HILO – Hawaii Prep played its type of game against Waiakea, slowing the pace, cleaning the glass and securing the ball in a battle of unbeatens.
Ka Makani’s ball-handers, guards KJ Walker, his freshman brother Tre, and Javan Perez, sparked a 61-47 win over Waiakea in a BIIF showdown at the Warriors Gym.
The HPA bigs did their part, too. Valentinas Ulinas, a 6-foot-5 junior, led the way with 15 points, 6-0 Michael Hughes cleaned the glass and got 12 points, and Perez had his pull-up jumper working and added 14 points for Ka Makani (9-0), who shot 55 percent, including 7 of 15 from beyond the arc.
The long arms of HPA kept the Warrior rim attackers at bay and forced them into jump shots. Rekky Prudencio scored 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, William Soares had nine points, and Kiai Apele added eight points for Waiakea (7-1), which converted 38 percent, including 5 of 15 from long distance.
The Warriors played their two bigs, 6-1 sophomore Elijah Blankenship and 6-3 senior Peter Suiaunoa, to counter HPA’s two tall guys, Ulinas and 6-4 senior Matija Vitorovic.
“We got enough stops, and we kept it at our pace,” HPA coach Fred Wawner said. “Our big guys did a nice job handling the ball in the middle of their zone. It’s a tough zone because they extend it with Will (Soares).
“But we knew we had to have a game in the 50s. They’re such an explosive team, like a knockout fighter, and we’re more like a grinder.”
And that’s how it went in the first half. The first quarter started like a track meet. Each team running down the court for pull-up jumpers. HPA made 7 of 13 shots while Waiakea was a little better with 7 of 11 field goals.
The second quarter turned into a half-court battle, and HPA took a 27-25 lead into half-time.
In the third quarter, Soares, the point man in Waiakea’s 1-3-1 zone, speared a ball and soared to the rim. His shot missed, but Kiai Apele scored on a putback.
Late in the third period, KJ Walker buried a 3-pointer, and then fed Keawe Strance for an easy bucket on a transition attack for a 41-36 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Warriors pressured Ka Makani with a half-court zone and trapped the ball-handlers. HPA had its three ball-handlers on the court and often escaped trouble.
Tre Walker didn’t score any points but showed his value with smart decisions, getting rid of the ball before the double team arrived.
Ka Makani finished with 16 turnovers, including four in the fourth quarter. Waiakea had 13 giveaways.
Early in the fourth quarter, Keegan Scanlan buried a 3-pointer to give the Waiakea faithful something to cheer about. His long-range bomb cut HPA’s lead to 46-39. But on the next play, HPA moved the ball against Waiakea’s double team and found Perez, who flew across the lane and put up a runner.
It dropped for a 50-42 cushion. But Scanlan came down the court and launched another 3-pointer.
The lead was whittled to four points, 50-46, with enough time for a comeback. But Waiakea’s shooting hit a cold spell. The Warrior shot just 4 of 16 in the final eight minutes.
Then HPA’s ball-handling turned possessions into points while breaking Waiakea’s press. Vitorovic scored on a layup, and Perez followed with another for two more easy points for a 54-46 lead with under three minutes.
There was a good flow to the game, and each team rarely went to the free throw line. HPA made 4 of 7 free throws while Waiakea buried 2 of 8 from the line.
In the JV game, it was HPA 43, Waiakea 26.
HPA 18 9 14 20 — 61
Waiakea 17 8 11 11 — 47