Kaiser downs 'Aiea, 51-33


Kaiser forward Doug Gehring puts up a fall-away jumper against 'Aiea. Brien Ing | SL
Doug Gehring scored a game-high 13 points last night to help Kaiser race past visiting 'Aiea, 51-33, in O'ahu Interscholastic Association boys basketball action.

The Cougars improved to 7-5 in the OIA White Conference Eastern Division, clinging to their playoff hopes. Only the top three teams in each division qualify, and Kaiser needs a victory in Wednesday's regular season finale at Waipahu (9-3) combined with a Kalaheo (7-5) loss at 'Aiea (5-7) that same night to finish third.

If the Cougars and Mustangs both finish 8-5, Kalaheo would earn the playoff berth via a tie-breaker due to a 42-39 win against second-place McKinley on Jan. 8. Kaiser and Kalaheo split their two meetings, and the Cougars were swept by McKinley.

Last night, Kaiser jumped out to an 8-0 start in the first three minutes and never looked back. Chucky Ka'ahanui's 3-pointer cut it to 12-7, but Gehring's putback with 21 seconds remaining put the Cougars ahead, 14-7, and they began the second period with a 13-2 run capped by Quinton Wong's back-to-back 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 27-9 with 3:22 left in the half.

Na Ali'i could not get closer than 15 points in the final two quarters.