Trinity Christian out of Texas is tall, but Waiakea nearly stood up to the test.
Albert Owens scored 40 points Friday night as the Tigers survived a scare from the Warriors, winning 65-62 in the semifinals of the Hilo High School Holiday Prep Boys Basketball Classic at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Tigers have three players on their roster listed at 6-foot-5 or taller, including the 6-9 Owens. The senior power forward lifted Trinity into the tournament championship game, where it will face Hilo at 7 p.m today.
Lucas St. George scored 23 points for the Warriors and Calvin Mattos added 15.
Trinity 16 19 13 17—65
Waiakea 11 14 19 18—62
Hilo 52, Lahainaluna 48: Jalen Carvalho led the Vikings into the final with 22 points, Austin Dante added 14 and EJ Narido had 10. Ryan Madera had 15 for the Lunas, who will face Waiakea at 5:30 p.m. today in the third-place game
Hilo 10 15 12 15 —52
Lahaina 12 5 20 11—48
Keaau 52 Pahoa 47: Isiah Segobia scored 21 points and Edgar Ventura had 15 as the Cougars pulled past the Daggers in the fourth quarter. Tolby Saito led Pahoa with 17 and Joel Rosario chipped in with 11. Keaau faces Kamehameha at 3:30 today for fifth place, while the Daggers draw Kohala at 2 p.m. in the seventh-place game
Keaau 12 9 12 19—52
Pahoa 12 7 15 13—47
Kamehameha-Hawaii 81, Kohala 71: Bayley-Allen Manliguis’ 22 points and 20 from Pukana Vincent carried the Warriors. The Cowboys rode Ryan Caravalho’s 24 points and well as Kealen Figueroa’s 19.
Kohala 17 17 12 25—71
KS-Hawaii 24 15 21 21—81