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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, March 7, 2009

Surfriders lose big lead, but dominate overtime against Kohala, 66-57

 •  Christenson scores 26 as Warriors outlast Kaimuki in 3 OTs

By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer

After relinquishing an 11-point fourth-quarter lead, the Kailua boys basketball team scored the only points in overtime to advance to the state Division II championship game.

The Surfriders defeated their second straight seeded team in No. 2 Kohala, 66-57, in a semifinal last night at Kalani High School.

Kailua (17-3) plays league rival Castle (17-2), the top seed and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion, today at 5 p.m. for the HHSAA/Hawaiian Airlines Boys Division II State Basketball Championship.

"It feels great," said Kailua junior guard Dylan Farias, who hit a 3-pointer to tie the game with 15 seconds left to send the game into overtime. "The coaches did a good job of preparing us. We couldn't do it without all the running we did."

Kailua won the state championship in 1972 and 1982, before the format split into Divisions I and II.

After an 8-7 start, Farias scored five straight to cap a Surfriders' 7-0 run in the final 3 1/2 minutes of the first quarter to give them a 15-7 advantage.

Despite two 3-pointers by Kohala (14-1) senior center Kapanai'a Carvalho that closed Kailua's lead to 19-15 at the 4:46 mark, Kailua answered with six straight points for a 25-15 lead late in the second period.

Kohala senior forward Djavan Cackley scored on back-to-back baskets to bring it within 34-27, but Kailua went on a 10-4 run, with four points from Farias to lift the Surfriders to a 44-33 lead going into the fourth quarter.

"They were big, and played man, and in the half court, when we are small, we have a hard time," Kohala coach Don Fernandez said. "But as the game wears on the penetration comes easier. We wore them down. Our backdoor cuts opened up."

The Cowboys began chipping away at the Surfriders' lead, scoring 10 points over a two-minute span to close to 46-45. Kohala took the lead at 49-48 on a basket by senior forward Cameron Naihe-Tabiolo and extended it to 54-51 after junior center John Allan Antonio's second straight basket.

"That's basketball, you can switch in the blink of an eye," Kailua coach Tim Harrison said.

The Surfriders scored three off free throws to close it to 55-54 with 41.3 seconds left. After a lay-up by Naihe-Tabiolo to give the Cowboys a 57-54 lead with 35 seconds left, Farias sank a 3-pointer with 15.3 seconds remaining to tie the game and eventually send it into overtime.

"I kind of looked and had a good feeling when I let go of it," Farias said.

The Surfriders scored all nine points in overtime, with four points from senior forward Kenny Ellis and three from Lau, with all of Lau's coming on free throws.

Harrison said the Surfriders changed to a 2-3 zone at the end of the game and continued with it through overtime.

"We wanted to go to it earlier, but we didn't have the guts," said Harrison, who said the zone changed the dynamic of the game for Kailua. "I wish I went to it earlier."

KAILUA (17-3) 15 15 14 13 9 — 66

KOHALA (14-1) 7 14 12 24 0 — 57

KAILUA — Chevy Mikaele 2, Rhys Nakakura 3, Kauila Miller 10, Dylan Farias 19, Kenny Ellis 14, Corey Lau 12, Alii Kaiama 6, Calen Friel 0, Jordan DeCorte 0. Totals 22 21-36 66.

KOHALA — Kapanai'a Carvalho 11, Cameron Naihe-Tabiolo 15, Djavan Cackley 4, John Allan Antonio 11, Brandon Bautista 12, Sean Brannigan 2, Kelson Kawai 2. Dean Shelling 0, Arvin Campollo 0, Zachary Valenzuela 0. Totals 23 8-17 57.

3-pointers: Kailua 1 (Farias). Kohala 3 (Carvalho 3).

CONSOLATION

ROOSEVELT 52, HAWAI'I BAPTIST 43

Reid Oshiro scored 11 points, Chaz Francisco added 10, and the Rough Riders rallied from a 41-34 deficit after three quarters to beat the Eagles and advance to today's fifth-place game against Pahoa at 9 a.m. at Blaisdell.

HAWAI'I BAPTIST (13-3) 7 19 15 2 — 43

ROOSEVELT (14-6) 8 14 12 18 — 52

HAWAI'I BAPTIST — Ellison Iseri 2, Reid Morihara 5, Christian Morimoto 15, Nathan Le 10, Kyle Barretta 11. Totals not reported.

ROOSEVELT — Bobby Chun 1, Matthew Moe 2, Brandon Mitchell 6, Chaz Francisco 10, Chase Yogi 3, Reid Oshiro 11, Lowen Kahooilihala 9, Kaipo Pale 8, Asten Koki 2. Totals not reported.

3-point goals: not reported.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.