Kahuku's Nehoa Akina is his team's key player, and was he ever locked in last night against Moanalua.

Akina hit six 3-pointers, including an amazing go-ahead 3 with 48 seconds remaining, and finished with 28 points as visiting Kahuku beat Moanalua, 58-53, in a battle of unbeaten O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East teams.

"I actually love shooting in this gym. I hit most of my shots in this gym out of all the gyms we play in," said Akina, a 5-foot-8 senior. "But, yeah, I was feeling really good tonight."

Kahuku (5-0) took its largest lead at 49-42 after a field goal by Mua Malufau with 5:12 left. Moanalua responded with an 11-3 run, capped by Marcus Keene's steal and layup, to take a 53-52 lead with 1:12 left.

Kahuku needed an answer and Akina responded by coming off a double screen at the top of the key and nailing a double-pump, 3-pointer from the right wing to make it 55-53 with 48 seconds left.

"I was coming off a screen, and at first I didn't see a defender," Akina said. "When I went up for the shot I saw him at the last second so I went up and under, and I was able to get the shot off."

Throughout the game, Nā Menehune tried to stay close to Akina, but he repeatedly got enough separation to get his shots off.

"He's always going to do stuff like that," Moanalua coach Greg Tacon. "He's a terrific player. He's one of the best we have in our state. He's a great shooter. We knew where he was and we were trying our hardest, but he hit some shots when we had people all over him."

After Nā Menehune missed a one-and-one attempt at the other end, Akina was fouled and hit both free throws to make it 57-53 with 27 seconds left.

Malufau added a free throw with 9 seconds left for the final margin.

Akina's performance shouldn't be seen as much of a surprise. He has taken his basketball very seriously for a long time.

"When he was about 2 1/2, 3 years old, I had my older sons shoot 250 shots a day," said Hiram Akina, Kahuku's coach and Nehoa's father. "At 3 years old he was doing the same thing that they were."

At that young age, Nehoa also logged his percentages on his family computer and posted the results on his wall, according to his father.

Kahuku, which spent most of the game in a 2-3 zone, got a nice lift from its bench at the start of the fourth period. Hiram Akina put in four reserves and Shairone Thompson, and it resulted in a 5-0 run, which put Kahuku up 45-40.

The lead reached 49-42 before Moanalua (4-1) made its run behind five points by Marcus Monroe and four by Wesley Armbrust.

Thompson added 11 points for Kahuku. Keene, a freshman, led Moanalua with 14.

KAHUKU (5-0) 13 11 16 18—58

MOANALUA (4-1) 11 16 13 13—53

KAHUKU — Michael Tyau 0, Kawehena Johnson 0, Mua Malufau 6, Samala Afalava 0, Evan Moe 2, Sage Kaka 2, Nehoa Akina 28, Jackson Kaka 5, Shairone Thompson 11, Mason Golden 4. Totals 18 16-24 58.

MOANALUA — Reece Racoma 8, Keven Amaral 8, Josiah Kauhola 5, Wesley Armbrust 4, Marcus Monroe 10, Dexter Williams 4, Marcus Keene 14, Carl Ko 0, Richard Villasenor 0. Totals 21 8-14 53

3-point goals — Kahuku 6 (Akina 6). Moanalua 3 (Racoma 2, Monroe 1).

KAIMUKĪ 48, FARRINGTON 33

Gabriel Stietzel scored nine points and the Bulldogs pulled away from a 20-12 halftime lead with a 13-4 third quarter to beat the Governors at Moanalua's gym.

KAIMUKī (4-2) 13 7 13 15—48

FARRINGTON (0-5) 10 2 4 17—33

Kaimukī—Econ Vares 2, Tevin Nishiyama 6, Nicholas Motellang 2, Mason Kualii-Moe 5, Jordan Gestrich 0, AJ DeJesus 0, John Kakitani 0, Elijah Morita 8, Johnny Tuitele 5, Gabriel Stietzel 9, Chester Sua 4, Sean Spencer 7, Ken Hashimoto 0. Totals 16 12-19 48.

FARRINGTON—Scotland Smith 0, Gregie Bupgos 2, Paul Solomon 4, Jayfrey Damo 4, Jefrey Madarang 3, Bernard DeLeon 0, Ernes Pucholong 2, Joel Lanzaderas 2, Justin Vele 0, Clem Rarogal 0, Lancelot Williams 8, Ronald Williams 4, Viane Viana 4. Totals 12 8-15 33.

