To get back on statewide television, Kohala’s boys basketball team likely will have to earn it, but in some regards Cowboys coach Kihei Kapeliela would prefer his team fly under the radar.
The spotlight will shine on others Tuesday, when Spectrum OC16 will televise a BIIF basketball doubleheader between Kamehameha and Hilo at the Vikings’ gym. (The boys matchup, which is set to start at 7 p.m. and follows the girls game at 5:30 p.m., pairs two of the favorites in Division I).
It’s significant and positive moment for BIIF athletics, though Kapeliela couldn’t help but remind Spectrum OC16 play-by-play announcer Felipe Ojastro – the two have kept in touch since Kohala won the 2020 HHSAA D-II crown on Oahu – of a simple fact: The Cowboys already have beaten Vikings and Warriors this season.
“I gave him a hint that we play HPA at the end of the season,” Kapeliela said.
While the bright lights aren’t likely to come Feb. 15 to Kapaau, that may just be where the best team on the island resides.
The Cowboys (2-0), who beat Hilo in the preseason, earned the latest notch in their belt Friday night with a 62-55 home win against Kamehameha in which they relied on their Big Three. Seniors O’shen Cazimero (22 points), Koby Agbayani (21) and La’akea Kauka combined for all but three of their team’s points to win a foul-filled contest.
“Our defense and our conditioning carried us,” Kapeliela said. “We knew it was going to be a challenge. Kamehameha is a talented team. Young, but they are super talented. It wouldn’t’ surprise me at all if they won the Division I title.”
It was encouraging to Kapeliela that Kohala took a one-point lead to the half despite playing large portions of the first 16 minutes without standout guard Cazimero, who was saddled with foul trouble.
“Koby and La’a stepped up,” Kapeliela said.
Agbayani hit four 3-pointers, while Kauka finished with a double-double, collecting 16 points, 13 rebounds and three steals. The Cowboys led by as many as 13 points before Kauka fouled out.
Kohala no doubt gets a kick out of beating Division I teams, and Kapeliela reminded his seniors that they’ve never lost to Kamehameha.
However, no matter the opponent, Kapeliela said, Kohala brings the same mentality.
“We’re going to play tough defense, we’re going to play full-court man-to-man, we’re going to try to wear you out from the beginning to the fourth quarter,” he said. “Our thing is you have to hope you’re conditioning is as good as ours.”
Not as encouraging – nor for Warriors coach Mea Wong, Kapeliela said – was the fact the teams were called for a combined 55 fouls.
“The thing that is frustrating to me is that when we get to states … if you watch the Oahu teams play, the (referees) don’t call those touch fouls,” Kapeliela said. “They let them play. As long they aren’t dirty or cheap shots.
“If we don’t play physical with a little bit of touching, we’re going to get killed on Oahu, because that is how they play there.”
Freshman guards Kiai Yasso and Nixis Yamauchi each scored 14 points for Kamehameha, which will take a 2-1 record into its matchup with Hilo (3-0). On Friday night in Kailua-Kona, the Vikings spoiled Kealakehe’s opener with a 70-15 victory.
Girls
Saturday
Konawaena 38, Hilo 34: Kaliana Salazar-Harrell and and Braelyn Kauhi each scored 12 points as the Wildcats (5-0) held off the Vikings in a battle of unbeatens in Kealakekua.
Alexa Meyer led the Vikings (5-1) with 14 points, and Veda Galima added 12.
Thursday
Pahoa 49, Christian Liberty 41: Florie Tagabi nailed seven 3-pointers and scored 23 points to help the Daggers hold off the visiting Canefire, who got a standout effort from Kamille Febo-Santiago.
Febo-Santiago scored 27 points and made four 3s as Christian Liberty (0-3) trailed just 20-19 at the half.
Jaylynn Kaawaloa-Alidon made her presence felt in the third quarter for Pahoa (2-3), scoring 13 of her 15 points in the second half. Kuuipo Sylva added nine points.
Each team scored eight points in the fourth quarter, when Tagabi made her final two 3-pointers
Febo-Santiago, a junior, consistently got the free-throw line, finishing 7 of 11. Audrey Akina-Makaneole added eight points.
