KEAAU – Hilo played through all sorts of obstacles to take down Kamehameha, shooting just 31 percent in the first half and having its top players, Kaukahi Alameda and Jonah Tominaga, tagged with four fouls in the fourth quarter.
But the Vikings caught fire from long distance in the second half to prevail against the Warriors 51-44 in a BIIF Division I basketball showdown on Saturday night at Koaia Gym.
The Vikings shot 7 of 12 from 3-point range, including 4 of 5 in the second half and made 45 percent on field goals.
Rayson Padilla, who had 3 triples, finished with 13 points, Alameda, who had two 3-pointers, added 10 points, and Mason Galima scored nine points for Hilo (2-1), which made 5 of 11 free throws, including 4 of 4 in the last 25 seconds.
Austin Kaleo powered his way for 15 points, and Izayah Chartrand-Penera scored eight points for the Warriors (1-3), who fell to Waiakea 53-45 on Wednesday when they struggled to cover perimeter shooting.
Kamehameha shot just 35 percent from the field and went 1 of 14 from long distance. Hilo’s speed was helpful to close out the perimeter shooters. The Warriors missed out on easy point and made just 10 of 20 free throws.
In the fourth quarter, Kamehameha jumped on a 7-0 run. Chartrand-Penera swished a 3-pointer, Yasso scored on a putback, and Kaleo had another putback to get the Warriors within 34-32 with 6:39 left.
That was just a small part of Kaleo’s big-man clinic. He later got another putback for a basket and scored on a spin move to cut Hilo’s lead to 45-40 with 2:45 remaining.
The Vikings had to play disciplined defense because both Tominaga and Alameda picked up their fourth fouls in the middle of ht fourth quarter.
The first half was a slow-paced, half-court battle that featured few fast-break baskets and ended in a 21-21 tie with both teams shooting under 32 percent.
The Warriors did a stellar job covering Hilo’s ace scorer Alameda, who was held to just five points. Either Randon Arima or Chartrand-Penera fronted him and Kaleo waited near the basket to interrupt his drives to the rim.
Kamehameha moved the ball and had patient shot-selection but only made 5 of 17 from the field in the first half. Yasso warmed up in the second quarter when he caught the ball at the elbow and twice hit turnaround jumpers.
Hilo trailed 11-5 after the first quarter, then knocked down 3-pointers in the second period. Padilla sank a 3-ball, Kasen Mehau followed with another, and Alameda drilled one from long distance for a 21-18 lead.
But Koby Tabuyo-Kahele swished a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie it at halftime.
The Vikings had a good start to open the third quarter with consecutive 3s by Galima and Alameda. And on defense, Hilo’s help side defense was on high alert. Tominaga drew an offensive charge call to get an extra possession for Hilo, Alameda later got a block and a basket for a 29-23 lead.
Then Padilla hit a 3-pointer to help the Viks shoot 3 of 4 from beyond the arc to take a 34-25 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the junior varsity game, it was Kamehameha 39, Hilo 34.
Hilo 5 16 13 17 — 51
Kamehameha 11 10 4 19 — 44