Orlando Christian shoots down Kamehameha, 64-42


Orlando Christian's Isaac Cohen splits the Kamehameha defense for a shot attempt. Brien Ing | SL
Orlando (Fla.) Christian used an 11-2 run midway through the first period and an 11-3 run to end the half last night and pulled away from defendng state champion Kamehameha, 64-42, in the opening round of the 28th Annual 'Iolani Prep Classic.

Orlando Christian, which is coming off a 24-6 season which included a conference title, advances to Monday's 8 p.m. quarterfinal against the winner of today's 6:30 p.m. first-round game between Farrington and De La Salle (Concord, Calif.). Kamehameha will face the loser of that game in Monday's consolation bracket at 1:30.

Orlando Christian led 4-0 after an early defensive struggle, and Dyrbe Enos swished a 23-footer to make it 4-3 midway through the first period. But Dmitri Thompson answered with a 3-pointer to start Orlando Christian on its 11-2 run that made it 15-5 after Isaac Cohen's 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining.

Taylor Taliulu's 3-pointer cut it to 15-8, but Orlando Christian answered with a 7-0 run spanning the first and second periods. After Noa Kinimaka's 3-pointer cut it to 22-11, Cohen completed a three-point play to start an 11-3 run to end the half that put Orlando Christian up, 33-14.

Cohen led Orlando Christian with a game-high 18 points and Dre Clayton added 12 points. Five different Orlando Christian players combined for seven 3-pointers, including 6-foot-6 post Clayton.

"We tried to mix it up with various looks on defense -- zones and man -- but they're a good team," Kamehameha coach Julian Nakanishi said. "They also played good defense and they trapped well. They were staying in that trap and we just weren't shooting tonight. The recipe for us to win was to shoot 60-70 percent and to catch them on an off night, and that didn't happen."

Enos finished with 14 points to lead the Warriors.