That Pahoa was stuck on 30 points in regulation was largely a result of an uncharacteristically low-scoring game by Tolby Saito.
That Pahoa was stuck on 30 points in regulation was largely a result of an uncharacteristically low-scoring game by Tolby Saito.
But Saito more than made up for it in overtime Saturday night, scoring nine of his 12 points in the extra session to point the Daggers past Waiakea 42-35 in the championship game of the Hilo High Holiday Prep Classic.
How else could the boys basketball preseason end than with Saito and the Daggers playing in a final? Pahoa won its second tournament, sandwiching the Hilo and Keaau-Waiakea titles around a runner-up finish at the Cardinal Classic.
Keinan Agonias led the Daggers with 16 points, and he made a basket to start overtime before Saito took over. The senior guard hit a 3-pointer to give Pahoa a 35-30 lead and added four free throws before fouling out and collecting tournament MVP honors
Cody Kojima led Waiakea with 17 points.
The Warriors held the ball for more than a minute to get the last shot in regulation, though the strategy nearly cost them the game. Calvin Mattos missed a runner with under three second remaining in regulation, and Pahoa’s Kili Olivera was fouled on the rebound.
But Olivera missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Mattos’s attempt at a buzzer-beater near half-court drew iron as the game went to OT.
Pahoa opens the Big Island Interscholastic Federation regular season Jan. 6 at Honokaa, while the Warriors visit St. Joseph.
Pahoa 8 10 6 6 12 —42
Waiakea 11 6 5 8 5 —35
Keaau 43, Honokaa 41: Reynaldo Arcellana scored 16 points and Renden Tavares added 11 to lead the Cougars to third place.
Shyrome Batin led the Dragons for the third consecutive night with 14 points. Johnathan Charbonneau finished with 13.
Keaau trailed by six at halftime.
Honokaa 11 12 8 10 —41
Keaau 9 8 12 14 —43
Kohala 69, St. Joseph 53: The Cowboys claimed fifth behind Justin Agbayani’s 22 points and 12 by Maui Hook.
Cole DeSilva scored 21 points for the Cardinals and Kaena Naho’opi’l had 10.
Kohala put the game away with a 22-point fourth quarter.
St. Joseph 11 12 17 13 -53
Kohala 14 17 16 22—69
Hilo 49, Ka’u 41: Crescen Nobriga (12 points) and Juan Aikichy (10) led the Vikings to seventh.
The Trojans’ Brian Gascon finished with a game-high 29 points, lifting his tournament average to 24 points per game.
Ka’u 7 9 10 15 —41
Hilo 9 11 11 18 —49