Oak Hill dominates Kapolei, 101-28


Oak Hill's Lindell Wigginton shoots a 3-pointer against Kapolei. Wigginton had a game-high 26 points in the Warriors' win. CJ Caraang | SL

All five of Oak Hill Academy's (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) starters scored in double digits as the Warriors crushed Kapolei, 101-28 on day two of the 33rd annual Iolani Classic Saturday night.

The Warriors, who are playing in their tenth Iolani Classic, advance to the quarterfinals to challenge Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) on Monday at 6:30 p.m. 

Lindell Wigginton (26 points), Ty-Shon Alexander (17), Billy Preston (16), Matt Coleman (11) and Devontae Shuler (10), scored 80 of Oak Hill's 101 points.

"We just want them to be unselfish and share the ball," said Oak Hill coach Steve Smith. "We had five guys in double figures so they did a good job of doing that."

Wiggington, who signed with Iowa State this October, finished the game two assists shy of a double-double and led all scorers with 26 points, pouring in 14 in the third-quarter. 

"That's what we come to do, we come to win, always," said Wigginton. "My mindset is always the same, beat anyone in front of me, make shots, get my teammates involved and lock up my matchup." 

While Oak Hill's offense was effective, their athleticism on defense proved too much for the Hurricanes to handle. The Warriors tallied 19 steals and 10 blocks, often pick-pocketing Kapolei's ball handlers and forcing turnovers before they reached half court. 

"We just wanted to get after them," said Smith. "We started four guards, we usually don't do that. We knew they were small so we wanted to get after them defensively and try to get turnovers and we did that."

Oak Hill's first play of the game was a huge alley-oop dunk by Preston, a five-star recruit and University of Kansas commit, just one of many highlight reel plays in the contest. 

Kapolei got its first points off of a layup by Isaiah Higa, bringing the Hurricanes within four at the 6:45 mark of the first-quarter. The Warriors responded with a 15-0 run and never looked back.

Taking advantage of their speed and size, the Warriors' man-to-man defense held Kapolei to seven first half points while scoring 60 on the other side of the court.

Smith explained that due to the large lead accumulated at the half, he felt it was a good opportunity for his team to practice playing a zone defense.

"We played a really good first half tonight. In the second half we played zone, which we don't usually do, so we weren't as good defensively. We weren't getting turnovers and causing problems on that end of the floor."

Kapolei capitalized on the defensive change scoring 21 second half points, but was unable to keep up with the talent of Oak Hill, which scored 41 after the break.

Smith and his team look forward to the return of 6-foot-10 starter, David McCormack, in the quarterfinals and improving as a team throughout the tournament. 

"We just hope to get better each night. We try to match up with the team we're playing so, one of our starters, (a 6-foot-10) starter, didn't even play tonight. So he'll make us that much stronger than we were," said Smith. 

Kapolei coach Gary Ellison tried to see the benefit of playing a top-caliber team like Oak Hill. 

"It's just a learning experience for the boys," he said. "They tried, they didn't quit, they didn't give up, kept going until the end and that's all we could ask."

Hezekiah Del Prado was the leading scorer for the Hurricanes with eight points. 

Kapolei will play Waiakea in the consolation bracket on Monday at 9 a.m.