HHSAA Boys Basketball
Kahuku cashes in from long distance to down Kamehameha-Maui


  



Mon, Feb 19, 2024 @ KS-Maui


Final 1 2 3 4  
Kahuku (11-2, 23-6) 11 11131853
KS-Maui (9-5, 10-12) 8 15 9 1042
D. Schnitzer 23 pts  2 3pm  3/5 FTs
K. Daley 20 pts  6 3pm  2/4 FTs
I. Kramer 6 tot  5 off  1 def
K. Kaio 11 tot  3 off  8 def
K. Molitau 3 ast
R. Naihe 3 ast

Call him Young Money.

Freshman Kash Daley came off the bench to hit six three pointers and scored a season-high 20 points to help lead Kahuku to a 53-42 win over Kamehameha-Maui in the opening round of the Heide & Cook/HHSAA Division I Boys Basketball Championshps.

"My teammates gave me some really good looks on the drive and kick that just got me open," said Daley. "So I just do what I practice and it just went in."

Daley's six triples were the most recorded in a Division I state tournament game since Honokaa's Derek Gabriel in 2000.

Kahuku started off the game trailing early but took the lead off a three by Jens Evans and saw that margin stretch to six as Daley knocked down three consecutive triples to make it a 14-8 contest to open the second quarter.

Even with Daley's hot shooting, Kamehameha-Maui rallied behind the scoring prowess of Dylan Schnitzer who accounted for nine points in the second alone, including a layup to close out the half and push the Warriors into the lead at 23-22.

"The first half we struggled offensively and it was tough on defense, we kept giving up rebounds, so making those shots helped to keep us going and keep us in it," said Daley.

Daley knocked down five shots from long range in the first half alone, his fifth marking the last basket of the half for the Raiders.

The third quarter opened with Kahuku once again dialing it up from long range, as Kahler Vendiola's hit pushed the Red Raiders back into the lead at 25-23, the Warriors see-sawed back ahead on Kanekoa Maielua-Kekiwi's only basket of the game to pull back ahead, 28-27.

From there, Kahuku resumed the lead on a layup by Tiki Akina-Watson, the first of three breakaway baskets by the sophomore guard that extended the Red Raiders to a 33-28 advantage.

"You really don't who going to make all the shots on a given night," said Daley of Akina-Watson, who scored 10 points in the contest, "It makes us really dangerous because you really don't know who's going to hit."

Kache Kaio scored the final points of the third to make it 35-32, and the Raiders scored the first four points of the fourth to make it 39-32. Kaio, who finished with seven points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and his presence in the low post on both ends of the floor was definitely a factor.

"He didn't score a lot but he did really good today, boxed out and got a lot of second chance shots for us, it was really important," Daley said of Kaio.

Schnitzer's three pulled the Warriors to within four at 39-35 at the 6:27 mark, but three number six by Daley and number two from Vendiola pushed the margin to double digits with 2:55 to go.

In total, the Red Raiders knocked down nine of 19 three pointers in the game, compared to just two of 15 for the home team.

Schnitzer finished with a game-high 23 points, his third straight game scoring 20 points or more.

"We knew he was one of their shooters, so we put our best defender, Jens, on him but it was tough," said Daley of Schnitzer. "He quick and he could get to the middle so tried all help to try and stop him."

Up next for the Red Raiders is a matchup with OIA champ Leilehua Thursday.





Show your support

Every contribution, no matter the size, will help ScoringLive continue its mission to provide the best and most comprehensive coverage of high school sports in the state of Hawaii and beyond.

Please consider making a contribution today.

ADVERTISEMENT


IMAGE GALLERY



MORE STORIES

Photo extra: 2024 OIA Awards Banquet

Photos from the 2024 Oahu Interscholastic Association Awards Banquet Friday night at the Ala Moana Hotel...

Mililani's Duranceau headlines All-OIA West selections

The senior outside hitter helped lead the Trojans to the OIA Division I championship match and state...

Castle's Pili-Rumusod named All-OIA East POY

The senior setter set the table with over 300 assists and 100 digs for the Knights, who reached the OIA...

HMSA honors 19th class of Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program

The ceremony recognized 15 high school seniors and nine high schools for all-around excellence in academics,...

Aiea's Souza headlines All-OIA D2 softball honorees

The Na Alii junior was dominant in the circle and at the plate to help Aiea win the OIA Division II championship.

Kalani sweeps top honors in OIA Division I-East softball

Naomi Stremick's versatile play helped the Falcons represent the OIA D1 East in the state tournament.