Boys basketball: Warriors earn second win
Photo by Kimani Fernandez-Roy
Junior Austin Peters passes it in to senior Keomaikalani Chun as he posts up against defender Makana Reis. Fans cheered loudly throughout the game at Maui High School. The Warriors came out with a 68-64 win.
KAHULUI–The Kamehameha Schools Maui boys basketball team gathered their second win of the season against the Sabers of Maui High School last night at the home of the Sabers.
The Warriors scored the first points of the game with a layup by junior Kea Aguirre. Both teams then began trading blows, and no team allowed the other to slip away. However, the first quarter ended with the Warriors up 18-13.
Although the Sabers were down at the end of the first, they outscored the Warriors in the second quarter 27-17 to take a 40-35 lead at the half.
Fans from both teams shouted as nothing but noise filled the hot and steamy gym.
Coming out of the half, the Warriors were led by senior Keomaikalani Chun, and they outscored the Sabers 14-9 in the third quarter to tie the game at 49.
Senior Keomaikalani Chun lays the ball up as Sabers Makana Reis and two others defend.
Chun ended the night with 18 points while juniors Austin Peters added 17 and Kaimana Gerard added 12. Fransver Castro lead the Sabers with 19 points while Micah Jio added 14.
At the start of the final quarter, it was clearly visible that neither team wanted to go home with a loss. However, the Warriors were led by Peters, who scored 8 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter off free throws to seal a 68-64 win over the Sabers.
“They played great, I mean, they played hard. They played good the whole game,” head coach Angus Peters III said.
Although the Warriors played well, the are working on discipline this season.
“They got the skill. They know the game. Itʻs just sometimes they freak out when the pressure’s on,” Coach Peters said.
“Rebounding and running the play,” are a couple of other things that Gerard and Peters said they can improve on.
The Warriors have already improved from their season record of 0-12 last year.
“We have a great coach,” Gerard said, giving credit to Coach Peters for their success so far.
With two wins already under their belts in the regular season and two others from pre-season play, the Warriors are hoping to improve and do even better.
“You have to keep your composure,” said Coach Steven Vega, head coach of the Sabers. Maui High also hopes to improve, especially in the area of controlling their emotions during play, he said.
