He drove to the basket, he hit pull-up jumpers, he posted up, he made 3-pointers, he played the point and he even made his free throws.
Hilo’s Isaac Liu had himself a game Monday night at Honokaa Armory.
The sophomore capped a masterful 40-point performance with 14 in the fourth quarter, carrying the Vikings to a 78-72 victory in a BIIF season-opener and making coach Ben Pana’s debut on the boys side a successful one.
“If you would have told me (Isaac) was going to score 40 before the game, I would have bought you lunch instead, because that would have been easier,” Pana said. “What I like about Isaac is his maturity.”
Liu might not have been the likeliest BIIF player to go for 40 on opening night, but Hilo was in desperate need of finding rhythm on offense after it found itself trailing by 15 at the end of the first quarter.
Liu stepped up with a 20-point second quarter.
“In the second quarter, we found a mismatch with Isaac against Honokaa’s man defense,” Pana said. “He was active going to the basket and kept taking his man off the dribble.”
As for an encore, Liu and the Vikings host Kamehameha on Wednesday night. Pana said matchups will dictate where the ball goes.
On Monday, it went to Liu, who started playing in the high post when the Dragons went to a 2-3 zone, and played point guard in the fourth quarter as the Vikings overcame a three-point deficit after after the third quarter.
“He took over the game,” Pana said, “and was able to beat some double teams.”
EJ Narido (17 points) and Lawrence Padasdao (12) also reached double-figures for the Vikings. Liu was 3 of 5 from 3-point range and was 9 of 10 from the free throw line.
The Dragons placed four scorers in double-figures, but they couldn’t keep up with Liu. Backed by an energized crowd, Kamuela Spencer-Herring led the way with 15, Jonathan Charbonneau and Koa Callihan each had 14 and Kysen Datuin added 13.
Pana was happy to see a loud atmosphere return to Honokaa Armory.
“They made it a tough place to play,” Pana said. “Everybody that was watching the game was into it. It reminded my of my playing days.”
In junior varsity, Hilo won 61-46.
Waiakea 77, Kealakehe 54: Calvin Mattos scored 22 points and Louie Ondo added 18 in the Warriors’ road victory.
The Waveriders’ Blaine Broberg led all scorers with 28.
Keaau 53, Kohala 40: Kirk Imai led all scorers with 16 and the Cougars got going in the second quarter en route to a home victory.
Charles Caldwell-Kaai chipped in with 14 and Damion Scandrick had 12 for Keaau, which led by three at halftime after scoring 22 in the second quarter.
Chance Pang and Maui Hook each led the Cowboys with nine points.
Keaau won the JV game 54-32.
Kohala 10 15 8 7 – 40
Keaau 6 22 11 14–53
Laupahoehoe at Konawaena: The Seasiders had to forfeit the season-opening game in Kealakekua because of a lack of players.
In junior varsity, the Wildcats beat Parker 54-14.