3-point goals—Kaimukī 4 (Nishiyama 2, Stietzel, Tuitele). Farrington 1 (Madarang).

KAISER 52, MCKINLEY 44

Ronson Hill scored 14 points and the host Cougars took a 26-18 halftime lead and extended it to 40-29 entering the fourth quarter before holding off the Tigers.

MCKINLEY (0-5) 14 4 11 15—44

KAISER (2-5) 15 11 14 12—52

MCKINLEY — Jason Ramano 13, Jovanie Trumata 0, Ryan Arzadon 0, Micah Waters 2, Royce Kwon 0, Sio Fiso 2, Pryson Wallace 2, Kioco Melson 3, Lesley Machiguchi 9, Jason Sabado 0, Rio Kwon 13, Andy Sombatphibane 0. Totals 13 13-28 44.

KAISER — Matthew Nagata 0, Manny Thompson 2, Davin Morton 2, Adam Kostylo 5, Justin Wuich 7, Preston Wuich 3, Patrick Murphy 0, Doug Gehring 4, Sam Taylor 0, Corey Lum 4, Bret Kanoa 7, Mark Guirguis 4, Ronson Hill 14. Totals 20 10-17 52.

3-point goals — McKinley 5 (Ramano 3, Machiguchi, Ri. Kwon). Kaiser 2 (Kostylo, J. Wuich).

JV — McKinley 55, Kaiser 43

Reported by Ivan Tamura

OIA BOYS RED WEST

CAMPBELL 58, RADFORD 56

Christan Storment had 15 points and 11 rebounds, Kristian Manuel had 13 points and 11 assists, and the host Sabers held off the Rams in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West.

RADFORD (3-2) 10 13 14 19—56

CAMPBELL (4-1) 18 16 11 13—58

RADFORD — TJ Reid 21, Tevita Baravilala 0, Jefferson Fiesta 2, Dylan Prieto-Hokamura 0, Travir Fata 0, Zach Pelzl 4, Cole Gloster 0, Bobby Woshlager 0, Isaiah Jackson 3, Dorsey Norris 2, JB Fontenot 22, Warren Carter 0, Cy Salanoa 0, Roscoe Kaliikane 2. Totals 18 11-16 56.

CAMPBELL — Kristian Manuel 13, Christan Storment 15, Fouina Haskins 10, Christopher Crawford 0, Mason Mau 0, Timothy Friend 2, Carter Kauwenaole 3, Clayton Darity 10, CJ Ramos 0, Brandon Todd 0, Allan Otanes 5. Totals 21 11-16 58.

3-point goals — Radford 9 (Fontenot 5, Reid 4). Campbell 5 (Darity 2, Manuel, Otanes, Kauwenaole).

JV — Campbell 64, Radford 43

Reported by Campbell Athletics

LEILEHUA 72, WAIPAHU 58

Brent Lemon scored 19 points, Carlos Marshall added 12, Lopaka Chandler had 10 and the host Mules used a 20-8 third quarter for a 66-45 lead to beat the Marauders.

WAIPAHU (1-4) 18 19 8 13—58

LEILEHUA (3-2) 24 22 20 6—72

WAIPAHU — Chance Delima 3, Duketoa Tili 6, Tatupu Tatupu 6, Anthony Agustin 0, Daeniel Cullen Diomanipo 17, Mike Alipio 2, Aselemo Fruean 9, Eric Castro 0, Westley Nagaseu 9, Nathan Bartley 0, Anson Castello 6. Totals 21 10-27 58.

LEILEHUA — Brent Lemon 19, Dillon Pau'u 7, Elijah Padilla 3, Daquan Wyatt 1, Josiah Borrimeo 0, Chester Rufo 0, Richard Cherry 2, Josiah Caravallo 0, Paul Gorton 0, Stockton Crowley 2, Martin Hall 6, Carlos Marshall 12, Xavier Adger 7, Lopaka Chandler 10, Cassius Camanse 3. Totals 28 12-25 72.

3-point goals — Waipahu 6 (Cullen Diomanipo 2, Castello 2, Tili, Delima). Leilehua 4 (Lemon, Padilla, Marshall, Chandler).

