HondaReport.com - Boys’ Basketball: Kaimuki, Roosevelt advance to McKinley Invitational final

Boys’ Basketball: Kaimuki, Roosevelt advance to McKinley Invitational final

Moanalua High School’s ‘Winter Fantasy’ proved to be a nightmare for its basketball team Friday. Kaimuki, playing in the real world, rolled over Moanalua to advance to the final of the McKinley Invitational.

HONOLULU—Even at less than full strength, the Kaimuki Bulldogs showed signs of promise.

With two potential starters out due to academic probation, the Bulldogs got plenty of help off the bench in a 54-43 win over Moanalua Friday night. Kaimuki advanced to the final of the McKinley Invitational with the win.

In the other semifinal, Roosevelt fought off a second-half rally to eliminate host McKinley 60-52.

Word of Life and Baldwin won their consolation-bracket matchups. Word of Life edged Maryknoll, 33-30, and Baldwin overwhelmed Waipahu, 51-36.

Moanalua, playing without six seniors who attended the “Winter Fantasy” ball, was also without one of the best big men in the state, Marquise Duvall. The 6-foot-5 sophomore sat out due to an ankle injury, and will likely not play until Moanalua begins play in the Iolani Prep Classic Monday.

Kaimuki may have won under any circumstance. The Bulldogs pestered the Menehune with a matchup zone and executed with hardly a flaw offensively for a good stretch of the first half. Kaimuki led 23-5 and was never seriously threatened. The final 11-point margin was the closest of the second half as the Bulldogs played its reserves liberally.

Jimmy Miyasaka scored 17 points in part-time duty, while Dexter Tautofi muscled his way to 11 points, all in the paint. Guard Jordan Wong added nine points.

Joseph Nishimura paced Moanalua with 11 points, and center Eric Keys hustled for 10. It was the first loss in preseason for the Menehune after five wins.

Roosevelt 60, McKinley 52—Guard James Castro pumped in 19 points to lead the Rough Riders into the title game. Junior forward Danton Balbas gave his team consistent low post scoring with 12 points, all on short jumpers, and Daniel Ki hustled for 11 points.

Robert Holder paced McKinley with 21 points, helping the Tigers rally to within 53-50 with two minutes remaining. Josh Valdez added 12 points.

Roosevelt endured the rally as Castro sank a 6-foot bank shot to extend the lead to 55-50 with 1:53 remaining. Ki, a 5-10 senior, hit three of his four free throws in the final 29 seconds to provide breathing room for the Rough Riders.

The Tigers played without three key players, including Abel Werner, due to the football all-star exhibition game at Aloha Stadium.

Word of Life 33, Maryknoll 30—In consolation play, the Firebrands outlast the Spartans in a low-scoring second half for a close win. Kona Pickard, a 6-foot senior center, came through with a steal and the go-ahead layup to give WLA a 31-30 lead with 1:56 remaining. Maryknoll missed on an open jump shot moments later, and Pickard drove for a layup to give the Firebrands a 33-30 lead with 30 seconds left.

Baldwin 51, Waipahu 36—The smaller Bears used a patient offense and tenacious man defense to stifle the Marauders. Baldwin used a 19-2 run in the second quarter to take command, and head coach Wayne Gushiken liberally substituted with platoons. Waipahu managed to pull within 31-23, but got no closer as the Bears used their patented high-screen motion offense to get plenty of high-percentage layups.

Trenton Himalaya scored 13 points and Cody Nakamura added nine for Baldwin, a squad with just one senior.