With no room to fall further in the ILH standings, No. 5 Punahou used a raucous home crowd to come together for its biggest win of the season.
Spencer McLachlin scored six of his game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter and Miah Ostrowski added 10 as the Buffanblu defeated No. 2 Iolani 61-52 last night at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.
The win moves the Buffanblu (5-3) within a game of Iolani (6-2) for second place in the ILH.
"This doesn't get us out of the woods yet," Punahou coach Greg Tacon said. "I've always thought the Iolani experience (playing at Iolani) was the coolest thing ever, but this was the best I've ever seen our crowd. It was a gigantic lift."
A capacity crowd of nearly 1,500 watched as the Buffanblu dominated in the paint, outrebounding the Raiders 28-11, thanks in large part to McLachlin and senior Freddie Hart, who pulled down eight rebounds and added two blocks.
"All of our guys played big tonight," Ostrowski said. "We had a players-only meeting yesterday and to get this win by beating basically the best team in the state, it's huge for our confidence."
After Punahou jumped out to an early 8-4 lead, Iolani answered with a 13-4 run in the final 4 minutes of the first quarter to take a 17-12 cushion. The Raiders pushed their lead to 28-20 in the second quarter, but a jumper by Hart capped a 9-0 Punahou run that put the Buffanblu up 29-28 at halftime.
"We didn't allow (the Raiders) to get their pressure going, which is how they get so many easy baskets," Tacon said. "It was a total effort thing tonight. It was different from every other game we've played this year."
Iolani managed to cut the Buffanblu lead to 38-37 with 3:30 left in the third quarter, but McLachlin answered with five straight points, and after the teams traded baskets, Danny Cho nailed a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left in the period to push the Punahou lead back up to nine.
"Things couldn't get any worse for us," McLachlin said. "It was a personal goal of mine to get this win. I had a lot of regrets after last game and I didn't want to let my team down again."
Iolani's Kawika Shoji, who scored a game-high 18 points, nailed a jumper with 3:37 left to make the score 50-47. But McLachlin answered again, scoring from 5 feet away to ignite a 11-5 Punahou run to close out the game.
The Buffanblu finished the game shooting 58 percent from the field and were 3-for-7 behind the 3-point line, while the Raiders shot just 4-for-19 from downtown and 41 percent from the field. Ostrowski added five assists for Punahou.
At Hemmeter Fieldhouse
Iolani (6-2) |
17 |
11 |
11 |
13 |
-- |
52
|
Punahou (5-3) |
12 |
17 |
19 |
13 |
-- |
61 |
IOLANI--Kela Marciel 0, Vinny Nip 9, Barry Kang 4, Ryan Dung 3, Case Miyahira 2, Taylor Mounts 0, Kekai Kealoha 0, Kawika Shoji 18, Jon Takamura 4, Liloa Nobriga 6, Wally Marciel 4.
PUNAHOU-- Trenton Zane 3, Miah Ostrowski 10, Ed Wong 0, Danny Cho 9, Brandon Kapana 4, Kyle Whitford 2, Kimo Makaula 2, Freddie Hart 6, Kameron Steinhoff 7, Ted Hawkins 2, Trevor Crabb 0, Spencer McLachlin 16, Kealii Frank 0.
3-point goals -- Iolani 4 (Nip 2, Dung, Shoji), Punahou 3 (McLachlin 2, Cho).
No. 1 Kamehameha 47, Damien 29
Randy Cummings scored eight points as the Warriors topped the Monarchs to remain undefeated.
Lolomana Mikaele scored eight points to lead Damien.
At Kekuhaupi'o Gym
Damien (0-8) |
6 |
8 |
5 |
10 |
-- |
29
|
Kamehameha (8-0) |
7 |
5 |
16 |
19 |
-- |
47 |
DAMIEN--Nikko Romuar 0, Kama Bailey 6, Winnie Gapuz 3, Tony Cerezo 3, Aminis Thompson 2, Haku Correa 2, Kenneth Rossi 3, Michael Sipili 2, Lolomana Mikaele 8, Sione Tau 0.
