KEAAU — Honokaa’s quickness, especially with its full-court press and from Kelvin Falk, gave Kamehameha a Mauna Kea-sized headache and led to a major upset.
After going scoreless in the first half, Falk dropped 15 points to lift the Dragons over the Warriors 58-55 in a BIIF basketball game on Saturday night at Koaia Gym.
Koa Callihan added 10 points, Jonathan Charbonneau nine and Kamuela Spencer-Herring eight for the Division II Dragons (1-1), who shot 43 percent (18 of 42) from the floor.
Down 35-23 at halftime, Falk, a speedy junior guard, scored 11 points in the third quarter, hitting a 3-pointer and sinking three layups. In the period’s eight minutes, the Honokaa sparkplug looked unstoppable.
Falk has a slender build and stellar body control, and no one could stay in front of him. He zipped through defenders and seams in Kamehameha’s zone. His quickness changed the game.
Honokaa outscored Kamehameha 23-7 in the third quarter, and Falk’s scoring spurt gave Honokaa a 46-42 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
The Dragons secured the upset from the line. They hit 10 of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter; Kamehameha went 8 of 10.
Besides a full-court press, the Dragons also played a tenacious man defense and forced 23 Kamehameha turnovers. Honokaa also struggled with its ball-control and had 21 giveaways.
But the visitors capitalized on the turnovers, outscoring the Warriors, 15-9. In the third quarter, Kamehameha had five giveaways and Falk scored off every single one.
Pukana Vincent had 13 points, Nalu Kahapea and Cullen Cariaga 10 each and Kaeo Batacan nine for the Division I Warriors (2-1), who shot 37 percent (17 of 46), including just 21 percent (5 of 24) in the second half.
Kahapea had eight points in the first half, and Honokaa did a much better job denying him good post position in the second half. That was a huge factor because Kamehameha’s outside shooting went missing in the final 16 minutes.
It was a foul-filled game with each team attacking the rim. Honokaa went 20 of 28 from the line while Kamehameha made 18 of 24 free throws.
Vincent buried a pair of free throws to hand the Warriors a 51-48 lead with 4:45 remaining.
Falk answered with two free throws and Callihan scored on a putback. It was 52-51, and the Dragons never trailed again.
With 55.6 seconds left, Vincent buried one of two free throws to tie it. But Honokaa’s Micah Lorenzo was fouled and sank both free throws for a 55-53 lead with 27.3 seconds to go.
The Dragons used their quickness to attack Kamehameha’s 1-2-2 zone, which did little to slow the game’s tempo. Honokaa’s interior passing set up a lot of high-percentage looks.
The Warriors bolted to a 10-0 lead and closed the first half with a 9-1 run. They held the ball with 30 seconds left, and Vincent scored under the basket right before the buzzer for a 35-23 halftime lead.
Kamehameha’s last turnover was a costly one.
After Lorenzo nailed one of two free throws for a 55-53 lead with 20.7 seconds remaining, the Warriors turned the ball over for a final time.
Charbonneau sank two free throws for a 57-53 lead with 14.1 seconds left.
In the nine-year history of statewide classification, Honokaa has never advanced to the HHSAA Division II state tournament.
The Dragons last went to states in 2006 and ’07 as the BIIF runner-up. Their last BIIF title was in 2001.
The common thread among the D-II teams that advanced to states was a steady point guard from Kohala’s Brandon Bautista and Kealen Figueroa, St. Joseph’s Will Scanlan-Leite, Hawaii Prep’s Kalan Camero, and Pahoa’s Tolby Saito.
That lack of ball-handling was painfully apparent last season in the BIIF semifinals. Kohala eliminated Honokaa 88-71, forcing 38 turnovers and grabbing far more rebounds, 47-31.
However, the Dragons have a good shot as anybody to claim the BIIF championship or a state spot. That’s because there’s parity all over the place.
Defending BIIF champion Pahoa returns three starters Keinan Agonias, Joel Rosario Jr. and Kili Oliveira but has no depth. Kohala, the league runner-up, lost all its starters. Hawaii Prep returns only one starter in Jonas Skupeika.
The Dragons may not have a true ball-handler like those BIIF teams from the past. But they may not need one, especially with the way they play defense.
In the junior varsity game, it was Kamehameha 51, Honokaa 45.
Honokaa 10 13 23 12 — 58
Kamehameha 20 15 7 13 — 55
St. Joseph 52, Kohala 37: Manato Fukuda scored 20 points to lead the Cardinals (1-1) to victory on the road. Cole DeSilva filled out the box score with a 11 point, 10 rebound double-double performance for St. Joe.
Chance Pang led the Cowboys (1-2) with 14 points in the loss.
Waiakea 64, Keaau 49: Kahinu Alapai scored 16 points and the Warriors got off to a strong start on the road to take sole possession of first place in Division I.
Calvin Mattos chipped in with 15 points and Noah Ferreira had 12 for Waiakea (3-0), which led 21-10 after the first quarter.
All three of the Warriors’ wins have come against fellow Division I teams, and they can gain another leg up in the league race with a victory Friday at home against Kamehameha.
Charles Caldwell-Kaii finished with 17 points for the Cougars (1-2), and Damion Scandrick collected 10.
In JV, Waiakea won 41-34.
Waiakea 21 17 14 12 – 64
Keaau 10 15 9 15 – 49
