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Spencer scores 24, Warriors hand Bears first loss, 65-52

By Robert Collias 4 min read

PUKALANI -- Both coaches said they found out about the new plan on Thursday.

For the Kamehameha Schools Maui boys basketball team, things are going to plan.

The Warriors rode a career-high-tying 24 points from Kale Spencer to a 65-52 win over Baldwin as both teams wrapped up the second round of Maui Interscholastic League Division I play.

The victory came on senior night at Kaulaheanuiokamoku Gym.

"It feels great, it feels great to have our community out and just supporting us, we love to hear them cheering for us," said Spencer, a 6-foot-4 senior forward/center. "It was a great team win."

Due to a league ruling that all head-to-head ties would be broken in a modified third round should the teams be within a game of each other, the Bears and Warriors could meet next Thursday for the MIL D-I regular-season title and the state berth that goes with it.

The Warriors (6-2) must beat Lahainaluna (5-3) on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Kaulaheanuiokamoku to set up a Thursday showdown for the regular-season crown in a game against the Bears tentatively set for Baldwin's Jon Garcia Gym.

The Bears expect to have three of their top seven players back from COVID protocols, including 6-foot-7 Quintan Akaka, who watched Thursday's game from the bench.

"I'm looking forward to that game a lot, I think we just have to fix some things, we've got some things we've got to work on," Spencer said. "We have got to get started tomorrow."

The Warriors opened up a 16-6 lead on an inside hoop by Spencer, who minutes later scored seven points in a row to push the lead to 26-10 with 3:55 left in the second quarter.

The Warriors opened their largest lead at 19 late in the second quarter and took a 34-15 lead into the halftime break on a jumper by Brevin Carillo at the buzzer.

Baldwin's Kobe Gonzales scored the first eight points of the third quarter -- the first six on a pair of long 3s -- to pull the Bears within 34-23. A pair of free throws by Baldwin's Brody Reformina decreased the margin to 44-39 with 1:21 left in the third quarter.

The Warriors went on an 11-1 run to push the lead to 55-40 before Gonzales stole a pass and rolled to the hoop to bring the Bears within 55-42 with 4:04 to play.

Baldwin would not get closer than 11 the rest of the way.

Gonzales led the Bears with 20 points.

Baldwin coach Cody Tesoro said he doesn't quite understand the MIL ruling on the need to play next week -- the league was put in a bind when the Hawaii High School Athletic Association moved the state tournament up a week. With that development and several COVID-19 postponements, the third round will not be able to be completed to get to the regular amount of 12 games.

"I still don't understand why," Tesoro said. "At the end of the day, everyone played eight games. We have the better record. It makes no sense to me, but this season is all about adjusting and being flexible with your approach. So, hats off to Kamehameha. (Coach) Angus (Peters III) did a hell of a job getting his boys ready to go. That's what good teams do. Good teams come ready to play in big games.

"Now, good teams also come back when they have bad games. So, we're ready to work and we will have our bodies back -- three of our top seven. We're going to work and we'll see what happens."

Kamehameha Maui coach Peters was also told of the scenario to finish the regular season on Thursday. He said his team just reached its full roster availability on Tuesday in a win over Maui High.

"It was a big night for the coaches, we finally got everybody here," Peters said. "We got numbers and we're glad to see everybody back and playing hard. ... Ever since the rule change it is kind of learning stuff on the fly, so at the end of the day we're ready to play whoever we've got to play."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

BALDWIN (7-1)

Alex Murata 3, Kobe Gonzales 20, Brody Reformina 6, Haokea Kekahuna-Tomita 0, Hudson Yarbrough 8, Trotter Apo 8, Avery Pauole 7.

KS MAUI (6-2)

Logan Rickard 8, Richie Davenport 4, Pookela Aiu 3, Nahale Dukelow 4, Brevin Carillo 4, Cade Cagasan 2, Dylan Schnitzer 12, Kale Spencer 24, Kamahiwa Molitau 4.

Baldwin 6 9 25 12--52

KS Maui 14 21 14 16--65

LAHAINALUNA 54, MAUI HIGH 43

MAUI HIGH (1-6)

Ivan Domingo 2, Jazz Castro 7, Justin Tolentino 6, Rodney Vaka 6, Julius Bueno 0, Jermaine Baguyo 4, Patrick Borden 0, Nash Vida Ah Loo 0, DJ Sabas 5, Fidel Ortiz 6, Trajan Cantere 7.

LAHAINALUNA (5-3)

Kade Cunningham 0, Carldave Salem 0, Cruz Cosner 2, Kana'au Castro 19, Noah Flores Alexander 19, Joa Navarro 4, Aidan Alibin 0, Denver Duque 6, Ian Cabanilla 4.

Maui High 14 9 8 12--43

Lahainaluna 10 15 12 17--54

Starting at /week.