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By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer
Frustration turned to elation for Kalaheo High’s Mustangs last night.
After finishing second three times and third once the previous five years, Kalaheo finally won the Hawaiian Airlines Boys State Basketball Championships, beating ‘Iolani, 68-60, before 4,457 at Stan Sheriff Center.
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| Kalaheo’s Ikaika Alama Francis grabs a rebound with teammate Aubrey Bradley coming in on the play.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser |
D.C. Daniels scored 30 points and Skyler Wilson, the timely transfer from California, added 17 as the Mustangs led nearly all the way. The final score was as close as ‘Iolani got after the first three minutes of the second quarter, when Kalaheo outscored the Raiders 17-6.
"D.C. Daniels was unbelievable today," ‘Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said. "He grabbed all kinds of rebounds; he was tough on the drive, made all his free throws. . . a very fundamentally sound game."
Daniels, just 6-feet tall, controlled 14 rebounds, repelling every ‘Iolani charge. "They were fierce on the boards, that’s where we lost the game," Mugiishi said.
Kalaheo, ranked No. 1 in the state all season in the HawaiiSportsNetwork.com coaches and media poll, and seeded first in the tournament, ended an unbeaten regular and post season at 16-0. Overall, the Mustangs were 27-1, losing only to a team from Utah in the Holiday Prep Classic in Las Vegas in December.
"We got a sensational point guard from California in Skyler Wilson," said Daniels, who was chosen the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player by covering media. "He gave us a lot of help and that’s what got us here, that and a great bench."
Wilson, knocked out of Thursday’s quarterfinals when he was elbowed in the head, wore a small bandage and a big smile last night. "It’s a little sore, but you’ve got to play with pain. This was too big to go out," he said, adding, "I’m loving it so much. I’ve never played in a big game like this before."
The main reason he moved from California to live with his uncle, Mustang coach Pete Smith, was to be the point guard in a successful program. Smith has taken Kalaheo to the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championships 17 times; last night was his third victory.
Smith’s Mustangs won in 1985 and 10 years later in 1995. "Thank God we didn’t wait another 10 years," Smith said.
"The one that happens now is here and now; this is the greatest feeling," he added. "We spent a year working with these guys to get them ready and, hopefully, to reach this point; when you can finally accomplish it, it’s a great feeling."
‘Iolani, champion of the private-school Interscholastic League of Honolulu, finished 13-2 and 21-5 with a starting "six" made up of one senior, three juniors, a sophomore and wondrous freshman Derrick Low.
"Saying that we’re young isn’t an excuse for losing a championship game," said Low, who scored 15 points.
Six-foot-six sophomore Bobby Nash led ‘Iolani’s scoring with 23, showing the promise that has been anticipated from being the son of a former NBA player.
"It’s a team game." Nash said, "If our team loses, it’s a bad game for me."
Mugiishi said, "In the beginning, we tried to play zone to take away their penetration, but we couldn’t rebound out of our zone. ... They scored 8 or 10 points in the first half off the offensive glass, so we had to get out of that (zone)."
Kalaheo graduates Wilson and Shaydon Muramoto from its starting lineup.
‘Iolani, down by 14 at halftime, cut the margin to nine twice in the third quarter and eight twice in the fourth. The Raiders started with a 7-0 run and closed with a 5-0 run in the third quarter. A technical foul helped them on a 5-0 run in the fourth.
Sports editor Curtis Murayama contributed to this report.
THIRD PLACE
 Honoka‘a 50, St. Louis 44: The Dragons came from behind in the fourth quarter, holding the Crusaders scoreless for 3 minutes, and outscoring them 20-10.
Austin Souza scored 17 points for Big Island champion Honoka‘a (15-1, 24-4) and Frank Rivers got 18 to lead St. Louis of the ILH (13-6, 16-8).
HONOKA'A 13 12 5 20—50
ST. LOUIS 10 11 13 10—44
Honoka‘a-Derek Gabriel 5, Keola Nobriga 0, Kaniela Aiona 5, Ryan Cann 0, Kaimana Kahuanui 0, Austin Souza 17, Erwin Valenzuela 2, Kenny Ruiz 10, Edward Aldridge 11, Romeo Guerpo 0, Jeremy Moniz 0.
ST. LOUIS-Bobby Tappy 2, Jose Vidad 0, Justin Harris 3, Jonah Lakatani 7, Brenden Clement 4, J.P. Kanoa 0, Jason Rivers 4, Frank Rivers 18, T.J. Moe 2, Arist De Wolff 4.
3-point goals-Honoka‘a 5 (Souza 2, Gabriel, Aiona, Aldridge). St. Louis 1 (Lakatani).
FIFTH PLACE
Leilehua 78, Punahou 61: All five Mule starters scored in double figures, led by Ricardo Bachelor with 17, and Leilehua made 51 percent of its field-goal attempts.
The Mules finished 14-2 and 20-6 overall. Punahou was 12-5 and 20-7.
LEILEHUA 21 20 11 26—78
PUNAHOU 14 16 15 16—61
LEILEHUA-Garland Gantt 16, Lance Tuggle 0, Ricardo Bachelor 17, Joshua Jumawan 15, Clifton Feliciano 10, Shaun Fetzer 2, Demitrius Washington 0, Mike Helgerson 2, John Dolac 2, Reuben Dix 0, Eric Marshall 14, Duon Adams 0.
PUNAHOU-Kynan Pang 7, Richard Kim 13, Daniel Lam 3, Andrew Amigleo 2, Todd LaFountaine 1, Jason Ching 0, John Freese 0, Alex Fergus 6, David Dowsett 0, David Kowen 0, Lucas Love 9, Ryan Zabriskie 6, Dane Uperesa 14.
3-point goals-Leilehua 5 (Jumawan 3, Feliciano 2). Punahou 2 (Kim 2).
Consolation final
Kahuku 69, Baldwin 55: 6-foot-6 Micah Casey, six inches taller than the tallest Baldwin starter, scored 24 points to lead Kahuku. The Red Raiders finished 11-6, 18-8 overall. Baldwin was 14-6 and 19-12.
BALDWIN 5 12 20 18—55
KAHUKU 21 15 15 18—69
BALDWIN-Efren Oasay 2, A.J. Garbin 2, Jon Ciacci 0, Sam Toluta‘u 0, Cliff Dagulo 8, Reed Suzuki 9, Michael Donahoo 8, Akamu Aki 1, Alika Amasiu 3, Rodney Kekahuna 4, Brandon Ahonima 12, Kealoha Range 6, Kaipo Mahuna 0, Kepa Akiu 0.
KAHUKU-Aaron Francisco 2, Anthony Hill 8, Inoke Funaki 11, Micah Casey 24, James Kammerer 5, Jaron Casey 0, Adonis Buttel 4, Tala Esera 2, Tu Tui 0, Viliami nauahi 2. Jonathan Mapu 11.
3-point goals-Baldwin 3 (Ahonima 2, Suzuki). Kahuku 3 (Funaki 3).
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