Leilehua's Trey Boatwright scores on a fast break layup against Waianae. CJ Caraang | SL

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_58676e353b7a3.jpg - CJ Caraang | SL

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WAHIAWA — It wasn't pretty, but the Leilehua Mules will take it.

Leilehua overcame 29 turnovers to fend off Waianae in double overtime slugfest, 38-35, in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Western Division contest at Paul T. Kobayashi Gymnasium & Richard Townsend Court Friday night.

Senior center Trey Boatwright had a double-double of 16 points and 10 boards and scored Leilehua's only points in the first overtime period to help the Mules improve to 3-0 in league play and extend their regular season game winning streak to 23.

"It was a tough win, they're a really good team," said Boatwright, who added three steals. "They really got good coaching as well as us. They have good players so it was a really tough win for us."

For the first eight minutes of the game, Leilehua was a cohesive unit. The Mules assisted on five or their made six field goals (6 of 10 shooting) in the first quarter and held a 13-8 lead heading into the second period.

Then Waianae (1-2 OIA West) started to settle down.

"We just got excited," said Waianae coach John Simbahon. "I think once we realize what they're doing, we picked up really quick. We just get overly excited and pumped up in the beginning of the game."

The Seariders also changed their defense from a man-to-man to a 1-2-2 zone during the first half. The adjustment had a strong effect as they prevented any of Leilehua's shots from falling through the bottom of the net after the first quarter. The only points that the Mules' got in the second quarter was from a goaltending call.

Both teams were tied at 15 at the break.

"Waianae plays a really good 1-2-2. Even though we practice against it and we were ready for it, they're athletic, they're aggressive and they don't give up on loose balls," said Leilehua coach Russ Fitzgerald. "We weren't really patient, but they were really good on what they wanted to do." 

The offenses for both teams started to get loose in the third quarter, with Leilehua taking a 27-25 lead into the fourth quarter, but a defensive struggle in the final period of regulation saw both teams tied at 29-29 when the clock hit triple zeroes.

Waianae scored the first basket of the first overtime period after Douglas Mitchell dived for a loose ball and flipped it ahead to Wela Kalulu for a 31-29 lead with 50.7 left in the frame.

Kalulu ended up fouling Leilehua's Raymond Agdinaoy with 29.3 seconds left in a 1-and-1 situation. Agdinaoy missed the free throw, but Boatwright was there for the putback to tie the game at 31.

"I assumed he was going to make it, but I still had the hustle on the rebound," said Boatwright.

Mitchell, who had 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks to lead the Seariders, had a chance to win the game in the first overtime, but saw his runner hit the front end of the rim to send the game into a second overtime.

Both teams tied it against a 33 in the sixth period of the game, but fatigue got the best of Waianae as many of its shot attempts at the rim came up short.

"We had open shots," said Simbahon. "They just made the plays and we missed some easy baskets too."

Reserve forward Kalei Kauahi had a hand in the Mules' first four points in the second overtime period and Agdinaoy atoned for his missed free throw by going 3 of 4 at the line to help seal the deal.