The Kahuku Red Raiders are in rarified air after finishing third in the ‘Iolani Prep Classic on Wednesday.
Kahuku outlasted Southwind (Tenn.) 55-51 in a gritty, grinding battle from start to finish. That gives Big Red, which beat Mount Vernon (N.Y.) and De La Salle (Calif.) to reach the semifinals. Kahuku is the first local team to finish third since ‘Iolani in 2006.
“I’m so proud of the guys. They played really well this week,” Red Raiders coach Brandyn Akana said. “They won’t play competition with this much size and length again this year.”
Dan Fotu had an all-around performance with 16 points, a 3, and 5-for-7 shooting at the free-throw line. Point guard Jessiya Villa had 15 points, including 8-for-8 at the line. Taimoana Wright had his biggest game of the tourney with 10 points, and Codie Sauvao added nine points.
Kahuku overcame a 28-point performance by Carlos Marshall. Markylan Freeman was explosive in spurts, but finished with a relatively low 17 points — covered by Sauvao most of the night. He had 22 against Findlay Prep a night earlier, when Southwind stayed close before losing 72-59.
Kahuku is my pick for state champs! once they really gel with the new recruits and learn to play basic pick and rolls and pick and pops they will be dominant.
They wil need to learn how to DEFEND the pick and roll. It will be a 2 team race between Punahou and Kahuku. There is a large drop off after these two teams.
i think winning the iolani classic its probably the most presitgious thing you can do in hawaii. year and year out the winner of tournament have been the number 1 team in the country and year end.
kahuku winning 3rd is amazing. in my opinion more impressive than kahuku winning a football tournament.
If they were to win the tournament it would be more impressive than kahuku beating gorman in football.