HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Punahou wins title
Miah Ostrowski and Punahou made sure five-time defending state champion Iolani knows a sixth straight title won't be easy.
The Buffanblu have an Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship to prove it.
Ostrowski scored 26 points and Spencer McLachlin added a double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds to lead the visiting No. 2 Buffanblu to a rare win over the top-ranked Raiders at Iolani's gym, 60-46 last night.
The stakes couldn't have been higher for a regular-season game. The teams carried identical 9-1 records into the matchup, with the winner carrying home the ILH crown and the state tournament opening-round bye that comes with it.
The 6-foot-6 McLachlin was the rock for Punahou, emphatically blocking three shots and gobbling up boards and firing outlet passes that led to fast-break layups throughout the second half. Ostrowski received more than his share of them, putting on a dazzling display of difficult reverse layups and hesitation dribbles to fall-away jump shots that whipped the Buffanblu fans into a frenzy in the packed gym.
Kameron Steinhoff added 14 for Punahou.
How big was the win for the Buffanblu?
"It's been so long for Punahou basketball since we won here, and a long time since we've beaten Iolani, and this is for all those years that we couldn't do it," McLachlin said. "That meant a lot to the program."
"(Iolani's) a great program and certainly (tonight) was right up there with any of them," Punahou coach Dan Hale added.
The Buffanblu utilized a lock-down zone defense that forced the Raiders into poor shooting throughout the game and went on an 8-3 run to close out the fourth quarter and seal the win.
"They played zone the whole game, and if you're not gonna hit shots against that zone it's gonna be a long night," said Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi. "Today we were on our heels. There's no way we should have allowed that to happen."
Ryan Dung led the Raiders with 10 points, and was the only player on his team in double figures.
Punahou got its first separation in the final 2 minutes of the second quarter, when the Buffanblu closed the half on an 8-0 run, spearheaded by Dalton Hilliard. The guard caught a fullcourt pass from McLachlin for a layup, then stole the ball on Iolani's next trip down and fed Ostrowski for a difficult reverse layup. McLachlin emphatically swatted the Raiders' best shot before the half, and the Buffanblu claimed a 26-20 lead going into the locker rooms.
Ostrowski converted a three-point play to start off the third period, then rocked his defender back on a crossover and went to a baseline jumper. He caught a difficult pass in the lane and made a spectacular spin move on the team's next trip down to make it 50-35.
Iolani was in full-blown, catch-up mode at that point, firing up 3-pointers that clanged into the hands of McLachlin.
"We put our best defenders on (Miah) and he basically took it to us tonight," Mugiishi said. "(McLachlin) got every defensive board for them."
At Iolani H.S. gym
Punahou (11-1) |
10 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
-- |
60
|
Iolani (10-2) |
9 |
11 |
9 |
17 |
-- |
46 |
PUNAHOU--Robert Toma 0, Miah Ostrowski 26, Kimo Makaula 0, Dane Okamura 0, Kyle Whitford 0, Dalton Hilliard 2, Henry Cassiday 5, Ted Hawkins 2, Trevor Crabb 0, Kameron Steinhoff 14, Spencer McLachlin 11, Casey Shibuya 0.
IOLANI--Kela Marciel 0, Ryan Dung 10, Case Miyahira 3, Taylor Mounts 6, Liloa Nobriga 7, Lionel Fujioka 3, Berton Wong 0, Bricen McCartney 9, Pablo Warner 8.
3-point goals -- Punahou 0, Iolani 7 (McCartney 3, Dung 2, Miyahara, Fujioka).
Kamehameha 55, Maryknoll 47
Rykin Enos scored 16 points and Pono Hanson added 14 as the Warriors outscored the Spartans 32-15 in the second half to pull out the victory.
Ross Lum led three Spartans in double figures with 14 points as Maryknoll led 32-23 at halftime.
At Kekuhaupio Gym
Maryknoll (2-10) |
15 |
17 |
2 |
13 |
-- |
47
|
Kamehameha (6-6) |
9 |
14 |
15 |
17 |
-- |
55 |
MARYKNOLL--Rian Huizingh 6, Garrick Chock 5, Christian Bueno-Kanei 0, Travis Liu 12, Tim Adora 0, Jordan Ho-Ching 10, Ross Lum 14.
KAMEHAMEHA--Randy Cummings 0, Kawika Lyons 2, Mitchell Kauweloa 13, Andrew Godinet 2, Pono Hanson 14, Rykin Enos 16, Jonathan Hew Len 0, Jan Kauka 0, Levi Goeas 0, Auwae Derego 2, Pii Minns 2, Conrad Scheidt 4, Kamakoa Downey-Jovanovich 0.
3-point goals -- Maryknoll 5 (Liu 3, Adora, Chock), Kamehameha 2 (Enos 2).
No. 3 Saint Louis 45, Mid-Pacific 34
Scott Smith poured in a game-high 16 points to help the Crusaders knock off the Owls to finish third in the league.
Mid-Pacific's Marcus Holyfield finished with 11 points.
At McCabe Gym
Mid-Pacific (4-8) |
11 |
8 |
10 |
5 |
-- |
34
|
Saint Louis (9-3) |
10 |
18 |
9 |
8 |
-- |
45 |
MID-PACIFIC--Ryan Kurihara 0, Sampson Won 0, Marcus Holyfield 11, Jaime Rivera 0, Jarryd Yasui 0, Kellar Ellsworth 7, Devon Takenaka 9, Josh Grant 0, Bryson Beirne 7.
SAINT LOUIS--Ricksson Pacarro 3, Kuli'a Aiona 2, John Quindara 0, Scott Smith 16, Corey Lau 0, Kyle Gonzaga 0, Cole Shidaki 12, Solomona Aigamaua 6, Geordon Hanohano 0, Michael Tuiloma 4, Micah McClinton 0, Jamison Miller 2, Siunipa Fiefia 0.
3-point goals -- Mid-Pacific 2 (Holyfield, Ellsworth), Saint Louis 3 (Shidaki 2, Pacarro).
Division II varsity boys
Kamehameha II 73, Le Jardin 25
Hawaii Baptist 50, Saint Louis 35
High scorers--Kam: Jeremiah Pahukula 12, Darrin Krampert 11 LeJ: Joshua Blau 12. HBA: Dominic Hart 9, Josh Baek 9. StL: Brandon McKee 10.