Kapolei kept their perfect 7-0 OIA Red West Division record in tact while Pearl City fell to 7-1 after losing to the Hurricanes 47-44 in an overtime thriller before a packed house at Pearl City High School on Saturday.
After a 9-9 first period, Kapolei went in front 21-13 to end the second half. Pearl City came out in the second half determined to make it a ball game and close the eight point deficit to the Hurricanes. That's exactly what the Chargers did by winning both the third and fourth periods and sending it into overtime on a three-pointer by Sonny Glisson that tied the game at 42-42.
In the overtime period, Kapolei outscored Pearl City 5-2 to win the game at 47-44.
Kapolei was led by Christopher Dillard's 12 points and two 3-pointers, Elijah Gipson added 12 points, and Curtis Tavares scored 10 points with two 3-pointers.
Isaac Amorin lit up the scoreboard for the Chargers with a game high 17 points and one 3-pointer. Daicorri Briscoe followed with 8 points for the Chargers.
Kapolei Hurricanes Head Coach Gary Ellison knew his team was in for a battle against the Chargers. A win could lead to a possible league title but preparing for the match-up against the Chargers meant the team needed added focus and preparation.
“This an extremely huge win for us,” said Ellison. “We knew Pearl City was going to come in and play their hardest and they gave us the game we expected. We just knew this was going to be a bigger game so we told the boys to go home and get rest tonight and be ready to play because this is going to be a dog fight. We knew that.”
On the Pearl City side of the ball, Pearl City Chargers Head Coach Lionel Villarmia prepared his squad to play their hearts out and play smart.
“We played hard tonight, I’m proud of the boys,” said Villarmia. “With eight seconds left we told the boys in the huddle we’re going to foul them and let’s go to overtime. Let’s play for more minutes. I told them to look at the fouls, we got fouls to give, don’t let them shoot. Kapolei is a big team and their hard to match up. My boys had to play hard to match up with them and they came, they showed up. One thing about our guys is that they have pride, they play with Pearl City pride."
One concern for the Chargers coaching staff was the points production per game from the Kapolei offense. Entering the game against the Chargers, the Hurricanes were averaging 70 points per outing.
“Kapolei was averaging 70 points a game and I said that’s our challenge guys,” commented Villarmia with regard to holding down the potent Kapolei scoring offense. "Let’s try and minimize our turnovers and make them run their offense. Don’t let them score easy baskets. We did a good job.”
Saturday night's leading scorer Isaac Amorin got his range and accuracy back on track with a game high 17 points. Amorin has struggled offensively in the past few games but hard work in practice brought back a hot hand that contributed in the clutch against Kapolei.
“In the pre-season he was one of our leading scorers and in the last few games he hasn’t been shooting the ball well," Villarmia said. “He’s our best guard defender so he’s going to play and I keep telling him you gotta shoot the ball and get us some points and he took up the challenge. We kept making him shoot the ball and he adjusted his shot a little and it kinda worked tonight.”
Pearl City also said Aloha to eight of their senior class Chargers Saturday night in a traditional send off after the ball game.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Aloha Seniors!
(From left to right) #33 Joshua Cubi, #12 Tyson Hickcox, #15 Zach Kaya, #1 Isaac Amorin, #21 Sonny Glisson, #10 Reymart Rosario, #23 Daicorri Briscoe.
The Chargers return to action on the road against Waipahu on Tuesday, January 29 with tip off set for 7:00pm following the 5:30pm junior varsity game.
Go Chargers!
Scoring Summary:
1st Period
Kapolei’s Curtis Tavares scored two points to open scoring. Pearl City’s Daicorri Briscoe tied it up at 2-2 at 5:24 on the clock. Tyler Hickcox scored on a lay-up to put the Chargers up 4-2. Kapolei‘s Zachary Reeves tied the game at 4-4. Pearl City went ahead 5-4 on a free throw by Tyson Hickcox at 3:25. Elijah Gipson scored to put Kapolei ahead 6-5. Reymart Rosario scored to put Pearl City back in front 7-6. Isaac Amorin scored after stealing the ball to increase the Chargers lead to 9-6. Curtis Tavares hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 9-9 with 1:00 on the clock. The clock ran out with both teams tied at 9-9.
