Greg Yamamoto | SL

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_16121032_MPIKalah_1066.jpg - Greg Yamamoto | SL

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SALT LAKE — Mid-Pacific Institute outscored Kalaheo, 33-22 in the second half to win, 58-44 on the second day of the OIA-ILH Challenge on Friday at Moanalua High School.

The Mustangs routed Kamehameha, 54-39 while the Owls outlasted Moanalua, 75-70 in overtime yesterday.

"The preseason is for us to learn. When you learn, you get better and that's all we can ask for. We have a ways to go on both sides on the ball. I like how we play hard and play together," said Mid-Pacific coach Ryan Hirata.

Nalu Coito shot 4-for-8 from the 3-point line to lead the Owls with 18 points and Zion Shepherd scored all 13 of his points in the second half.

"He's a transfer. He had to sit out last year, but he practiced all last year and he's hungry to finish out his senior season," said Hirata, on Coito.

The first quarter was slow for both teams combined for eight fouls in the first two minutes of the game. Mid-Pacific scored their first basket—a 3-pointer at the 4:32 mark and Kalaheo didn't get on the scoreboard until 2:40. Noah Woodby, who led the team in scoring against Kamehameha, went down with an ankle injury and did not return.

The Owls took a 7-6 lead and went on a 10-0 run aided by Coito's 3's to start the second quarter to force the Mustangs to call timeout at 5:40. Nate Gribbins willed Kalaheo back to score seven of his team-high 13 points in the quarter. Captain Whitlock's steal and basket brought the Mustangs within three, as they trailed, 25-22 at halftime.

The Owls shot 7 of 18 from the 3-point line for the game, while the Mustangs went 3 of 12.

"That's one of the things we're proud of—sharing the ball, cutting hard, and setting good screens and being ready to shoot," said Hirata, on ball movement that led to open shots.

Mid-Pacific opened up with a 10-1 run in the third quarter to make it, 35-23. The Mustangs went on an 8-0 run and Mark Lehner's 3 to brought it within, four, 35-31.

Kalaheo got it within three, but were hit with a technical foul at the 6:30 mark and the Owls shot 2-for-4 from the free throw line. Whitlock scored 10 points before fouling out. Shepherd's tip-in pushed the Owls' lead back to 10 and never looked back.

"The kid had a great fourth quarter and he came back strong and played great ‘D'," said Hirata, on Shepherd.

The game had 53 total fouls—Kalaheo committed 29 while Mid-Pacific had 24.

The Owls conclude with Kapolei at 2 p.m. and the Mustangs play Punahou, a team it faced in the Jim Alegre Invitational at 5 p.m. Both games are on Saturday.