No. 10 Kahuku overtakes No. 6 Kalani

Kahuku's Leiah Naeata rises up for a layup against Kalani Tuesday night. Greg Yamamoto | SL

In a showdown between the top two teams in the OIA East, the knockout punch came in the final period of play.

Tenth-ranked Kahuku outscored No. 6 Kalani by eight in the fourth quarter for a 51-48 win to at Earl C. Homer Gymnasium to pull into first place in the OIA Division I East standings Tuesday night.

Leiah Naeata scored 22 points to lead the Red Raiders, who improved to 5-0 in the league standings.

Aja Tapusoa had 15 points and Meleane Tonga added 10 more to round out the top contributors for Kahuku.

The Falcons, who dropped to 4-1, were led by Kalena Halunajan's 23 points in the loss.

Kahuku led 14-9 after the first quarter, but Kalani cut the deficit down to one at the half, 26-25.

The home team rode the momentum after the break and led 40-35 after three quarters of play before the Red Raiders took control in the fourth quarter.