Triplett, Na Pueo open MIL play with lopsided victory over Hawks
Triplett
D. Falk
Triplett
D. Falk
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NAPILI -- There were only 11 players healthy for the Haleakala Waldorf-Maui Preparatory Academy boys basketball game on Friday night at the Bozich Center on the MPA campus.
One stood out, however.
Drew Triplett is a scorer like the Maui Interscholastic League has rarely, if ever, seen -- and he showed it again in the first official game played in the brand-new Bozich facility in 714 days.
Triplett finished with 43 points in a 100-15 win Friday, but he took the opportunity to pass the basketball on several possessions for assists to teammates.
The game was the MIL Division II opener for each team -- the Hawks have had four games postponed by COVID-19 protocols and and Na Pueo have had two league games postponed.
"We've been going hard and obviously with COVID we weren't able to have a season last year," said Triplett, a 6-foot-1 senior guard/forward. "Our team got it for a little bit earlier this month, so we haven't played for about four weeks. So, it just felt nice to get out there and play against another team after pretty much just practicing for the last four weeks."
Haleakala Waldorf dressed five players, one of whom did not arrive until about 10 minutes before the 7 p.m. tip-off. Na Pueo dressed only six players, with four players missing the game due to injury or COVID.
"The coaches wanted us to not let up, they wanted us to keep running our stuff -- obviously we have four guys out due to injuries and COVID protocol, but we just felt like it was an opportunity to run stuff and get ready for teams down the road," Triplett said.
Triplett scored an MIL-record 53 points in a game against Molokai at the Lahainaluna gym in 2020. He had 51 in a 78-21 win over the Saint Louis 2 team in a non-league game in December.
He is not worried about the numbers, except for one.
"The goal for this year is a state championship," he said. "It's been our goal since the summer -- we all went to Houston for about a month and a half, playing some teams over there. Ever since then we just wanted a state championship. That's the goal and that's not going to change, no matter what happens."
Triplett scored 15 points in the first quarter that ended with a 40-3 advantage for Na Pueo. He had 11 points in the second quarter as MPA's lead grew to 61-5.
A 3-pointer by Triplett made it 80-5 with 3:21 to go on the 30-point mercy rule running clock in the third quarter. A drive to the hoop and lay-in by Triplett made it 100-15 with 1:27 to go.
Triplett made several nice passes that led to easy baskets or layups for his teammates. Dylan Falk finished with 22 points and Jimmy Falk had 20 for Na Pueo.
"I take a lot of pride in that (passing), a lot more than scoring because it helps our team win, it helps get everybody involved," Triplett said. "I will score when I can and I will score when I will, but obviously getting everybody involved and everybody working together, that's how we're going to win the state championship."
Cyrus Laury-Schaeffer scored 10 points for the Hawks.
"I've never faulted our teams for having any sort of lack of heart," Haleakala Waldorf coach Kieran Devanney said. "These kids are out here because they really want to be and that's the dream honestly as a coach."
Devanney was impressed with Triplett. The senior came back to the gym after the game to practice free throws, along with the Falk brothers.
"Absolutely, a fantastic player and he's going to make contact and score with no issue," Devanney said. "That's largely true for most of their team, they are an excellent team."
Triplett said he is considering college basketball and has had contacts from several NCAA Division II and Division III teams at this point.
"Yeah, it's definitely on my mind, I'm still considering it and obviously I'm keeping that as an option," Triplett said. "Maybe if I decide not to play next year, the year after that or something like that. I've been talking to a couple coaches, mainly D-III and a couple D-II. I'm just keeping that door open and just kind of going through the season one step at a time. Whatever happens, happens."
MPA co-head coach Zach Bailey said the game was a nice respite from practice. His co-head coach is Cheyne De La Garza.
"These guys haven't played in like two years," Bailey said. "The coaching staff, coach Cheyne and everyone, we've done a good job of making sure these guys are prepared to hoop."
Bailey said Triplett is the unquestioned leader of Na Pueo.
"Absolutely, we preach sharing the ball, but we also preach playing the right way," Bailey said. "He's a leader of this group and he's been so for the last couple of years and that's what we expect.
"We hold him to a higher standard -- we hold all of our kids to a high standard, so they know that we expect them to play hard every single possession and do what's right on the basketball court."
* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com
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HALEAKALA WALDORF (15)
Casey Byer 0, Oskar Friedman 3, Timothy Walsh 0, Cyrus Laury-Schaeffer 10, Adrian Wertheim 2.
MAUI PREP (100)
Drew Triplett 43, Dylan Falk 22, Jimmy Falk 20, Emerson Flores 4, Koenig Biegel 2, Levi Basurto 9.
