Kiandray Rideout came off the bench and scored 13 points, including nine points in the fourth quarter, to rescue Hilo in a 47-40 BIIF win over Konawaena on Wednesday night at the Vikings Gym.
Rideout, a 5-foot-11 sophomore, scored on a putback to get the Vikings within 31-30 with under seven minutes and followed with a steal and layup for a 32-31 lead. Rayson Padilla hit a floater and Rideout scored off a Konawaena turnover to cap Hilo’s 9-0 run.
“I liked how we stepped up at the end of the game, and Kiandray really did good,” Padilla said. “We really worked on our defense, and that helped us win this game. I had confidence. Every time I had the ball I thought of going to the basket and getting free throws. Without our defense, we wouldn’t have won this game.”
Padilla scored 17 points, and Peyton Pana muscled his way for 10 points to lead the Vikings, who committed 18 turnovers, including five in a tide-turning third quarter.
“Our defense came up like how we had to in the end,” Pana said. “I gave it my all, and we came out clutch.”
Kamaehu Makanui scored 12 points and Allan Coby Molina added eight points for the Wildcats, who had 24 turnovers, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
In a sluggish, low-percentage shooting first half, Hilo led 18-9 at the break, a 16-minute display of all types of missed shots, layups, two inches from the basket, close-range putbacks, 10-foot jumpers, and 3-pointers.
In the first quarter, Pana and Padilla scored five points each. Hilo went on an 8-0 run, behind Pana’s thee points, and three points from Padilla, who capped the run with a steal and layup for a 12-9 lead.
“It was a really good game. Kona is a scrappy team and gave us fits with a lot of mismatches,” Hilo coach Ben Pana said. “Kona was more physical than us, but our guys in the end did the job that they had to do, at least defend our home court.
“Kiandray was the MVP of the game. He took over at the end and made a lot of steals and baskets to put us ahead. He was excellent on defense and consistent throughout the whole game. He did really well. I’m proud of that kid.”
Molina, the brother of sisters Chanelle, Celena Jane, and Cherilyn, hit a 15-foot jump shot to get the Wildcats within 12-9 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Hilo’s long-armed defense stuffed Konawaena drives to the post and held the Wildcats scoreless in the eight-minute period.
Rideout scored three points to start the second period. He sank a layup, missed a layup but was fouled and sank both free throws for a 16-9 lead.
Pana sank 2 of 2 free throws for an 18-9 lead with 26.6 seconds left.
Konawaena had 11 turnovers in the first half, one more than Hilo.
Hilo almost came undone in the third quarter because of poor ball-handling. One of the Viking guards committed three turnovers, the last which led to Makanui’s 3-pointer to get the Wildcats within 22-20 with 4:18 left.
Tevita Lavaka buried a 3-pointer to push Konawaena ahead 28-26 with 1:15 remaining in the third quarter.
Padilla dropped a layup before Konawaena junior Taven Hiraishi hit a jump shot at the buzzer to give the Wildcats a 31-28 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
Hilo’s ball-handling should immediately get better with the return of senior guard RJ Solmerin, who missed the game. Whenever Padilla didn’t have the ball, Konawaena’s ball pressure created turnovers.
Konawaena was the BIIF runner-up in 2020 and had a three-year championship run from 2013 to 2015.
Hilo’s last BIIF championships were in 2010 and in 2000, when the Vikings won the BIIF and state titles.
Girls
Hilo 72, Pahoa 7: Ayana Meyer and her sister Alexa fit right in with the Hilo High girls basketball team, scoring 16 and 12 points, respectively, to lead the Vikings/
Keirstyn Agonias used her 5-foot-9 frame to added 12 points in the paint for the Vikings (1-0), who timed Pahoa’s dribble and poked the ball away to force 29 turnovers. Veda Galima added 10 points, and Tiffany Castillo came off the bench and had eight points.
Ayana Meyer, a senior guard, was glad to be back after COVID-19 canceled last season. She’s made a smooth transition after transferring from Waiakea.
“It was good to get back out on the court,” she said. “I like our team chemistry, and it feels good to play with this team. We have good team chemistry on and off the court.
“I just focused and know my strength, and shoot the ball when I’m open.”
Hilo had just four turnovers, all in the second half when the running clock kicked in.
The Vikings showed a willingness to share the ball and took open shots. Mostly, they hounded the Daggers, forced turnovers and formed a conga line of easy layups.
Ayana Meyer opened with three straight baskets, a layup, a bank shot and a putback. Agonias hit a layup off a fourth straight turnover for an 8-0 lead. Ayana Meyer scored another layup off a turnover, and Alexa Meyer drilled a 3-pointer for a 15-0 cushion.
Kuuipo Sylva was fouled and hit 1 of 2 free throws. She later hit 2 of 2 free throws before Hilo closed with a 13-0 run, capped by Galima’s layup for a 34-3 lead.
Sylva scored six points, including a 3-pointer, and Azariya Brown sank one free throw for the Daggers (0-1), who struggled against Hilo’s ball pressure.
Late in the second quarter, sophomore forward Quinn Waiki scored six straight points to give Hilo a 55-6 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Kalea Harris scored on a putback, Alexa Meyer hit her second 3-pointer, Agonias scored close to the basket, and Castillo scored to cap a 9-0 run.
Galima opened the fourth quarter with a 3-ball, Brown sank 1 of 2 free throws, then Kayzee Somerin scored, Harris drained 1 of 2 free throws and Agonias hit a jump shot for the final score.