By Paul Honda
Solid win by Moanalua last night against Kaimuki, 59-43.
Here’s more on the game that didn’t make it into this morning’s print edition (space limit).
The Bulldogs played a brilliant first quarter, shooting 60 percent, including 4-for-5 from the arc. With a pair of treys from Gabriel Stietzel and more from Tevin Nishiyama and Mason Kualii-Moe, Kaimuki had a 14-4 lead with 2:17 left in the first.
Moanalua unleashed its fullcourt press, however, and the Bulldogs lost momentum.
“They didn’t get rattled when we were up 14-4, but when they put the pressure on on us, our guys got rattled,” Kaimuki coach Kelly Grant said. “Our (former) JV guys saw how fast varsity speed is.”
After committing just three turnovers in the first quarter, Kaimuki had 12 in the second. The Bulldogs had a 21-13 lead on Nishiyama’s four-point play with 6:08 to go in the half, but went scoreless until the second half.
Josiah Kauhola and Wesley Armbrust combined to score the next seven points before Kevin Amaral’s jumper in the key gave Na Menehune a 22-21 lead with less than 2 minutes left in the half. Moanalua took a 26-21 lead into the lockerroom.
Buckets by Nishiyama, Sean Spencer and Johnny Tuitele brought Kaimuki within 28-27, but the ‘Dogs couldn’t push ahead.
Kaimuki was within three points on 16-footer by Spencer to start the fourth quarter, but Moanalua went on a 14-1 run to put the game out of reach. Kauhola’s alley-oop pass to Marcus Monroe for a dunk drew the loudest roar of the night from the home crowd.
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