2nd Period
Micah Kapoi put Kapolei in front 11-9 at 7:30 of the second period. Mason Alfaro put Kapolei up 13-9 on a lay-up with 6:40 on the clock. Isaac Amorin scored after a steal to close within two at 13-11. Micah Kapoi scored to put Kapolei up 15-11 with 5:30 remaining in the period. Isaac Amorin put in two points off a rebound to close within two at 15-13. Kapolei went up 16-13 after Christopher Dillard converted one of two free throws. Dorian Antonio-Martos drilled a three-pointer to give Kapolei a six point lead at 19-13 with :16 seconds on the clock. Antonio-Martos converted two of two free throws to put Kapolei up 21-13 going into halftime.
3rd Period
Isaac Amorin opened scoring in the third period on a lay-up that made the score 21-15 with 7:25 on the clock. Christopher Dillard nailed a three-pointer to increase the Kapolei lead to 24-15. Daicorri Briscoe put in two points from under the basket to close within seven points at 24-17. Reymart Rosario dropped a three-pointer with 5:40 on the clock to tighten the score at 24-20. Pearl City closed to 24-22 on a basket by Isaac Amorin with 4:52 left in the period. Christopher Dillard came right back with two points to put Kapolei up 26-22. Daicorri Briscoe converted two of two free throws to move within two points of Kapolei at 26-24 with 4:07 on the clock. Isaac Amorin dropped a basket to tie the game at 26-26 with 2:57 on the clock. Pearl City went ahead 28-26 after Sonny Glisson converted two of three free throws with 2:06 on the clock. Christopher Dillard tied the game at 28-28 on a lay-up with 1:45 on the clock. Curtis Tavares hit a three-pointer to put Kapolei up 31-28 as time expired in the third period.
4th Period
Isaac Amorin tied the game at 31-31 on three-pointer from the corner at 7:45 in the period. Christopher Dillard scored after a steal by Curtis Tavares to break the tie and put Kapolei up 33-31 with 6:36 on the clock. Dillard was fouled on the play by Pearl City’s Tyson Hickcox. Dillard converted a free throw to go up 34-31 over Pearl City. Curtis Tavares scored on jumper to put Kapolei up 36-31. Tyson Hickcox scored off a rebound at 4:06 of the period to pull within three points at 36-33. Pearl City scored on a basket by Isaac Amorin to move within one point at 36-35 with 3:22 remaining in the period. Kapolei went up by three points at 38-35 on a lay-up by Elijah Gipson. Kapolei came right back after a steal and scored on a basket by Elijah Gipson to take a 40-35 lead. Pearl City’s Zach Kaya scored from under the basket to close within three points at 40-37 with 2:00 on the clock. Kaya came back on Pearl City’s next possession and scored on a jumper to close within one at 40-39. Kapolei’s Elijah Gipson scored on a tip in after a rebound to go up 42-39 with 57.3 seconds left in the period. Sonny Glisson nailed a three-pointer after a time out to tie the game at 42-42 with 36.2 remaining in the period. The game clock ran out sending the contest to overtime.
Overtime Period
Daicorri Briscoe put Pearl City in front 44-42 on a steal and basket at 3:40 in the overtime period. Christopher Dillard popped a three-pointer to give Kapolei the lead at 45-44. Elijah Gipson converted two of two free throws to increase Kapolei’s lead to 47-44 with 15.4 seconds on the overtime game clock. Kapolei held on to win the game in OT.
@ Pearl City High School
Kapolei (7-0) 9 12 10 11 5 47
Pearl City (7-1) 9 4 15 14 2 44
Junior Varsity
Kapolei 28
Pearl City 41
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Isaac Amorin tied the game at 31-31 on three-pointer from the corner at 7:45 on the clock in the fourth period.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Sonny Glisson launches a 3-pointer from long range in the fourth period that would drain the net and send the game into overtime at 42-42.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Sonny Glisson pumps up his teammates as he heads off the court after tieing up the game on a 3-pointer that sent the game into overtime at 42-42.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Daicorri Briscoe put Pearl City in front 44-42 on a steal and basket at 3:40 in the overtime period.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Kapolei's Elijah Gipson scores the final point of the ballgame after converting the second of two free throws in overtime.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Post game congratulations.