KAMEHAMEHA--Randy Cummings 8, Jesse Moniz 6, Brandon Ahlo 0, Andrew Godinet 2, Mitchell Kauweloa 5, Jacob Ho 3, Pono Hanson 7, Rykin Enos 3, Conrad Scheidt 2, Jay Kauka 3, Kanoa Mokiao 6, Kea Smith 0, Treston Rego 2.
3-point goals -- Damien 1 (Cerezo), Kamehameha 2 (Cummings, Kauka).
No. 9 Maryknoll 66, Mid-Pacific 49
Tyler Tsukazaki scored a game-high 21 points and Jordan Ho-Ching added 10 as the Spartans beat the Owls.
Daniel Gordon scored 20 points for the Owls, including six 3-pointers, and Marcus Holyfield added 13 points.
At Mid-Pacific gym
Maryknoll (3-4) |
14 |
18 |
17 |
17 |
-- |
66
|
Mid-Pacific (1-7) |
7 |
10 |
10 |
22 |
-- |
49 |
MARYKNOLL--Tyler Tsukazaki 21, Chris Hsia 14, Tommy Nguyen 1, Garrick Chock 2, Simeon Ke-Paloma 2, Rian Huizingh 0, Richardson Talavera 1, Travis Liu 2, Zachary Misajon 6, Jordan Ho-Ching 10, Richard Herring 7.
MID-PACIFIC--Sampson Won 3, Josh Mun 1, Marcus Holyfield 13, Jaime Rivera 1, Daniel Gordon 20, Robert Hsu 2, Jarryd Yasui 0, Kellar Elllsworth 7, Josh Grant 0, Reid Fujimoto 0, Sililo Pale 2.
3-point goals--Maryknoll 3 (Tsukazaki 2, Hsia 1), Mid-Pacific 8 (Gordon 6, Holyfield 1, Ellsworth 1).
Division II varsity boys
LeJardin 52, ASSETS 36
Lanakila Baptist 74, Christian Academy 33
Academy of the Pacific 63, Hanalani 42
Kamehameha 69, Saint Louis 25
Hawaii Baptist 55, University 36
High scorers--LeJ: Kirk Muller 22, Kevin Heinamann 16. AST: Lucas Arnold 12. LBA: Alika Borabora 23. CA: Joshua Ko 21. AOP: Brad Foster 28. Han: Jeremy Carino 14. Kam: Jeremiah Pahukula 17, Bronson DeLuze 10. HBA: Landon Herder 15, Dayne Kato 11, Joshua Baek 11. UHS: Noah Chong-Viernes 11.
OIA EAST
No. 4 Kahuku 62, No. 10 Kaimuki 53
Okesene Ale Jr. scored a game-high 33 points and nailed five 3-pointers as the Red Raiders beat the Bulldogs to remain undefeated in the OIA East.
Shaun Dela Calzada, Keone Reyes and Beau Albrechtson scored nine points each for Kaimuki.
At McKinley H.S. gym
Kahuku (8-0) |
21 |
7 |
17 |
17 |
-- |
62
|
Kaimuki (6-2) |
16 |
16 |
9 |
12 |
-- |
53 |
KAHUKU--Devin Unga 9, Shiloah Te'o 11, Okesene Ale Jr. 33, Kevin Unga 4, Manti Te'o 5, Charles Bell 0, Kameron Krebs 0, Jacob Kahawaii 0.
KAIMUKI--Daniel Colon 8, Brandon Madamba 0, Alika Higa 0, Shaun Dela Calzada 9, Keone Reyes 9, Shadrach Ramos Dias 3, Thomas Pyo 4, Jarett Shiu 11, Beau Albrechtson 9, Craig Cabudol 0.
3-point goals -- Kahuku 5 (Ale 5), Kaimuki 3(Shiu).
