It’s tough to gauge how good Kamehameha really is because the team is still nursing starters Izayah Chartrand-Penera and Koby Tabuyo-Kahele and sixth man Randon Arima back to health.
All were out with injuries at the Keaau/Waiakea basketball tournament on Friday, and the Warriors could have used the ball-handling of Chartrand-Penera and Tabuyo-Kahale.
Kamehameha suffered more turnovers than Keaau 2 (basically, the junior varsity team), 17-13, but prevailed 42-27 at the Cougars Gym, outrebounding the smaller Cougars and holding them to one shot.
Kilohana Haasenritter came to the rescue with 12 points, and Teva Reynolds battled under the boards to add 10 points while Micah Low and Chase Bridges-Hunter had six points each for the Warriors, who went scoreless over the last four minutes.
Kalai Souza and Curtis Nethon, a pair of sophomores, had six points each to lead the Cougars, who gave Kamehameha ample opportunity to practice its court awareness. Keaau kept running plays off ball-screens.
The Cougars closed the game with a 9-0 run. Nethon hit a pair of free throws, Philip Javier followed with a jump shot, and MJ Abella added to more free throws.
Souza scored, and Nethon sank one of two free throws for the final score.
After the game, Kamehameha coach Mea Wong pointed out the obvious.
“Once we get healthy, we’ll be fine,” he said. “We’re young, and we’ll need everybody to contribute every game to be successful as we want to be. We don’t have someone who will carry the offensive burden. We don’t have that one guy who will stand out. We need our guys to average eight to 10 points every night. It’ll be a different style, and that’s something I’ll enjoy.”
Haasenritter came off the bench last year. But he brings his football skill-set to the basketball court. He’s quick enough to beat everyone down the court on transition layups, and he’s got a soft touch to drill 3-pointers (he buried one triple).
“He does what he does every day, being athletic,” Wong said. “I don’t want to put him a box. When he sees a lane and has a great opportunity, I want him to attack the basket.”
Kaupena Yasso, a 6-1 sophomore forward, saw limited minutes and scored two points. He’s a solid post scorer and has a size advantage over smaller defenders. The Warriors will run their post offense through him.
“He’s probably our best shooter,” Wong said. “He’ll help us with his size advantage.”
Reynolds didn’t play ball last season. But he’s a nice addition as a hard-nosed rebounder, controlling the paint. He’s also got a smooth touch around the rim, scoring putbacks and getting easy points.
Rebounding won’t be an issue when he’s in the game. He kept getting the Warriors extra possessions against the Cougars, who had a hard time bumping him off his spot. It helps when you’re 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds and know something about leverage from playing football.
“He brings toughness, and that’s something we want to instill in this group.”
Yasso, Tabuyo-Kahale, and Chartrand-Penera are members of the coach Randy Apele’s Hoops Dreams club team, which won a Las Vegas tournament over the summer. Chartand-Penera came back as a different player.
“He’s added some muscle,” Wong said. “We’ll have Koby at the point, and Izayah will guard the other team’s best player, and play inside and out for us.
Spencer Yoshizumi didn’t score any points. But his ball-handing and court savvy caught the eye of Wong, who noted that he’s the son of former Waiakea sharpshooter Myron Yoshizumi.
“We brought him up from the junior varsity,” Wong said. “He’s got great court vision. We’re looking to groom him to be our next point guard.”
With Waiakea crowned as the BIIF favorite, Wong pointed out it’s a nice feeling entering the season without a bull’s-eye on your back.
“Every year, it’s Kamehameha, Hilo, Konawaena or Waiakea as the favorite,” he said. “It’s nice to fly under the radar.”
