OIA semifinal round is about to tip off here at McKinley Student Council Gymnasium.
First quarter
Kalaheo 6, Farrington 4, 5:28
Govs come out in an extended 2-1-2 zone, pressuring the ball up to midcourt.
Kalaheo 9, Farrington 6, 3:36
Farrington’s defense is also extending fullcourt in that same 2-1-2 look. Something different, and Kalaheo isn’t shredding it. Yet.
Farrington wants to push the ball, but has missed some contested layups at the rim. Kupaa Harrison (6-4) still a force underneath even if his ankle may not be 100 percent.
Kalaheo 16, Farrington 13, end Q1
Govs took a 13-11 lead on Jake Smith’s steal and layup. Good tempo for Farrington so far. They’re running when the opportunities are there, but exercising patience in the halfcourt against the Mustangs’ man defense.
Second quarter
Kalaheo 24, Farrington 22, 3:45
More of the same. Govs staying in this 2-1-2 look from end to end, but they’re not gambling quite as much in the halfcourt defensively. Kalaheo is already in the bonus. Govs are getting penetration and dishes from their athletic, sturdy 3s and 4s (Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo, Tua Unutoa), and slasher Ranan Mamiya is getting much more involved by attacking the rim.
Kalaheo 30, Farrington 30, halftime
Farrington went to a 1-2-2 zone in the final minutes of the second quarter. Coach Allan Silva is pulling out a few little tricks in his bag and the Mustangs haven’t been able to adjust quickly. The fullcourt pressure is there, but in the 2-1-2, the Govs are simply applying some moderate pressure, not trapping. It’s a smart move for a team with some terrific athletes who aren’t as tall as most opponents, particularly Kalaheo.
Tatupu-Leopoldo is having a big performance with his post game, passing, steals (one led to a layup by Smith) and defense. He took a charge from Kaleb Gilmore on a drive straight through the middle. Neither team is playing great basketball, but the Govs are using all their IQ and savvy to stay in this one. Now we’ll see what adjustments Alika Smith makes with his Mustangs at halftime.
Third quarter
Farrington 37, Kalaheo 35, 5:40
Kekai Smith hit a corner 2 and a corner 3 to help the ‘Stangs stay in this one. Jake Smith’s transition 3 put the Govs in front. Coach Smith let his team have it during a time out, first time he’s really been fired up
Farrington 40, Kalaheo 35, Q3, 4:27
Jake Smith hits a pull-up 3 from the right corner. Time out, Kalaheo.
Farrington 46, Kalaheo 37, end Q3
Mamiya hit Montana Liana with a perfect bounce pass for a fastbreak layup that put the Govs up 42-35. Since calling time out with about 3 minutes left in the third, Silva’s had his team in delay mode. Not an all-out four-corners look, but the same idea and effect.
Unutoa’s drive from the high post for a three-point play pushed the lead to 46-37 and the ‘Stangs seem befuddled a bit. They’re not getting the 50-50 loose balls, and they’re a little sloppy with their passing. They’re not crisp, and some of that is because of this extended 2-1-2 coverage by the Govs.
Fourth quarter
Farrington 49, Kalaheo 44, 3:53
Kalaheo being over the foul limit has changed the tone. Farrington was comfortable spreading the court and running time off the clock. But now the Govs are marching to the foul line and missing. Mamiya missed a front end of a 1-and-1, and after Gilmore hit a 24-foot trey from the left wing earlier, the pressure is now on the Govs and they don’t look too comfortable now.
Momentum is with the Mustangs.
Farrington 51, Kalaheo 44, 3:17
In the span of 36 seconds, Harrison missed a point-blank layup on an inbounds lob, which led to a Keola Kealoha breakaway layup. Then Mamiya partially blocked a Kalaheo layup attempt ABOVE the rim and Unutoa saved a loose ball in the corner, scooping the ball and calling time out in mid-air.
Farrington 55, Kalaheo 49, 1:51
Unutoa has scored twice on drives, once in the halfcourt set and once on the break. He also missed a runner that had Silva raising both arms. I’m sure he’d love for his team to eat the clock, but his players — at least Unutoa — is still in attack mode against man defense.
Both teams in the bonus and Gilmore is also in attack mode, hitting foul shots.
Farrington 55, Kalaheo 54, 1:25
Steal by Harrison for a bucket as Kalaheo goes fullcourt pressure for the first time (finally). Then MacLeod grabs a loose ball on an overthrown pass by the Govs and scores on a three-point play, and it’s 55-54, 1:32 to go. Looked like a charge, but the refs have swallowed their whistles at this point. Govs look very shaky against the press.
Kalaheo 56, Farrington 55, 1:10
Tatupu-Leopoldo misses two foul shots and Gilmore drives baseline for a bucket. He ran over Tatupu-Leopoldo, but the refs are not calling charges at this point.
Kalaheo 56, Farrington 55, :43.8
Govs with another turnover against fullcourt pressure. It’s surreal and almost too easy what the Mustangs have done in the past minute. Harrison not looking like himself, but he hits 1 of 2 FTs.
Kalaheo 57, Farrington 57, end Q4
MacLeod blocks a layup try by Jake Smith and Kalaheo rebounds, but the Govs trap the rebounder and he his soft bounce pass is easily stolen by Mamiya, who scores with about 22 seconds left to tie the game at 57. Kalaheo turns the ball over on a lob near the basket and Unutoa’s prayer from 60 feet misses at the buzzer. OVERTIME.
Kalaheo 57, Farrington 57, OT 1:39
Govs in a 1-2-2 and Gilmore settles for a 25-foot miss from the top. Unutoa rebounds, fouled by Gilmore and misses both shots on a double bonus.
Gilmore misses on a tough drive, ball out of bounds off Kalaheo, though Harrison protests. Govs ball, time out.
Farrington 58, Kalaheo 57, OT :31
Jake Smith hits one of two at the foul line and Kalaheo misses on offense, Govs up 58-57 with 1:13 to go. Unutoa tries a tough reverse and misses, but Mamiya disrupts the Kalaheo pass and throws the ball off a Kalaheo player and it goes out of bounds. But Farrington turns it over. Captain Whitlocks picks Kealoha at midcourt and as the Mustangs fly upcourt, Alika Smith calls time out with :31 left.
Farrington 58, Kalaheo 58, OT :20.2
Harrison fouled on a drive, hits the second of two foul shots to tie the game. Time out, Kalaheo.
Farrington 60, Kalaheo 58, FINAL
Mamiya nearly loses the ball after bringing it across halfcourt, but the Govs recover, swing the ball to the wing, and Tatupu-Leopoldo drives hard into the paint, tosses up a jump hook that hits the back of the rim, the glass and falls through with :03 left. Prayer shot by Kalaheo misses at the buzzer.
No. 1 Kalaheo goes down. Govs advance to the final, where they will play Leilehua or Kahuku.
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