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Lunas hold off Bears, keep streak intact

Reece Pascua

WAILUKU — The Lahainaluna High School boys basketball team’s showdown against Baldwin looked like it would be an easy ride early on.

Then the Lunas had to hang on for dear life for their 44th Maui Interscholastic League win in a row, a 61-53 victory over the Bears on Saturday night at Jon Garica Gym.

The Lunas bolted out to a 27-point lead midway through the second quarter before watching the margin shrink to as few as eight several times in the fourth quarter.

The Lunas improved to 6-0 in MIL play while the Bears fell to 4-2.

“I told our boys ‘they’re coming, we’ve just got to be ready for when the wave comes,’ “ Lahainaluna coach Jason Justus said. “We held on, we held on to that raft, but it was sinking.”

The Lunas rolled to a 24-6 lead at the end of the first quarter behind 15 points from John Flores, a transfer from the Philippines. Flores finished with 18 points, including five 3-pointers. Reece Pascua also had 18 points for the Lunas, who are now 61-1 under Justus in MIL play.

“I’d much rather have games like this than win by 30,” Justus said. “It builds a lot of character and we can see what we’re made of. Even though we had some bright spots, there’s a lot of things that we need to work on to get to the next level.”

Justus was impressed by the Baldwin comeback, which began with a 10-0 run in the third quarter to bring the Bears within 41-24. John Werner scored 16 points for the Bears, including nine of their 12 in the first half.

“Hats off to Baldwin, I mean they’re really doing a great job over here, the coaching staff is coming together, the kids are starting to believe in the program,” Justus said. “There’s a lot of positive stuff, a lot of bright spots for sure.”

Baldwin’s Holden Ioanis sank a corner 3 to make it 51-41 and then scored again inside to bring Baldwin within 51-43 and bring a timeout from Justus with 5:35 to go.

Flores made his final 3 moments later to push the lead back to 11.

Quintan Akaka and Werner scored baskets to bring the Bears within eight two more times in the final two minutes, but they would get no closer.

“Something to build on, but Lahaina came out and they pressured us, they were ready to go,” Baldwin coach Cody Tesoro said. “That’s what good teams do. They’ve been the champs for the last (four) years. We’ve just got to take that punch and punch — and we did in the second half.

“So like I said it’s a momentum-builder going into our next game. Fine tune some things and I think we’ll be all right.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

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LAHAINALUNA (61)

Reece Pascua 18, Tre Rickard 13, Juztin Gaoiran 1, Malino Jacinto 5, John Flores 18, Sam Fifita 0, Josh Tihada 0, Mathew Rabino 0, Miki Tufuga 2, Tui Lai 4, TJ Galoia 0, Hunter Higdin 0.

BALDWIN (53)

Mochi Dukelow 8, Owen Nakamura 0, Holden Ioanis 11, Reinhard Taidrik 4, Ben Wagner 0, Tyrone Nakooka 0, Kui Ross 8, Quintan Akaka 6, John Werner 16.

Lahainaluna 24 15 6 16–61

Baldwin 6 6 22 19–53

LAHAINALUNA GIRLS 64, BALDWIN 20

LAHAINALUNA (64)

Aira Baguyo 6, Abby Akamine 4, Ashley Akamine 12, Alea Kimokeo 1, Erin Hookano 8, Kiera Kaniho 2, Piper Pascua 3, Taylor Eldredge 3, Alexia Plaza 1, Teani Rickard 3, Susi Namoa 21.

BALDWIN (20)

Jordyn Vierra 0, McKenzie Schwindler 0, Tia Caulford 0, Taylor Manangan 12, Precious Rayray 0, Aya Buttaro 0, Shalei Lee Awai 0, Makayla Chung 8, Saree-Ann Kekahuna 0.

Lahainaluna 18 22 17 7–64

Baldwin 7 7 4 2–20

MAUI HIGH BOYS 58, KING KEKAULIKE 53

MAUI HIGH (58)

JR Villon 15, DJ Sable 3, Keoki Agtaguem 6, Kevin Cacho 2, Jojo Pacubas 22, Logan Nagamine 0, Isaiah Richards 7, Charlles Guansing 0, T-Jay Valle 1, Michael Villon 0, Kobin Harris 0, Brycetyn Boco 0, Chris Rummans 2.

KING KEKAULIKE (53)

Ethan Bediamol 0, Thorren Rebugio 0, Darius Lauture 26, Carson Yoshida 9, Dylan Baird 2, Kai Carbajal 9, Jacob Wittenberg 0, Braeton Taylor 0, Corey Frias 7, Jovyn Nault 0, Akhil Fernando-Bell 0, Kaleb Chun 0.

Maui High 17 6 21 14–58

King Kekaulike 10 12 11 20–53

KING KEKAULIKE GIRLS 63, MAUI HIGH 40

MAUI HIGH (40)

Hiilani Arai 3, Kyleena Rieta 14, Leiana Thornton 10, Natea Rosete-Tokuhisa 8, Nicole Otsuka 0, Atasha Timbreza 3, Makena Stevenson 0, Ronie Butihi 0, Mayghen Thornton 2, Althea Garduque 0.

KING KEKAULIKE (63)

Cailyn Ukida 2, Keira Archangel 0, Lauren Albrecht 0, Charlie Abreu 2, T.C. Pahukoa 14, Namahana Kaeo-Young 24, Anna Lee Peters 0, Heather Pease 4, Kreyajan Pahukoa 13, Kamalani Puu 0, Aliyah Ah You 3, Kailia Purdy 1.

