Late layup puts Campbell past Moanalua, into states

Walter Daniels scored a layup with 5 seconds left to lift Campbell over Moanalua 61-59 last night, giving the Sabers a remarkable comeback victory and a state-tournament berth.

Campbell (10-1), the No. 2 seed from the Oahu Interscholastic Association West, advanced to the semifinals. The Sabers came through at the free-throw line (21-for-26) with 81 percent accuracy.

Moanalua closed its season 10-3 in league play.

Campbell trailed by 12 with 9 minutes to play before mounting a rally. A tenacious halfcourt zone trap sparked the Sabers, who were led by Mike Makinano. The sophomore scored 18 points and came up with six key steals. Tristan Sealy added 11 points.

The game was tied at 59 when Moanalua turned the ball over with 27 seconds left. Campbell worked most of the clock off before point guard Ryan Hayes drove below the left wing and found Daniels wide open on the right side of the basket.

"Their zone collapsed and I saw the man open down low," said Hayes, who had a quiet night until the winning play. "He had his hands up the whole time, but I didn't want to pass it too early."

Daniels scored easily and Moanalua called time out immediately. Guard Stevie Austin lost the ball at midcourt, but was fouled as Makinano, who had poked the ball away, dove onto Austin. The foul with 1 second left gave the Menehunes hope, but Austin missed the first of his two foul shots.

After another time out and two substitutions, Moanalua's strategy nearly worked to perfection. Austin banked a miss that looped out to Menehune center Savaii Eselu, who missed the mid-air putback as the buzzer sounded.

Bao Jun Lei scored 20 points before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter. Wayne West added 15 points for Moanalua, which shot a respectable 47 percent from the field (20-for-43), but was outrebounded 27-19.

It was a bitter defeat for the Menehunes, who led 51-39 with less than a minute left in the third quarter.

"Give Campbell credit. They made the plays when they had to," Moanalua coach Dan Hale said.

Lei scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half, but sat nearly the entire second half after picking up his fourth personal foul early in the third quarter.

"That's where that experience factor comes in," Hale said. "Last year was his first year of organized basketball and he was the last man to make the team. He really worked hard in the summer and became one of our better players."

Campbell's resilience was impressive.

"We just put in that halfcourt defense not so long ago, but it wasn't the scheme. The kids played with a lot of heart," Campbell coach Bobby Samson said.