The Konawaena Wildcats improved to 2-0 in preseason play with a 59-45 win over Pahoa in the opening round of the Kea`au / Waiakea Boys Basketball Tournament. The game was played in the Red Bracket at Kea`au High School.

Kenan Gaspar led the Wildcats with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including a pair of three point shots. Jonah Bredeson added 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting.

The contest was tight through the entire first half. Konawaena took a 24-22 lead at halftime  before turning on their defensive intensity in the second half. Pahoa turned the ball over 13 times in the second half, and Konawaena capitalized on the offensive end.

Bredeson’s attacking nature got him both easy and difficult baskets near the rim, along with opportunities to go to the foul line. Bredeson scored five of his 14 points in the third quarter, including 3-of-4 from the charity stripe.

Meanwhile, Konawaena allowed Pahoa’s offense to center around one man, star small forward Nick Fisher. Fisher scored eight of his 17 points in the quarter on 2-of-5 shooting and went 4-for-7 from the foul line in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Nick Mims stepped up to score nine of his 14 points, including a key three-pointer to lead Konawaena to the win.

In the loss, Randin Napeahi scored 13 points for the Daggers.

Pahoa 12 10 12 11 – 45

Konawaena 12 12 18 17 – 59

Kohala 45, Keaau II 12

For a good portion of Kohala’s victory over the second team entry from Kea`au, it felt like a practice scrimmage. After taking a 27-2 first quarter lead, coach Don Fernandez asked his Cowboys to focus on ball movement in their half court offense. On almost every posession, his team would pass the ball twenty times, with the bench players counting it out, before a shot could be taken. That led to a combined seven shots taken in the second and third quarters.

Makani Kualii scored 11 points, seven of them in the first quarter, while Mikala Jordan added 10, six of them in the opening frame.

Kea`au shot 4-for-15 from the field for the game and committed 31 turnovers. Charles Caldwell-Kaai and Jade Barroga each scored five points

Kohala 27 4 2 12 – 45

Kea`au II 2 1 2 7 – 12

Other tournament scores

Red Bracket

Kamehameha-Hawai`i 60, Kalani 41

Ka`u 37, Kea`au 31

Blue Bracket

Honoka`a 50, Waiakea II 37

Kealakehe 54, St. Joseph 13

Kalaheo 58, Hilo 43

Hawai`i Prep 41, Waiakea 37