JV — Leilehua 66, Waipahu 40

Reported by Kristyna Sagon-Sumaoang

KAPOLEI 44, 'AIEA 42

Jared Milare scored 11 points, Wes Mataafa had 10, and the visiting Hurricanes outlasted Nā Ali'i in overtime for their first league victory.

KAPOLEI (1-5) 5 6 13 13 7—44

'AIEA (1-4) 10 9 4 14 5—42

KAPOLEI — Michael Ching 2, Jordan Solidum 9, Jared Milare 11, Wes Mataafa 10, Kainoa Pakele 3, Nahshon George 2, Kapua Awong 2, Chance Lawson 1, Devyn Knight 4. Totals 16 8-17 44.

JV — Kapolei 47, 'Aiea 41

Reported by 'Aiea Athletics

OIA BOYS WHITE

ROOSEVELT 74, 'ANUENUE 16

Miguel Molle scored 15 points and the visiting Rough Riders took a 31-2 first-quarter lead in cruising past the Rainbow Warriors to improve to 3-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Division.

ROOSEVELT (3-0) 31 13 26 4—74

'ĀNUENUE (0-4) 2 4 6 4—16

ROOSEVELT — Ese Tago 4, Kalai Kalei 7, Brandon Mitchell 8, Brendan Nakatani 2, Chase Yogi 6, Johnson Delos Santos 7, Pono Patoc 6, Mike Moe 0, Kaipo Pale 8, Robert Willis 7, Troy Nakasuji 4, Miguel Molle 15. Totals 29 13-23 74.

'ĀNUENUE — Kanani Armitage 2, Makana Fernandez 4, Kaho'oipo Mossman-Ancog 6, Alika Hussey 2, La'akea Mano'i-Hyde 0, Mahuka Cullen 2, La'amaikahiki Kamai 0, Kaipo Cullen 0. Totals 7 2-7 16.

3-point goals — Roosevelt 3 (Mitchell 2, Yogi). 'Ānuenue 0.

Reported by Steve Hathaway

KALANI 74, CASTLE 45

Angelo Berardy scored 23 points, Ryoji Iguchi added 16 and Tatsuya Ono 12 for the host Falcons, who took a 35-14 halftime lead.

CASTLE (1-2) 8 6 11 20—45

KALANI (2-1) 15 20 22 17—74

CASTLE — Jaryth Richardson-Acoba 0, Seth Tiumalu 7, Jordan Manalo 7, Jaren Elderts-Bruhn 5, Joshua Kong 6, Adam Canne 1, Micah Maeda 2, Isaac Makekau 4, Joel Hendrix 7, Kainoa Stone 6, Jordan Aleki 0. Totals 15 15-26 45.

KALANI — Imani Washington 2, Bryson Yorita 4, Elbert Khataboun 2, Ryoji Iguchi 16, JJ Mariano 5, Vincent Tran 6, Jordan Yogi 0, Nick Hoth 4, Marcus Hill 0, Angelo Berardy 23, Tatsuya Ono 12. Totals 26 17-25 74.

3-point goals — Castle 0. Kalani 5 (Iguchi 3, Yorita, Mariano).

JV — Not reported

Reported by Kalani Athletics

PEARL CITY 53, WAIALUA 47

Nicholas Villarmia and Johnson Chao each scored 12 points and the host Chargers rallied with a 20-12 fourth quarter to beat the Bulldogs.

WAIALUA (0-2) 8 17 10 12—47

PEARL CITY (2-0) 9 10 14 20—53

WAIALUA — Micah Hatchie 0, Kristoffer Cuadro 0, Jerimiah Repollo 0, Chase Uhlir 10, Virgilio Repollo 4, JohnRay Garcia 6, Rudy Galapia 7, Victor Nobello 0, Vance Maluyo 18, Kyle Michael 2. Totals 17 12-22 47.

PEARL CITY — Cory Quiamzon 6, Nicholas Villarmia 12, Johnson Chao 12, Mitchell Resurrection 5, Isaac Shim 2, Josiah DeMello 8, Tyler Yamanouchi 0, Kahana Neal 4, Reese Bustamente-Tolbe 2, Paul Perry 2. Totals 17 17-29 53.

3-point goals — Waialua 1 (Maluyo). Pearl City 2 (Quiamzon, Villarmia).

JV — Pearl City 59, Waialua 21

Reported by Chelsea Murata