KAILUA — After winning four straight O'ahu Interscholastic Association boys basketball championships from 2001 to 2004, Kalaheo slipped to third place last season.

To the Mustangs, that's a rebuilding year.

Now with eight seniors back from that team, Kalaheo has begun its run for a 13th OIA title in the past 16 years by starting 2-0 in the Eastern Division after last night's 57-40 win at Kailua.

The Mustangs (10-6 overall) jumped out to a 21-5 lead after one period and stretched it to 33-10 three minutes before halftime. The Surfriders (4-8 overall, 1-1 OIA East) got as close as 43-30 with 1:30 remaining in the third quarter, but never really threatened after that.

"We definitely want to pick up the pace early and we need to get off to a good start in the OIA," said Kalaheo guard Kahua Hollinger, who scored a game-high 15 points, including three 3-pointers. "We can't take any teams lightly."

The Mustangs learned that lesson last year, when they struggled in the preseason and then got upset by Kailua at home, 41-36. It was the Surfriders' first victory over Kalaheo in 23 years.

Last night, the Mustangs quickly squashed any hopes for another Kailua upset. Swarming the Surfriders with a full-court, 1-2-1-1 trapping press, Kalaheo forced numerous turnovers before the ball even reached halfcourt and converted them into easy baskets.

Before Kailua could catch its breath, it was down 33-11 at the half.

"We came out too tentative," Surfriders coach Tim Harrison said. "I knew that because our guys weren't doing their assignments, they weren't getting to their spots. We're real young, and we weren't disciplined. But Kalaheo's a real good team."

Kailua, with only two seniors on the roster, did much better in the second half without the full-court pressure.

"We got up big early, and then I think we lost our momentum and our intensity," Mustangs coach Chico Furtado said. "I guess I should be happy with any win, but we've got to get better, especially when we play Kaimuki (Jan. 13) and Kahuku (Jan. 21)."

KALAHEO (2-0) 21 12 12 12 — 57

KAILUA (1-1) 5 6 20 9 — 40

KALAHEO — Elias David 0, Chris Tumaneng 6, Koa Siliga 0, Donte Price 3, Mana Guerreiro 0, Kahua Hollinger 15, Jacob Anderson 0, Marvin Judd 7, Cheynne Lishman 5, Jeff Whitworth 0, Chase Moses 2, Cliffton Pires 6, Deaux Burns 2, Tyler Caswell 11. Totals 20 11-17 57.

KAILUA — Gerald Ho 2, Tim Maghinay 5, Zack Akamine 7, Sammy Trueman 0, Makana Atisanoe 5, Billy Oden 8, Nathan Botts 6, Ryan Naluai 6, Bubu Naki 1. Totals 14 10-18 40. 3-point goals — Kalaheo 6 (Hollinger 3, Price, Judd, Lishman). Kailua 2 (Oden 2). JV — Kalaheo 44, Kailua 42

KAHUKU 106, KALANI 57

Junior Ale scored 32 points and five other Red Raiders reached double-figures against the Falcons.

Jacob Kahawai'i scored 17 points, Manti Te'o had 14, Iona Teriipaia and Tiave Oto added 12 apiece, and Devin Unga chipped in 10.

Josh Markwith led Kalani with 15 points and Jonah Letoto added 14.

KAHUKU (2-0) 29 28 20 29—106

KALANI (0-2) 15 9 14 19— 57

KAHUKU—Pele Soliai 5, Kaulin Krebs 0, Iona Teriipaia 12, Devin Unga 10, Okesene Ale 32, Ian Fujinaga 3, Tiave Oto 12, Manti Te'o 14, Kameron Krebs 1, Jacob Kahawaii 17, Anthony Siilata 0. Totals 44 16-33 106.

