By Paul Honda
Losses? What losses?
The ‘Iolani Raiders, fortified by the return of four starters, zoomed past Radford 68-39 in the opening game of the ‘Iolani Classic this afternoon.
‘Iolani, which lost to Keaau and Hilo last week at the St. Joseph/Waiakea Invitational, had spurts of dominance, particularly in the first half. The Raiders’ man-to-man defense stifled Radford and forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter.
Anchoring the Raiders through fastbreak flurries was center Josiah Sukumaran. The 6-foot-3 junior led ‘Iolani with 14 points and nine rebounds. Four of those caroms were on the offensive glass, and he also hustled for four of his team’s 14 steals.
For the most part, though, the Raiders were just happy to get their full lineup together for the first time.
“The big thing is not to panic after losses. They’re just getting their basketball legs under them,” first-year head coach Dean Shimamoto said.
‘Iolani played four games at the Big Island tourney without forwards Jarrett Arakawa and Kainoa Scheer. Point guard Andrew Skalman was busy with the Aloha Prep Bowl (football), and shooting guard Trevyn Tulonghari joined the team on the Big Island for the final two games.
Arakawa, a standout quarterback and baseball player, was given a week of rest.
“It’s the first week he’s had off in a year,” Shimamoto said of the senior leader.
“We’re still trying to get back into basketball shape,” said Arakawa, who already accepted a baseball scholarship from the University of Hawaii.
Basketball legs or not, the Raiders looked formidable today. Arakawa drained a corner trey over Radford’s 1-2-2 zone as ‘Iolani raced to an 18-2 lead after one quarter against Radford. ‘Iolani didn’t use fullcourt pressure, instead playing the passing lanes as Radford struggled to get good looks. The Rams shot 1-for-9 in the opening stanza.
Radford’s second team fared much better. T.J. Reid scored six points off the bench before halftime as the Rams showed a spark. Dorsey Norris, a 6-foot sophomore, had three of his four steals in the second quarter as Radford narrowed the margin to 30-18 at intermission.
Radford got within 35-25 on a feed from Reid to Norris for a layup with 6 minutes left in the third quarter, but the Rams got no closer. Tulonghari drilled a 3-pointer from the left corner, then scored on a breakaway layup off a dish from Arakawa as the Raiders opened an 18-point lead.
Reserve guard Reid Saito scored six points in an 8-0 run to open ‘Iolani’s lead to 53-32 with 4:48 remaining.
Reid led Radford with 10 points, and Zach Pelzl added eight.
‘Iolani shot 51 percent from the field (28-for-55) and had 19 assists to just 13 turnovers. The Raiders shot 50 percent (8-for-16) from the foul line.
Radford shot 39 percent from the floor (15-for-38). The teams were almost even on the boards; ‘Iolani had a 28-27 edge. Radford finished with 26 turnovers and just five assists.
Radford 2 16 14 7 — 39
‘Iolani 18 12 17 21 — 68
Radford: T.J. Reid 10, Glenn Castil 0, Jefferson Fiesta 0, Dylan Prieto-Hokamura 2, Travir Fata 0, Zach Pelzl 8, Cole Gloster 2, Bobby Woshlager 2, Isaiah Jackson 3, Dorsey Norris 2, J.B. Fontenot 8, Warren Carter 0, Cy Salanoa 0, Roscoe Kalilikane 0.
‘Iolani: Andrew Skalman 5, Ammon Baldomero 7, Reece Foy 0, Reid Saito 6, Jarrett Arakawa 6, Josiah Sukumaran 14, Kainoa Chu 9, Trevyn Tulonghari 7, Evan Sukita 2, Keahi Hogan 4, Jourdan Simmonds 2, Adam Ching 0, John Foy 0, Gabriel Vega 6.
3-point goals—Radford: 2 (Fontenot 2), ‘Iolani
See the rest of the opening-day roundup here
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