added nine points each for the Buffanblu (29-4 overall including nonconference games).
Punahou fell in the Division I state title games of 2016 to ‘Iolani and ’17 to Kahuku.
Tolu Smith, Kahuku’s 6-foot-10 senior, finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.
Earlier tonight, Kameron Ng scored 11 of his 29 points in a pivotal second quarter as St. Francis overwhelmed Damien 76-52 to repeat as Division II state champions.
Ng’s younger brother Kordel added 15 points and seven rebounds, and Bryce Nishida added 11 points for the Saints (29-3 overall including nonconference games).
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Lindon Sevilleja scored 12 points, Crumel Mooring had 11 and Kolin Galdiano added 10 for Damien.