KALANI—Reed Cressman 0, Anthony Asuncion 0, Brandon Liao 4, Jeff Khautakoun 5, Jonah Letoto 14, Max Fujio 3, Holu Ka'aihue 0, Josh Markwith 15, Daniel Morisato 4, Chris Pieper 2, Brandon Cabacungan 2, Eben Napoleon 8. Totals 18 15-28 57. 3-point goals—Kahuku 2 (Teriipaia 2). Kalani 6 (Letoto 4, Fujio 1, Markwith 1). JV—Kahuku def. Kalani, forfeit

Samuel Kamakau def. Thompson, forfeit

Reported by Alara Lum

KAIMUKI 64, KAISER 37

Keone Reyes scored 17 points and Beau Albrechtson added 12 to lead the Bulldogs past the Cougars.

Kaimuki led 16-8 after one period and 39-15 at the half. Andrew Wingers led Kaiser with seven points.

KAIMUKI (2-0) 16 23 15 10—64

KAISER (0-2) 8 7 10 12—37

KAIMUKI—Daniel Colon 9, Alika Higa 2, Brandon Madamba 4, Bryan Lim 2, Shadrach Ramos-Dias 3, Thomas Pyo 4, Phillip Miyasaka 4, Keone Reyes 17, Swaine Seto-Mook 0, Shaun Dela Cazada 2, Jarett Shiu 5, Beau Albrechtson 12. Totals 26 10-14 64.

KAISER—Scott Uehara 6, Kalani Calizas 2, Kenneth Kamauoha 2, Timothy Phillips 1, Andrew Wingers 7, Keoki Leong 0, Andy Uehara 2, Adam Aila 0, Jake Esteban 2, Dustin Chang 5, Noel Okuma 0, Royce Chun-Ming 6, Tukia Aholelei 4, Robert Hoffmann 0. Totals 15 4-10 37. 3-point goals—Kaimuki 2 (Pyo, Shiu). Kaiser 3 (S. Uehara 2, Chang 1).

CASTLE 40, FARRINGTON 33

Scott Keiter-Charles scored 12 points and Bryce Kalauoka'aea added 11 as the Knights beat the Governors.

Elijah Filifili scored 11 points to lead Farrington.

CASTLE (1-1) 8 10 10 12—40

FARRINGTON (0-2) 11 6 9 7—33

CASTLE—Eric Tom 0, Matt Kodama 2, Scott Keiter-Charles 12, Micah Calore 2, Keanu Bruhn-Nakihei 2, Bryce Kalauoka'aea 11, Barron Meyer 3, Alika Kalopodes 6, Kyle Kia 2, Tyler Kanemori 0. Totals 13 11-14 40.

FARRINGTON—Nathan Serdenia 2, Elijah Filifili 11, Joeffer Duran 4, Winston Matas 4, Randy McKee 0, Jeff Valoria 0, Rey Bartian 0, Jarret Gabriel 0, Michah Kalingo 8, Cody Hua 0, Glenn Ernest 4. Totals 12 6-14 33. 3-point goals—Castle 3 (Kalauoka'aea, Meyer, Keiter-Charles). Farrington 3 (Filifili 2, Duran 1). JV—Farrington 53, Castle 39

Reported by Alan Silva

MOANALUA 45, ROOSEVELT 38

Stevie Austin scored 16 points and Wayne West added 10 as Na Menehune beat the Rough Riders.

Keo Keola led Roosevelt with nine points.

MOANALUA (2-0) 8 14 10 13—45

ROOSEVELT (0-2) 10 5 11 12—38

MOANALUA—Bao Jun Lei 8, Stephen Kina 2, Jay Yoshizawa 7, Eric Garcia 2, Stevie Austin 16, Stanford Leti 0, Chris Holt , Wayne West 10, Tyler Thorton 0. Totals 15 12-12 45.

ROOSEVELT—Kila Delovio 2, Robbie Fukuhara 0, Jayson Tasaka 0, Daniel Arruda 8, Jeremy Harvest 6, Keo Keola 9, Kaipo Spencer 7, Troy Quon 6. Totals 15 8-12 38. 3-point goals—Moanalua 3 (Austin 2, Yoshizawa 1). Roosevelt none. JV—Roosevelt 45, Moanalua 34

Reported by John Chung

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.