Boosted by a 26-point third period that turned a 32-27 deficit into a 53-43 lead, visiting Kahuku raced past Kaimuki last night, 64-50, in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference Eastern Division boys basketball opener for both teams.

Elijah Morita's 3-pointer with 21 seconds remaining in the first period broke an 11-11 tie and started Kaimuki on a 16-3 run that gave it a 27-14 lead with 4:54 left in the half. But the Red Raiders closed it to 32-27 by halftime and spent all but one minute in the locker room discussing a second-half comeback.

"Coach (Hiram Akina) told us we had to tighten up our defense," said Kahuku guard Jray Galeai, who scored nine points in the pivotal third period and finished with a game-high 16 points. "Our team pulled together in the second half."

Galeai scored on two layups and then swished a 3-pointer to put the Red Raiders up, 36-35, early in the third quarter. Ryan Kakitani sank two free throws to grab the lead back for the Bulldogs at 37-36, but Kona Schwenke tied it on a free throw and Shairone Thompson scored on a putback with 4:42 remaining in the period to put Kahuku up, 39-37, and the Red Raiders led the rest of the way.

"We settled down in the second half," said Akina, Kahuku's first-year coach. "Our rebounding was atrocious in the first half, but in the second half we controlled the boards. Our defense stepped up, and we started making shots."

Red Raiders guard Nehoa Akina scored 10 points in the third quarter, capped by a 3-pointer with five seconds left to give Kahuku a 53-43 lead entering the fourth. Kaimuki could not get any closer in the final period as the Bulldogs went cold from the field.

"To be honest, we're not in shape yet," Kaimuki coach Kelly Grant said. "I even went deeper into the bench than usual, but you could see how much energy we had in the first quarter compared to the fourth. We also missed too many free throws."

The Bulldogs finished 13 of 21 (62 percent) from the line.

Grant said Kahuku, which defeated defending state champion Punahou twice in nonleague action, has the tools to be a contender in the East.

"It's difficult to beat them when they're tall and athletic and fast," Grant said.

Akina finished with 13 points and Christian Feagai added 10 points for the Red Raiders. David Taulung led Kaimuki with 12 points and Kakitani and Chad Ka'aihue each added 11 points.

KAHUKU (1-0) 11 16 26 11 — 64

KAIMUKI (0-1) 14 18 11 7 — 50

KAHUKU — Mikeli Damuni 2, Jray Galeai 16, Irwin Ah Hoy 2, Aulola Tonga 2, Mua Malufau 0, Sage Kaka 2, Kohl Nauahi 1, Nehoa Akina 13, Jackson Kaka 0, Shairone Thompson 8, Michael Tyau 0, William Beatty 0, Kona Schwenke 8, Christian Feagai 10, Tyler Aughenbaugh 0. Totals 22 16-23 64.

KAIMUKI — Tevin Nishiyama 0, Rafael Vares 5, David Taulung 12, Donavan Keaulani 2, Gabriel Stietzel 0, Ryan Kakitani 11, Clay Montiho 1, Elijah Morita 5, Chad Ka'aihue 11, Dayton Ortiz 0, Desmond Tautofi 3, Kelly Tobin 0. Totals 17 13-21 50.

3-point goals: Kahuku 4 (Akina 3, Galeai). Kaimuki 3 (Kakitani, Morita, Vares).

JV — Kahuku 57, Kaimuki 35.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on high school sports at www.preptalk.honadvblogs.com.

KALAHEO 46, FARRINGTON 43: Richard Preza Haynes sank two free throws with 15 seconds remaining in overtime to put the Mustangs up 46-43 and partially blocked a shot in the closing seconds to beat the Governors.

The game was tied 17-17 at halftime but Farrington took a 10-point lead into the fourth period.

Aaron Fernandez hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and capped the Mustangs' comeback with a basket with 30 seconds left to tie it at 40-40.

Game statistics were unavailable.

Reported by Chico Furtado

MOANALUA 62, MCKINLEY 53: Marcus Monroe scored 12 points, Richard Villasenor and Reece Racoma each added 11, and host Na Menehune raced to a 19-6 first-quarter lead they never lost in beating the Tigers.