Maui High 8 9 7 16–40

King Kekaulike 22 10 17 14–63

LANAI GIRLS 46, HANA 34

HANA (34)

Shasta Kalalau 14, Moani Kahana 2, Siliilagi Moeai 0, Shaylee Roback 4, Tracey Sinenci 4, Kaala Kalalau 6, Deisia-Rae Lind-Kaina 0, Clara Asay 2, Tyra-Li Perry 2.

LANAI (46)

Gina Anton 6, Mary Claire Manuel 6, Celina Romero 10, Jasmine Molina 1, Ryllah Rodrigues 0, Amaya Hoopii Baptista 2, Sheilah Agcaoili 0, Ketrina Olter 0, Arriana Maltezo 12, Faith Arruiza , Giyana Agliam 4, Raquel Leoeuf Malacas 4, Brandi-lee Medeiros 1.

Hana 8 7 6 13–34

Lanai 20 6 9 11–46

LANAI BOYS 66, HANA 43

HANA (43)

Kaua Medeiros-Lind 2, Shayden Hoopai-Waikoloa 8, Chayton Keegan 7, Owali Moeai 0, Nahinu Lind 3, Keoki Hoopai-Waikoloa 6, Elijah Keegan 5, Huaka Park 10, Blade Hoopai 2.

LANAI (66)

Joel Nisperos 0, Devin Vidad 12, Rayden Manuel 0, Renze Manuel 2, Jordan Belista 3, Kane Tubera 10, Jesse Sigrah 7, Andre Adams 10, Devrene Kahananui Alejado 18, Morgan Jonas 0, Jamahl Adams 2, Elijah Gima-Maltezo 2.

Hana 9 11 16 7–43

Lanai 14 22 8 22–66

SEABURY HALL BOYS 65, ST. ANTHONY 10

ST. ANTHONY (10)

Kaimana Baker 3, Nate Rabara 3, Calvin Johnson 4, Evan Essner 0, Jonathan Vergel de Dios 0, Christian Robson 0.

SEABURY HALL (65)

Noah Payne 6, Carl Molinaro 3, Ujaiah Cunningham 4, Joaquin Donez 10, Cooper Waite 2, Caden Granum 7, Kai Preseault 9, Brayden Hasegawa 0, Kama Konohia 10, Masyn Johnson 4, John Biegel 10.

St. Anthony 1 3 0 6–10

Seabury Hall 19 24 14 8–65

SEABURY HALL GIRLS 50, MOLOKAI 27

Seabury Hall 5 16 19 10–50

Molokai 3 6 7 11–27

High scorers–Seabury Hall: Ameera Waterford 17, Leela Waterford 10, Brittlay Carillo 7, Anau Tuivai 6. Molokai: Jordyn McCutcheon 8, Lia-Chae Myer 8, Kaitlin DeRouin 4, Cahlvrie Horner 3.

MOLOKAI BOYS 51

HALEAKALA WALDORF 41

Haleakala Waldorf 12 4 11 14–41

Molokai 16 15 9 11–51

High scorers–Haleakala Waldorf: Will Pang 14, Adrian Werthem 12, Pat Doster 11, Connor Fernandez 4. Molokai: Nickolas Rapanot 11, Stephen Agcaoili 10, Kanalu Kahale 8, Vaai Seumalo 8, Marc Bumatay 6, Ayden Inouye 4.

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MIL STANDINGS

BOYS

DIVISION I

W L Pct. GB

Lahainaluna 6 0 1.000 —

Baldwin 4 2 .667 2

Maui High 3 2 .600 2 1⁄2

Kamehameha Maui 1 4 .200 4 1⁄2

King Kekaulike 0 6 .000 6

DIVISION II

W L Pct. GB

Lanai 2 0 1.000 —

Seabury Hall 2 0 1.000 —

Haleakala Waldorf 1 1 .500 1

Molokai 1 1 .500 1

Hana 0 2 .000 2

St. Anthony 0 2 .000 2

Saturday’s Results

Molokai 51, Haleakala Waldorf 41

Lanai 66, Hana 43

Seabury Hall 65, St. Anthony 10

Lahainaluna 61, Baldwin 53

Maui High 58, King Kekaulike 53

Wednesday’s Games

Kamehameha Maui at Maui High, 7 p.m.

King Kekaulike at Baldwin, 7 p.m.

GIRLS

DIVISION I

W L Pct. GB

Lahainaluna 9 0 1.000 —

King Kekaulike 7 2 .778 2

Maui High 4 5 .444 5

Kamehameha Maui 2 6 .250 6 1⁄2

Baldwin 0 9 .000 9

DIVISION II

W L Pct. GB

x-Seabury Hall 10 0 1.000 —

Lanai 5 5 .500 5

Molokai 5 5 .500 5

Hana 0 10 .000 10

x-clinched regular-season championship

Saturday’s Results

Seabury Hall 50, Molokai 27

Lanai 46, Hana 34

Lahainaluna 64, Baldwin 20

King Kekaulike 63, Maui High 40

Wednesday’s Games

Kamehameha Maui at Maui High, 5:30 p.m.

King Kekaulike at Baldwin, 5:30 p.m.

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