Junior varsity -- Kahuku 46, Kaimuki 38
Moanalua 71, Castle 48
Wayne West scored a game-high 26 points, including five 3-pointers, as the Menehunes routed the Knights.
Scott Keiter-Charles led Castle scoring with 13 points.
At McKinley H.S. gym
Moanalua (7-1) |
14 |
22 |
14 |
21 |
-- |
71
|
Castle (3-5) |
18 |
9 |
9 |
12 |
-- |
48 |
MOANALUA--Bao Jun Lei 19, Stephen Kina 2, Jay Yoshizawa 9, Paul Wasada 0, Eric Garcia 0, Stevie Austin 11, Casey Schuler 2, Stanford Leti 0, Chris Holt 2, Wayne West 26, Jehan Brown 0, Tyler Thornton 0.
CASTLE--Barron Meyer 4, Scott Keiter-Charles 13, Micah Clore 8, Alika Kalopodes 2, Eric Tom 0, Matt Kodama 2, Lihikai Domingo 7, Bryce Kalauokaaea 5, Kyle Kia 7, Tyler Kanemori 0.
3-point goals -- Moanalua 10 (West 5, Austin 3, Lei 2), Castle 2 (Kalauokaaea, Keiter-Charles).
Junior varsity -- Castle 48, Moanalua 38
Kaiser 66, Kailua 58
Andrew Wingert led the dominating Cougar attack with a game-high 26 points in the win over the Surfriders.
Zach Akamine led Kailua with 16 points.
At Kailua H.S. gym
Kaiser (3-6) |
16 |
14 |
21 |
15 |
-- |
66
|
Kailua (4-6) |
14 |
6 |
19 |
19 |
-- |
58 |
KAISER--Scott Uehara 5, Kalani Calizar 13, Pa'a Kamauoha 0, Timothy Phillips 2, Andrew Wingert 26, Keoki Leong 0, Andy Uehara 0, Adam Aila 6, Jake Esteban 0, Dustin Chang 3, Race Chun-Ming 11.
KAILUA--Gerald Ho 3, Tim Maghinay 7, Zach Akamine 16, Sam Truemen 0, Darren Sugimoto 6, Makana Atisanoe 2, Billy Oden 6, Nathan Botts 6, Ryan Naluai 9, Dustin Naki 3, Brian Rexroat 0.
3-point goals -- Kaiser 6 (Wingert 5, Chang), Kailua 5 (Akamine 2, Ho, Maghinay, Naki).
Junior varsity -- Kailua 47, Kaiser 34
Kalaheo 46, McKinley 34
Charging back from a 7-0 deficit, the Mustangs' Kahua Hollinger scored eight unanswered points for the game's only lead change.
Hollinger scored 13 of his game-high 15 points in the first half.
Nainoa Lessary led the Tigers with nine points.
At Kalaheo H.S. gym
McKinley (6-2) |
7 |
9 |
7 |
11 |
-- |
34
|
Kalaheo (5-2) |
8 |
13 |
10 |
15 |
-- |
46 |
MCKINLEY--Bryce Ishikawa 0, Dat Vo 8, Earvin Sione 7, Nainoa Lessary 9, Jonathan Lee 0, Jefferson Pou 3, Oliver Diguc 7, Jelani Thabiti 0.
KALAHEO--Elias David 3, Chris Tumaneng 3, Koa Siliga 11, Donte Price 0, Mana Guerreiro 2, Kahua Hollinger 15, Jacob Anderson 0, Marvin Judd 2, Cheynne Lishman 6, Jeff Whitworth 0, Clifton Pires 0, Deaux Burns 0, Tyler Caswell 4, Chase Moses 0.
3-point goals -- McKinley 5 (Vo 2, Sione, Lessary, Pou), Kalaheo 5 (Hollinger 2, Lishman 2, Siliga).
Junior varsity -- Kalaheo 72, McKinley 45