PUKALANI– The junior varsity Maui High boys basketball Sabers earned their first win against Kamehameha Schools Maui, 50-34, Saturday night at Kaʻulaheanuiokamoku Gymnasium. Warrior freshmen Kristian Silva and Jaxon Mossman-Smith were leading scorers for the team, but they fell short against the Sabers.

Mossman-Smith started the Warriors off with a 2-point shot, keeping close to the Sabers until the end of the first quarter (11-5) with the Sabers in the lead. Freshman Marco Kahoʻohanohano picked up the pace towards the second quarter, putting up two two-pointers and Silva earning free-throw shots off fouls.

“[Mossman-Smith] and Kristian were our key players tonight, and I hope that the team can work together better for their next game,” Warriors head coach Keone Labuanan said.

Mossman-Smith scored ten points, Silva seven points, Kahoʻohanohano six points, Steven Gushiken five points, and Cruz Braun, Dayven Tonu and Keanu Rindilsbacher two points each. Sabers leading scorers were Jerome Butac, who scored ten points and Kit Anipot with eight points.

“[Sabers] have played with each other before they joined this team, and that’s what makes them great team players,” Sabers head coach Francis Borden said.

The Sabers have an equal amount of freshmen and sophomores, an advantage over the Warriors’ freshman-heavy team. Co-captain sophomore Ethan James is one of three sophomores on the Warrior team, but his other three co-captains are freshmen.

“Although [Warriors] have a lot of inexperienced freshmen this year, it means we can take this season as preparation for next year, where we’ll hopefully grow more as a team,” coach Labuanan said.

The Warriors will have their rematch Saturday 5:30 p.m. against the Maui High Sabers at Maui High School Gymnasium.

Gallery • 4 Photos

Photo by Brianne Reformina

Freshman Dayven Tonu practices close jump shots before facing the Sabers in the jv Warriors' first MIL season game.