WAILUKU - David Rapanot did not feel well on Friday night in the Maui Interscholastic League opener for the Molokai High School boys basketball team.
It showed in a loss to Seabury Hall, but Rapanot felt fine on Saturday.
The 5-foot-10 junior, a returning MIL first-team All-Star, scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half of a 57-41 win over St. Anthony at War Memorial Gym.
Article Photos
Molokai High School’s Kaimana Kahale looks to pass between St. Anthony’s Nicholas Asuncion (left) and Kailin Pacheco during the first quarter of the Farmers’ 57-41 win over St. Anthony on Saturday at War Memorial Gym.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
"I felt pretty good, last night was not my night," Rapanot said. "My stomach didn't feel right - not sure if I ate something bad - and my knee was hurting, too."
The Farmers (1-1) won for the first time this season - they lost all four of their games in the Lahainaluna Invitational to Mainland teams.
After fellow returning All-Star Oli Falealii scored 21 points in the 51-41 loss to the Spartans, it was Rapanot's turn to pick up the rest of his team. Paka Adolpho had 12 points for the Farmers on Saturday - several off of assists from Rapanot - while Falealii and Kaimana Kahale each chipped in eight.
Fact Box
MIL STANDINGS
| BOYS | ||||
| Division I | ||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| King Kekaulike | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | — |
| KS Maui | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1 |
| Baldwin | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1 |
| Lahainaluna | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1 |
| Maui High | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2 |
| Division II | ||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Seabury Hall | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | — |
| Lanai | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1 |
| Molokai | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1 |
| St. Anthony | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2 |
| Saturday’s Results | ||||
| Lahainaluna 54, Kamehameha Maui 36 | ||||
| Molokai 57, St. Anthony 41 | ||||
| Seabury Hall 54, Lanai 37 | ||||
| Wednesday’s Games | ||||
| Baldwin at Kamehameha Maui, 7 p.m. | ||||
| Lahainaluna at Maui High, 7 p.m. | ||||
| GIRLS | ||||
| Division I | ||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Lahainaluna | 6 | 0 | 1.000 | — |
| Maui High | 5 | 1 | .833 | 1 |
| King Kekaulike | 3 | 3 | .500 | 3 |
| KS Maui | 1 | 5 | .167 | 5 |
| Baldwin | 0 | 6 | .000 | 6 |
| Division II | ||||
| W | L | Pct | GB | |
| Seabury Hall | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | — |
| Molokai | 2 | 2 | .500 | 2 |
| Lanai | 0 | 4 | .000 | 4 |
Saturday's Results
Lahainaluna 74, Kamehameha Maui 11
Seabury Hall 30, Molokai 20
Wednesday's Games
Baldwin at Kamehameha Maui, 5:30 p.m.
Lahainaluna at Maui High, 5:30 p.m.
"David shot well, gave Oli a break after last night," Molokai coach Lester Delos Reyes said.
"It is always tough to come back from a loss, but just to play how they did today, they did well."
With a nine-game regular season in Division II, a loss would have put the Farmers in an early hole.
"We had to win today," Rapanot said. "We had to talk to the boys and we had to make things straight, but it felt pretty good."
The Trojans, who do not have a senior on the roster, trailed 21-15 after one period and 38-24 at halftime. Preston Masanda scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half and Michael Fernandez finished with 13.
"They are a good team, definitely," said St. Anthony assistant coach Scott Davenport. "They have a really good shooter in No. 20 (Rapanot) - he did a great job. They have some good big guys, they are going to be a team to deal with this year."
The Trojans are 0-2 in the league after going winless in three games at the St. Anthony Invitational.
"We are picking it up from our tournament, the intensity is there," Davenport said. "We are growing as a team, the unity is there. We just have to take it on now."
The Farmers will host a pair of games against three-time defending league champion Sea-bury Hall to wrap up the regular season.
"I think Division II is kind of wide open, a lot of teams have a chance," Delos Reyes said. "Seabury is big, but the opportunity is there for teams like us. A lot of chance to break through. Today was a big difference between going home 0-2 and 1-1 in league. It is a morale booster for the boys."
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
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MOLOKAI (57)
Oli Falealii 8, David Rapanot 25, Kaimana Kahale 8, Paka Adolpho 12, Likeke Schonely 2, Haaloha Kamakua 2, Tani Falealii 0, Jordan Boswell 0.
ST. ANTHONY (41)
Kekaha Souza 4, Michael Fernandez 13, Christian Altura 0, Grayson Nolette 2, Preston Masanda 19, Colby Tam 1, Kailin Pacheco 0, Nicholas Asuncion 2.
Molokai ........... 21 ..... 17 ..... 10 ..... 9-57
St. Anthony ..... 15 ....... 9 ..... 12 ..... 5-41
