We’re halfway through the Black and Gold Classic at McKinley Student Council Gymnasium.
Friday’s scores
University 35, Kaimuki 27
Maryknoll 53, Kapolei 29
Saint Louis 71, McKinley 64
Saint Louis 71, McKinley 64
Haka Johnson scored 25 points, including 5-for-9 from 3-point range, as the Crusaders won. Elijah Marks had 10 points to lead a strong group of posts. Jimmy Nunuha added nine and Kevin Marks tallied eight.
Jeff Fronda led McKinley with 16 points and Dayton Lee added 14. Macjun Otarra chipped in with 11.
Halftime: Good action in this one. Tigers with good patience, spacing, drive and kick plays for open threes by Fronda. Saint Louis getting some nice perimeter shooting from Johnson. Crusaders have some size in the paint with Fred Ulu-Perry, but they’re also utilizing their quickness with some fullcourt pressure.
Update: The Crusaders stormed ahead late in the third quarter with a couple of 3-point bombs by Johnson. Turnovers hurting the Tigers.
University 35, Kaimuki 27
This game went back and forth for three quarters in a fairly slow, methodical way — a lot of zone defense — and was tied 25-all entering the fourth. UHS senior post Ryan Kaleikini was a big plus after sitting the first quarter. So was first-year varsity player Micah Kahumoku. The two bigs combined for all 10 of their team’s 10 fourth-quarter points, running the floor against a tiring Kaimuki squad.
Both teams were missing several players due to academic probation and/or injuries. Anthony Canencia remains the glue for UHS, which has several new contributors who are young and relatively inexperienced. They’ve got some good height, particularly for Division II.
Kaimuki got solid performances from twins J.R. and Jerry Betiru, and sophomore Christian Ono. They don’t have a lot of height, but the skill positions are pretty solid. That means the Bulldogs need to be above average to compete with taller teams. Patience will help the ‘Dogs.
Maryknoll 53, Kapolei 29
Josh Burnett scored 20 points, including three dunks that electrified the audience, and freshman Kamakana Winquist added 15 as the Spartans broke open a tight game in the second half.
Calvin Koo added seven points off the bench.
Augustine Stridiron led Kapolei with eight points. Matthew Henderson added six.
This was a 22-21 game in the third quarter when Burnett, who is back from an off-court related issue, sparked a run with a breakaway dunk off a steal. He capped a 16-0 run with a dunk in traffic over two defenders.
Maryknoll lost on Thursday 49-48 to host McKinley, losing guard Kaleb Gilmore (ankle) in the third quarter. The Spartans are a different team now, especially with the Kiwis (starting post Hyrum Harris) gone. Lots of talent still there for Coach Kelly Grant, including 6-5 freshman Winquist, a lefty with guard skills and speed who provides a little more rebounding in the paint.
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