[ DIVISION II SPORTS ]
Two weeks ago, Chaminade looked to be a spoiler in the Pacific West Conference race. Chaminade continues surge
by beating HPUStar-Bulletin staff
Now, it looks like the team to beat.
The Silverswords continued their torrid pace at home, beating Hawaii Pacific 76-63 at McCabe Gym.
The Sea Warriors (17-7, 8-4) could not solve the Silverswords' (16-9, 8-5) new inside-out game, allowing Kashif Reyes to score 22 points, including three 3-pointers, and Igor Beljanski to score 12 points and lead everybody in rebounds with 10.
Jaborri Thomas scored 11 points and Leon Ballard suited up, playing three minutes and scoring two points while getting a technical foul.
Chaminade held HPU's two best scorers to only 11 points on seven shots, with Nash Subotic scoring five and Nick Spajic six. Leandro Maruoka, last week's PacWest Player of the Week, led the Sea Warriors with 12 points while Dragan Karanovic and John Avilla each scored 11.
By beating first-place HPU, Chaminade pulled to within a half-game of the top spot with two games to play, both at home against Brigham Young-Hawaii.
Hawaii-Hilo 75, Brigham Young-Hawaii 68: At Hilo, David LaQua scored 18 points and pulled down seven rebounds as the Vulcans remained unbeaten at home.
Scott Prather scored 17 and Kyle Bartholomew added 15 for the Vulcans (17-8, 7-6), who have already been eliminated from the conference race. Alexus Foyle, the conference's leading scorer, led the Seasiders with 19 points, while Scott Salisbury contributed 13 points and 10 rebounds.
BYUH is a game behind Hawaii Pacific and Montana State-Billings for the conference lead with three games remaining.
Chaminade Sports