PAHOA — No. 10 Kohala boys basketball escaped Pahoa 52-44 on Tuesday night on the road for its eighth straight win — remaining undefeated in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) season.
The two teams traded blows all game, especially in the first half — when the Cowboys entered halftime with a narrow 28-27 lead. However, the Cowboys’ fast-paced playstyle and the Daggers’ six-point third quarter paid off in the close victory.
Kohala junior Jayden Hook recorded a game-high 21 points with five rebounds, while sophomore teammate Layden Kauka posted 13 points, eight boards and five steals. The Cowboys collectively swiped 13 steals.
Kauka and Hook continue to be driving forces in the Cowboys’ 63 points-per-game offense early in the year — averaging 19 and 18.3 points per game in the BIIF, respectively.
On Pahoa’s side, Kyran Canete and Donivan Lynch scored 12 apiece, with Lynch sinking four 3-pointers. The pair leads the Daggers in BIIF scoring, with Canete averaging 11.7 and Lynch 13.5, respectively. The team averages 41.3 points a night in island play.
Next up, Kohala (8-2 overall, 3-0 BIIF) hosts Hilo at 7 p.m. Wednesday at King Kamehameha Park Gymnasium. Pahoa (2-2) will play St. Joseph’s at 6 p.m. Saturday at UH-Hilo.
JV Score: Kohala wins 43-35. Top scorers: (Kohala) Ellis Kobeney 17 points, (Pahoa) Cameron Castillo 12 points.
KS-HAWAI‘I 75 – KA‘U 38
No. 15 KS-Hawai‘i boys basketball routed Ka‘u 75-38 on Tuesday on the road, winning its fifth straight and remaining unbeaten in BIIF play.
The Warriors’ Kiai Yasso dropped 18 points with six 3-pointers made — continuing his dominant season of 17.5 points per game in the conference. Teammate Kawohi Huihui added 18 of his own, leading KSH in overall season scoring at a healthy 20 points a night. The dominant scoring pair has helped propel the Warriors to average nearly 70 points per game on the season.
The Trojans were led by Tyson Kuahia-Faafia, who notched a game-high 20 points. No other Ka‘u player scored more than four. Kuahia-Faafia (13 points per game) and Justin Karasuda (10 points per game) lead the Trojans in scoring thus far, with the team averaging 47 points per game in the BIIF.
KSH (5-1 overall, 3-0 BIIF) next hosts Waiakea tonight for the first time this season, with tipoff at 7 p.m. in Kea‘au. Ka‘u (1-3) will look to right the ship against Hilo — scheduled to play the Vikings at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 30 on the road.
