HondaReport.com - Boys’ Basketball: Hawaii Prep, Nanakuli, University and host MPI advance

The opening round of the Mid-Pacific Invitational featured a classic case of revenge (Hawaii Prep-Punahou II), the momentum of one of the hottest teams in the state (University), the emergence of a potential contender in the O’ahu Interscholastic Association West (Nanakuli) and the birth of a young, but spirited new athletic program (Thompson Academy).

A week ago, Hawaii Prep suffered a 53-45 loss to Punahou’s Division II team, sending Ka Makani into the losers’ bracket of its own tournament.

Thursday night, HPA exacted a measure of revenge, knocking out Punahou II, 52-42, in the opening round of the Mid-Pacific Invitational. In other games, University powered past Waialua 48-37, Nanakuli rallied past Hawaii Baptist 51-36, and host Mid-Pacific routed Myron B. Thompson Academy 72-16.

The tourney resumes today at 3:30 p.m. with consolation play. Waialua plays Hawaii Baptist at 3:30 p.m., followed by Punahou II and Thompson at 5. The semifinals begin with University and Nanakuli at 6:30 p.m., followed by Hawaii Prep and Mid-Pacific at 8.

Hawaii Prep, a small private school in Waimea, used good ballhandling to withstand Punahou’s rugged man-to-man defense. Matthew Martin scored 12 points, point guard Xavier Keelan added 11 and center Max Unger added 10 for HPA.

Mikey Ching scored 12 to lead Punahou. Chuck Halvorson added 10 points and Clint Bidwell added nine for the Buffanblu.

HPA rotated fewer players this time around after experimenting with the entire lineup last week. Unger, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound senior who will play football for the University of Oregon next fall, was unmovable in the post. He got lots of help down low from a host of tall Ka Makani. Keelan’s ballhandling skills proved clutch in the final minutes against Punahou’s fullcourt pressure.

University 48, Waialua 37—David Johnson scored nine points in a row, making five-straight free throws, as the Junior Rainbows broke open a tied game.

The scrappy Bulldogs pulled with 37-all midway through the fourth quarter when Johnson took command. He hit a pair of mid-range jump shots and drilled his foul shots as University extended its lead to 46-37. John Duro, a forward-center, added nine points and James Cabas tallied eight for University, which improved to a surprising 5-1 in preseason.

University has been busy in the early preseason, racking up wins over Kaiser (44-39), Wai’anae (46-40), McKinley (42-37) and Castle (46-37). The Junior ‘Bows’ only defeat was against Kaimuki, 57-55. All games were on the road.

Nanakuli 51, Hawaii Baptist 36—Rolando Celes poured in 19 points and James Chandler added 11, including a pair of treys, as the Golden Hawks soared over the Eagles. Justin Luavasa chipped in with 10 points for Nanakuli.

Mid-Pacific 72, Thompson Academy 16—Burton Woodhull scored 21 points and Bryson Bernie added 15 as the Owls flew by the Sharks. Keo Evans-Ganda led the Sharks with nine points.

The game was Thompson Academy’s debut in high school athletics. For more about Thompson Academy, see this story.