MCKINLEY (0-1) 6 12 11 24 — 53

MOANALUA (1-0) 19 12 15 16 — 62

MCKINLEY — Kaleo Ponce 5, Sio Fiso 4, Lesley Machiguchi 7, Tavita Woodard 9, Jordan Macalma 7, Jason Sabado 0, Wai Kalama 4, Tavita Woodward 17. Totals 17 18-32 53.

MOANALUA — Aaron Davis 0, Joshia Kauhola 8, Reece Racoma 11, Randy Starks 14, Shane Aquino 4, Alexander Braswell 0, Kevin Amaral , Dexter Williams 0, Bradley Lakin 2, Marcus Monroe 12, Carl Ko 0, Marcellis Turner 0, Richard Villasenor 11, Pete Elizalde 0. Austin Miranda 0. Totals 24 11-21 62.

3-point goals: McKinley 1 (Ponce). Moanalua 3 (Racoma 2, Monroe).

JV — unavailable.

Reported by Greg Tacon

OIA RED WEST

LEILEHUA 46, KAPOLEI 41: Hoku Kam scored 11 points and the host Mules broke away from a 33-33 tie after three quarters to beat the Hurricanes in an OIA Red West game.

KAPOLEI (0-1) 8 11 14 8 — 41

LEILEHUA (1-0) 9 7 17 13 — 46

KAPOLEI — John Spearman 2, Pomai Mero 2, Nathaniel Osada 0, Alex Makinano 6, Kainoa Pakele 5, Magic Holmes 7, Austin Griskin 5, Jordan Ferreira 6, Jonathan Ging 0, Lorenzo Imamura 2, Chance Lawson 0, Luke Kaumahie 6. Totals 18 4-11 41.

LEILEHUA — Treycer Togashi 0, Elijah Padilla 4, Marcus Breakfield 0, Brent Lemon 9, Andrew Manley 9, Hoku Kama 11, Phillip LeGrier 2, Carlos Marshall 5, Xavier Ager 6. Totals 17 12-20 46.

3-point goals: Kapolei 1 (Pakele). Leilehua 0.

JV — Leilehua def. Kapolei, no score.

Reported by Robert Eum

RADFORD 71, WAIPAHU 46: Quentin Kimura scored 20, Derrell Lee 15, Tony Reid 13 and Jaenne Fotenot 11, leading the visiting Rams, who pulled away from the Marauders with a 22-8 fourth quarter.

RADFORD (1-0) 16 16 17 22 — 71

WAIPAHU (0-1) 16 10 12 8 — 46

RADFORD — Joash Pangilinan 2, Jared Victorino 2, Tevita Baravilala 0, Jefferson Fiesta 0, Derrell Lee 15, Tony Reid 13, Aldvin Valdez 6, Quentin Kimura 20, Jaenne Fontenot 11, Kamu Taulelelu 2, Marcus Malepeai 0. Totals 27 13-27 71.

WAIPAHU — Duke Tili 0, Robinson Atud 0, Daniel Dimananpo 0, Glenn Labuguen 9, Kendall Tomas 15, Anthony Agustin 4, Michael Alipio 2, Kaimi Haina 0, Regan Prestige 10, Anson Castello 6. Totals 15 13-20 46.

3-point goals: Radford 4 (Kimura 3, Lee). Waipahu 3 (Tomas 2, Labuguen).

JV — Waipahu 44, Radford 42.

Reported by Carl Matsumoto

OIA BOYS WHITE

KALANI 57, WAIALUA 42: Angelo Berardy scored 20 points with three 3-pointers, Ryoji Iguchi added 13 with four treys and the visiting Falcons used a 22-8 second quarter for a 36-18 halftime lead in cruising past the Bulldogs in the OIA White season opener for both.

KALANI (1-0) 14 22 11 10 — 57

WAIALUA (0-1) 10 8 15 9 — 42

KALANI — Bryson Yorita 1, Max Fujio 4, Elbert Khatkoun 0, Kameron Noyama 3, Ryoji Iguchi 13, Dennis Lau 0, Vincent Tran 7, Edwin Watt 0, Chase Suzumoto 6, Jordan Yogi 0, Marcus Hill 3, Angelo Berardy 20, Brook Parker 0. Totals 19 11-20 57.

