Moanalua's Elo Badua puts up a shot attempt as Kapolei's Abdul-Kader Ziane defends. Peter Caldwell | SL

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Kapolei's Dakota Williams challenges a shot attempt by Moanalua's Jamaal Willis. Peter Caldwell | SL

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Moanalua's Jamaal Willis goes after a loose ball against Kapolei. Peter Caldwell | SL

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Wed, Feb 5, 2014 @ Moanalua

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Kapolei

36

Moanalua

58

Final	1	2	3	4
Kapolei (6-5, 6-12)	6	4	13	13	36
Moanalua (10-5, 17-12)	23	14	11	10	58

J. Willis 14 pts  1 3pm  3/4 FTs

B. Toomalatai 8 pts  0/0 FTs

Moanalua routed Kapolei, 58-36 in the opening round of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red Playoffs at Moanalua High School gymnasium on Wednesday night. The Na Menehune will travel to Mililani to take on the West's number two seed tomorrow at 6 pm. Kapolei finishes the season at 6-5. 

Moanalua's starters scored 52 of the team's 58 points. Elo Badua (nine points), Jamaal Willis (team-high 14 points), Antoine Hines (six points), Karson Cruz (10 points) and Aaaron Stuart (13 points). 

In the first quarter, Moanalua blitzed Kapolei early with a 10-0 run after Antoine Hines had a steal and passed it to Elo Badua for a layup. The Na Menehune set the tone early and played the passing lanes well as they had six steals in the quarter that fueled their transition offense. 

"This was the best start we've had in a while. We were able to control defensive tempo initially. When we're doing that the result is touches, steals, and easy baskets and that's what happened tonight and we feel good about that. I think it's indicative of a mature team, they know what's on the line, it's a loser out game and knew what was at stake and responded," said Moanalua coach Byron Mello. 

"We watched film before and how to play defense. Our defense generates our offense and push the pressure and score then get back on defense and keep putting pressure on them," said Jamaal Willis. 

Kapolei called timeout at 4:17 after Moanalua's Jamaal Willis had a block and passed it to Badua on the fast break for a layup to make it 14-2. The Na Menehune outscored the Hurricanes 9-4 to make it 23-6 at the end of the first quarter. 

The Na Menehune continued where they left and outscored the Hurricanes 14-4. Kapolei's Benjahmin Toomalatai made Kapolei's only field goal in the quarter. Moanalua's Aaron Stuart had a steal and nifty behind-the-back pass to Aljohn Bumanglag on the fast break to make it 37-10 at halftime. 

"We saw that the passing lane was open. If we play the passing lane, we can still help, so we played the lanes, got the steals, layups and saw the open man running and pass it for the assist," said Willis on getting the steals. 

Jamaal Willis had 11 points and four steals in the first half. Stuart and Cruz had eight each. 

Moanalua shot 50 percent (7-of-14) from the free throw line and went 1-of-3 from the 3-point line. Kapolei was 1-of-19 from the 3-point line and 50 percent (5-of-10) from the free throw line. 

The Na Menehune pushed the lead up by as much as 30 points, but the Hurricanes outscored the Na Menehune 26-21 in the second half. Late in the fourth quarter, Moanalua was able to allow their reserves to play the remainder of the game. 

"If our defense is where it was tonight, I think things will take care of themselves. Basically three things were happening tonight: our on-ball pressure was really good and smart, our gap protect was there when it needed it to be, and we did a really good job fighting around the basket for rebounds and if we can rebound and get the ball out quickly we can run and that's what we want to do. If our defense is where it needs to be tomorrow night I think we'll be in good shape," said Mello on facing Mililani. 

"We're going to try to play our offense and dictate the tempo and run on them. We have to get steals, play the lanes, help-defense and get layups," said Willis.