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Na Alii pull away from Bears, earn spot in MIL semifinals

The Maui News – Nakuluai Morando hit four 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points to help lead the King Kekaulike High School boys basketball team to a 75-59 win over Baldwin in the first round of the Maui Interscholastic League Division I tournament Tuesday night at the Bears’ Jon Garcia Gym in Wailuku.

Darius Lauture scored 10 of his 14 points in the third quarter as the fifth-seeded Na Alii (3-10) pulled away. Braden Ruiz added 15 points for King Kekaulike.

Jacob Fernandez-Ruiz had 13 points and Chayse Tamaki scored 10 for the fourth-seeded Bears, who end the season at 2-11.

Na Alii advance to Thursday’s semifinals at Maui High, where they will meet top-seeded Lahainaluna (12-0). The second-seeded Sabers (7-5) and No. 3 Kamehameha Maui (7-5) will face off in the other semifinal.

Maui High will clinch a state tournament berth with a win over the Warriors. As regular-season champions, the Lunas have already secured a spot at states.

The D-I tournament final is set for Friday night at War Memorial Gym, with any necessary playoff scheduled for Saturday.

The Division II tournament starts Thursday at Hana. The semifinals pit top-seeded Seabury Hall (11-1) against the Dragons (0-12) and No. 2 seed Lanai (7-5) against Molokai (6-6). The Spartans can clinch the league’s lone D-II state tournament berth with two wins this week.

KING KEKAULIKE

Ethan Bediamol 11, Richard Chun 0, Darius Lauture 14, Milo Debliquis 2, Dylan Baird 8, Nakuluai Morando 20, Trey Metoyer 0, Ryan Drinkward 0, Braden Ruiz 15, Corey Frias 0, Joseph Sigrah 5.

BALDWIN

Dawson Tokishi 0, Allen Ancheta 0, Jacob Fernandez-Ruiz 13, Chayse Tamaki 10, Kainalu Lacno 7, Darius Pulgados 8, Mochi Dukelow 9, Nick Endo 0, Fanu Fifita 7, Jarred Paranada 2, Zion Floyd 0, Brad Kuraya 3, Gavin Arista 0.

King Kekaulike     15    12    24    24–75

Baldwin             13    11    16    19–59

*****

MIL TOURNAMENTS

DIVISION I

Tuesday’s Result

Play-in game

King Kekaulike 75, Baldwin 59

Thursday’s Games

Semifinals

Lahainaluna vs. King Kekaulike at Maui High, 5:30 p.m.

Kamehameha Maui at Maui High, 7 p.m.

Friday’s Game

Final

Lahainaluna-King Kekaulike winner vs. Kamehameha Maui-Maui High winner at War Memorial Gym, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Game

Overall championship or second-place game

Teams TBA, if necessary, at War Memorial Gym, 7 p.m.

DIVISION II

Thursday’s Games

Semifinals

Seabury Hall at Hana, 5:30 p.m.

Lanai vs. Molokai at Hana, 7 p.m.

Friday’s Game

Final

Seabury Hall-Hana winner vs. Lanai-Molokai winner at Hana, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Game

Overall championship

Seabury Hall vs. TBA, if necessary, at Hana, 7 p.m.

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