Haleakala Waldorf 3 2 4 6 -- 15
Maui Prep 40 21 25 14 -- 100
SEABURY HALL BOYS 57, MOLOKAI 20
MOLOKAI (0-3)
Heath Lopez 0, Kobey Nishihira-Asuncion 0, Nakama Ross 0, Tanoa McKenzie-Faumai 0, Jonah Sahagun 2, Noah Nishihira-Kaupe 0, Sonny Dunnam 0, Owen Svetin 4, Saven Kaahanui 0, Kahakoi Lopez 2, Solomon Kikukawa-Teriong 5, Jericho Adolpho 7, Kolby Dudoit 0, Elijah Kadowaki 0, Aron Corpuz 0.
SEABURY HALL (3-0)
Luca Connor 5, Noah Reisenauer 0, Anthony Martin 0, James Judge 21, Braydon Cabanilla 0, Ethan Palmer 0, Patrick Doan 0, Bryce Churchill 0, Kobe Garcia 9, Elima Dagan 1, Dylan Stolley 1, Zach Devane 2, Leo McKuin 5, Bromo Dorn 13.
Molokai 4 7 4 5--20
Seabury Hall 14 26 12 5--57
LANAI BOYS 65, HANA 20
HANA (0-1)
Irie Mizner 9, Faa Moeai 0, Kawika Helekahi 7, Koali'i Shamblin 0, Kui Park 0, Stratton McClure 4, Laumana Helekahi-Matsuda 0, Ikaika Peters 0
LANAI (3-2)
Sam Dimaya III 6, Reese Etrata 6, Makaiah Alboro 6, Allan Adams 14, Ryan Noble 8, Jordan Belista 3, Renzy Manuel 16, Chase Connor 4, Robert Sarmiento 0, Kristian Kraytchev 2, Ervin Badillo 0
Hana 4 6 3 7--20
Lanai 24 24 9 8--65
LANAI GIRLS 81, HANA 15
HANA (0-3)
Clara Asay 2, Anela Kalalau 2, Tyra-Li Perry 6, Naarah Hoopai-Feliciano 0, Lilian Park-Smith 0, Pristine Perry 2, Asa-Praise Kalalau 0, Talimai Moeai 3, Callie Williams 0.
LANAI (3-2)
Veniza Jackson 25, Leisha Figuerres 11, Alexa Pascual 17, Keala Montgomery 10, Sivanny Seiuli 2, Haley Ostrander 7, Souina Seiuli 9.
Hana 4 4 4 3--15
Lanai 27 24 14 16--81
SEABURY HALL GIRLS 56, MOLOKAI 25
Seabury Hall 15 12 16 13--56
Molokai 6 3 9 7--25
Leading scorers--Seabury Hall (3-2): Meleani Sjostrand 24, Pio Tu'ivai 15, Brittlay Carillo 8. Molokai (2-1): Lia-Chae Meyer 10, Kaualea Helm 7, Leila Hooper-Phifer 6.
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MIL STANDINGS
BOYS
DIVISION I
W L Pct. GB
Baldwin 5 0 1.000 --
Kamehameha Maui 4 2 .667 1 1⁄2
Lahainaluna 3 2 .600 2
Maui High 1 3 .250 3 1⁄2
King Kekaulike 0 6 .000 5 1⁄2
DIVISION II
W L Pct. GB
Seabury Hall 3 0 1.000 --
Lanai 3 2 .500 1
Maui Prep 1 0 1.000 1
Haleakala Waldorf 0 1 .000 2
Hana 0 1 .000 2
Molokai 0 3 .000 3
Friday's Results
Lanai 65, Hana 20
Seabury Hall 57, Molokai 20
Maui Prep 100, Haleakala Waldorf 15
Today's Games
Molokai at Seabury Hall, 10:30 a.m.
Hana at Lanai, 11:30 a.m.
Maui High at Baldwin, 5:30 p.m.
King Kekaulike at Lahainaluna, 5:30 p.m.
Haleakala Waldorf vs. Maui Prep at Seabury Hall, 7 p.m.
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MIL STANDINGS
GIRLS
DIVISION I
W L Pct. GB
Maui High 7 1 .875 --
Lahainaluna 6 1 .857 1⁄2
Kamehameha Maui 5 4 .556 2 1⁄2
King Kekaulike 3 7 .300 5
Baldwin 0 8 .000 7
DIVISION II
W L Pct. GB
Lanai 3 2 .600 --
Seabury Hall 3 2 .600 --
Molokai 2 1 .667 --
Hana 0 3 .000 2
Friday's Results
Lanai 81, Hana 15
Seabury Hall 56, Molokai 25
Today's Games
Hana at Lanai, 10 a.m.
Seabury Hall at Molokai, 11 a.m.
Maui High at Baldwin, 7 p.m.
King Kekaulike at Lahainaluna, 7 p.m.