Throughout the years at Hilo High School, one thing has remained the same about the centerpiece of their basketball team: a stingy, aggressive defense.
That defense helped Hilo clamp down on Waiakea as part of a mid-fourth quarter 10-0 run that forced four consecutive turnovers by the Warriors. The Vikings would not look back as they improved to 3-1 in preseason play with a 56-45 victory over Waiakea at the Kea`au / Waiakea Boys Basketball Tournament.
With Waiakea ahead 38-36 with 5:14 to play, Hilo’s Jodd Carter forced a steal off of a trap at half court. That turned into a quick fast break basket for Jalen Carvalho, who was also fouled on the play. His free throw game the Vikings a 39-38 lead at that point. They would force three more turnovers in a row, swelling the lead up to 46-38 with under four minutes to play.
Waiakea turned the ball over 11 times in the fourth quarter and 23 times in the game. They also struggled in the first quarter against Hilo’s pressure defense, turning the ball over six times in the opening eight minutes to lead to an early 10-5 first quarter deficit.
Waiakea (0-2) took control of the game for the first time with under two minutes to play in the first half by going on an 8-0 run to take a 26-20 halftime lead. Mark Pacris tied the game at 20 and gave his team a 22-20 advantage with back-to-back baskets in the paint. Lucas St. George followed a missed three-point shot with a putback in the paint and Pacris got another inside basket.
On the last play of the first half, Hilo’s Jalen Carvalho tried to drive toward the basket with the clock winding down against a tight Waiakea defense. Carvalho leaned in a made a running 10-foot basket along the right side of the paint, but was called for a player control foul to negate the basket, ending the half with a 26-20 Waiakea lead.
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Carvalho and Carter combined to lead the comeback charge for the Vikings in the fourth quarter. The two combined for 18 of the team’s 26 fourth quarter points, with Carvalho draining his only three of the game as part of a 10 point quarter. Carter shot 4-of-7 in the final quarter, scoring eight points
Carvalho recorded a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. He shot 7-of-15 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line. Carter scored 18 points on 8-of-19 shooting. He hit a pair of three pointers in the game, both in the first half.
Waiakea, without role player Dillon Rellez, was led by Owen Sandstrom’s 12 points and 13 rebounds. Pacris added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Both teams will play again Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Waiakea High School. According to Waiakea Athletic Director Tommy Correa, several schools on the consolation side of each tourney bracket agreed to several schedule and/or site changes to create better competition during the tournament.
St. Joseph, who lost 39-13 to Waiakea’s second team, will move over to Kea`au High School and play Kea`au at 3:00 p.m. Friday. Kea`au and Waiakea’s second teams will play against each other at 3:00 p.m. Friday at Waiakea High School, followed by a rematch between the Vikings and Warriors.
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