(Major technical problems with my normally reliable Verizon modem tonight, plus the late finish, so the game story will be online here and at StarAdvertiser.com. No Roosevelt-Moanalua story in the print edition tomorrow.)
(NOTE: Corrects the drawn charge with 7 seconds left in regulation to Shai Brown. I watched the video today and confirmed the error.)
In the end, it all came back to the Roosevelt Rough Riders in a good way.
Kaipo Pale scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while his teammates stepped in and took six charging fouls in an astounding 58-55 overtime win at Moanalua last night.
“Kaipo is a warrior inside the paint,” Moanalua coach Greg Tacon said. “We took away some of the stuff they try to run, but the hustle plays were amazing. And 42 (Aston Koki) hurt us to with those putbacks.”
Pale had to overcome a severe leg cramp and sat out on defense in the last five minutes, subbing in for offense.
“For my team, whatever it takes, if I have to play hurt, that’s what I’ll do,” said Pale, a 6-foot-4 senior.
It was the season opener for Roosevelt, which trailed most of the way, but hung around with gritty defense. Coach Steve Hathaway promised to bring huge jugs of Gatorade to practice — which could help Pale’s hydration problem — if his team drew at least five charges.
Brendan Nakatani came off the bench to score eight points and draw three charges, while Johnson Delos Santos finished with eight points and two charges. Sophomore guard Shai Brown drew a key charge from Moanalua’s Dexter Williams with 7 seconds left in regulation, nullifying a tough layup and sending the springy 6-foot-3 senior to the bench with his fifth foul.
From there, the lead changed hands five times in the extra period, but Brown sank two free throws with 24 seconds remaining to give the visitors a 56-55 lead.
Moanalua got two open shots — a foul-line jumper by Keven Amaral and a baseline drive by Brandon Guerreo — but both missed.
Pale, who suffered with a major leg cramp in the final minute of regulation, hauled in the rebound and sank two foul shots with 3.9 seconds left in overtime.
After advancing the ball and calling time out with 1.2 seconds, Moanalua had the ball at midcourt but an errant pass to Guerreo 40 feet from the hoop allowed time to expire.
It was all good for Pale, who endured criticism from some Moanalua fans who heckled him as he laid on the ground for five minutes near the end of regulation.
After returning, it was his traditional 3-point play under the basket that tied the game at 50 with 17 seconds left in regulation.
Moanalua plays tomorrow in the California Hotel/AOP Hoop Classic against Kohala. The tourney is at Farrington High School.
At Moanalua
Roosevelt (1-0) 12 15 6 17 8 — 58
Moanalua (0-1) 19 8 10 13 5 — 55
Roosevelt: Shai Brown 4, Micah Ikari 2, Ese Tago 2, Cozia Chapman Jr. 0, Brendan Nakatani 8, Johnson Delos Santos 9, Pono Patoc 0, Kaipo Pale 26, Asten Koki 6, Troy Nakasuji 1.
Moanalua: Bronson Kepa 8, Aaron Davis 13, Keven Amaral 9, Dexter Williams 14, Wesley Armbrust 2, Dominique Jones 2, Carl Ko 2, Dillon Turk 3, Richard Villasenor 0.
3-point goals—Roosevelt none, Moanalua 4 (Davis 2, Kepa, Williams)
Junior varsity—Moanalua 62, Roosevelt 23.
Paul Honda, Star-Advertiser
Coconut juice works the best!!