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HHSAA basketball: Honokaa downs Roosevelt to reach Division II semifinals

Who says Honokaa can’t play defense?

The Dragons did when it counted Thursday, and they’re the last BIIF team standing at the HHSAA boys basketball tournament.

Kea Callihan scored 15 points and Honokaa stifled second-seeded Roosevelt’s 3-point attempt to tie, earning a 40-37 victory at Farrington Gym in Honolulu to reach the state Division II semifinals.

“We knew they had won a couple games on last-second 3-pointers and we were prepared for it,” coach Jayme Carvalho said. “We played defense, baby!”

Honokaa did it for 32 minutes, holding the OIA champion Rough Riders (6-9) to 40 percent shooting, even though the Dragons (9-5) spent much of the BIIF season piling up points while being generous on the other end.