WAIALUA — Daniel Caluza 0, Jeremy Carillo 0, Kristoffer Cuadro 2, John Rey Garcia 2, Rudi Galapia 5, Micah Hatchie 0, Vance Maluyo 18, Victor Ray Nobello 0, William Sacapulo Uepa 6, Tyler Smith 4, Chase Uhlir 0, Jesse Kauwalu-Hurst 5. Totals 16 2-7 42.

3-point goals: Kalani 8 (Iguchi 4, Berardy 3, Noyama). Waialua 7 (Maluyo 6, Kauwalu-Hurst).

JV — Kalani 48, Waialua 44.

Reported by Jolene Nacapuy

PEARL CITY 54, 'ANUENUE 27: Kellan Oshiro scored 12 points, Johnson Chao added 10 and the host Chargers raced to a 20-13 halftime lead in rolling past Na Koa.

'ANUENUE (0-1) 4 9 7 7 — 27

PEARL CITY (1-0) 11 19 10 14 — 54

'ANUENUE — Kekoa Sitarak 0, Kaipo Cullen 0, Aina Kelii-Supnet 5, Mahuka Cullen 0, Ikaika Gante 6, Makana Fernandez 4, Kahooipo Mossman-Andog 0, Makamae Otani-Wengler 8, Kealoha Smith 0, Iokepa Waiwaiole 4. Totals 9 7-17 27.

PEARL CITY — Micah Choy 6, Nick Billarmia 0, Johnson Chao 10, Kellan Oshiro 12, Hayden Concipkin 6, Tyler Yamanauchi 0, Kalei Mitchell 3, Jeremy Fermin 0, Skye Kaapuni 0, Josiah Demello 6, Kanekoa Buttong 2, Mitchell Ressurection 9. Totals 20 11-23 54.

3-point goals: 'Anuenue 2 (Kelii Supnet, Otani-Wengler). Pearl City 3 (Oshiro 2, Choy).

Reported by Chelsea Murata

WAI'ANAE 51, NANAKULI 45: Anthony Neiderschmidt had 18 points, Christian Mendoza added 14 and the visiting Seariders made a 26-18 halftime lead stand up in beating the Golden Hawks.

WAI'ANAE (1-0) 13 13 13 12 — 51

NANAKULI (0-1) 6 12 9 18 — 45

WAI'ANAE — Kalin Sandobal 8, Christian Mendoza 14, Sauniatu Loua 2, Danny Kekoanui 2, Anthony Neiderschmidt 18, Troy Faliuga 7, Keoni Napierala-Rose 0, Guyson Amina 0, D.J. Ahwong 0, Mike Foster 0. Totals 19 11-16 51.

NaNaKULI — Kaimana Silva 13, Calvin Laumana 8, Robinson Pahinui 7, Micah Milho 3, Benjamin Weiss 6, Nilo Paulo 6, Alapati Fuaga 2. Totals 17 6-15 45.

3-point goals: Wai'anae 2 (Christian M. 2). Nanakuli 5 (Milho, Laumana 2, Pahinui, Silva).

JV — Nanakuli 22, Wai'anae 49.

Reported by Larry Kapu

KAILUA 72, ROOSEVELT 61: Dylan Farias scored 20 points and Rhys Nakakura and Corey Lau each added 14, leading the visiting Surfriders past the Rough Riders.

KAILUA (1-0) 11 20 15 26 — 72

ROOSEVELT (0-1) 13 14 8 26 — 61

KAILUA — Chevy Mikaele 0, Calen Friel 4, Rhys Nakakura 4, Kauila Miller 4, Dylan Farias 20, Kenny Ellis 14, Corey Lau 14, Luis Valanezuela 0, Alii Kaiama 8, Isaiah Vasconcellos 2, Tesi Fisilau 2, Jordan Decorte 0. Totals 24 22-34 72.

ROOSEVELT — Rylan Ikehara 3, Kainoa Gasper 3, Bobby Chun 0, Clint Washington 8, Matthew Moe 8, Brandon Mitchell 0, Chaz Francisco 2, Chase Yogi 8, Reid Oshiro 15, Lowen Kahooilihala 7, Kaipo Pale 7, Asten Koki 0. Totals 22 11-17 61.

3-point goals: Kailua 2 (Nakakura, Farias). Roosevelt 6 (Oshiro, 3, Yogi 2, Kahooilihala).

JV — Roosevelt 49, Kailua 27.

Reported by Steve Hathaway