Hilo had a good shot, make that two shots, to extend its season.
Hilo had a good shot, make that two shots, to extend its season.
Waiakea survived a 68-66 thriller over the Vikings in the BIIF Division I boys basketball semifinals Friday, continuing a quest for its first league title since 2009.
With 6.5 seconds left, the Vikings inbounded from halfcourt and a perfect pass found Lawrence Padasdao in the right corner. The junior forward got a clean look and launched a shot, but it bounced off the rim.
Good fortune went to Hilo because Kaimana Kawaha was stationed at the left elbow. The ball bounced right to the senior guard, who grabbed the rebound and fired. But his putback also couldn’t find the bottom the net, and good fortune went the other way.
Noah Ferriera scored 23 points, Calvin Mattos 20, Kahinu Alapai nine and Louie Ondo had seven points for the Warriors (13-0), who already have a berth to the HHSAA state tournament, which will be held Feb. 17-20 on Oahu.
Isaac Liu scored 24 points, Padasdao had 21 and Josh Breitbarth added 13 points for the Vikings (6-7), who last went to states in 2012.
It was the final game for Hilo senior starters Breitbarth, Kawaha and E.J. Narido.
The fourth quarter was action-packed because both teams hit almost everything. Waiakea buried 6 of 12 field goals while Hilo was 5 of 10 from the field.
At the line, the Warriors sank 7 of 11 free throws while the Vikings went 5 of 6.
Liu hit a jump shot to give Kamehameha a 59-55 lead with under four minutes, but Waiakea’s perimeter scoring power reversed the lead.
Ferreira got a layup, Ondo followed with another, was fouled and hit the free throw, then Mattos dropped another layup for a 62-59 lead with 2:58 left.
From there, Liu got Hilo within a point twice. He swished a 3-pointer and later made a pair of free throws to close Waiakea’s lead to 67-66 with 16.9 seconds remaining.
Mattos hit one of two free throws for the final margin, 68-66, with 14.1 seconds to play, setting up Hilo’s two shots to keep the thriller going.
Hilo 14 22 15 16 — 66
Waiakea 21 23 5 19 — 68