[ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Miami Christian's Guillermo Diaz dunked over Franklin's Jordan Daisy in last night's semifinal.
The Franklin (Seattle) Quakers sent a shock wave through the high school basketball world with a 103-90 double-overtime victory over Miami Christian last night in the semifinals of the Iolani Prep Classic. No. 2 team falls at Iolani
By Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comFranklin guard Aaron Brooks scored 36 points, 34 coming after halftime, to lead the Quakers to the upset of the Victors. Miami Christian entered the tournament ranked second in the country, according to USA Today.
"We don't pay much attention to what they're ranked. USA Today has never seen Franklin High School play," Franklin coach Jason Kerr said. "What we did was respect what we'd seen the last two days, that they're an outstanding ballclub that's extremely well-coached."
Both teams hit desperation shots to extend the game twice, but Franklin scored the first seven points of the second overtime to pull out the win.
"There were a lot of big-time shots in this game," Miami Christian coach Art Alvarez said. "This game probably had more big-time shots than most games you'll see out there."
Brooks came up with more than his share in leading Franklin to the victory. The Oregon-bound guard hit four 3-pointers and managed 18 of 20 shots at the free-throw line. Fellow guard Ricky Washington hit five 3-pointers and finished with 21 points.
"This group looks for each other," Kerr said. "Ricky Washington had the hot hand in the first half and Aaron will be the first one to give it up. We cooled down a little bit in the second half and (Brooks) put us on his back."
Miami Christian guard Guillermo Diaz, who has signed with Miami, did all he could to help the Victors maintain their ranking, pouring in 34 points.
Franklin appeared to have control late in regulation, clinging to a 66-62 lead with 20 seconds left. But Diaz hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one. After Brooks drained two free throws with six seconds left, Miami Christian worked the ball down court and Diaz banked in a desperation 3-pointer to tie the game at 68.
Momentum see-sawed throughout the second half, this time with Miami Christian leading 86-84 in the final seconds. Diaz missed two free throws and after Brooks missed a layup, Washington dropped in a jump shot while falling backward to send the game into a second overtime.
"I thought we had them in the overtime," Alvarez said. "I can't believe he made that shot."
Franklin then took control as Williams scored on a putback and Brooks drained a 3-pointer. The Quakers held off the Victors the rest of the way to earn the win.
After the final buzzer, the crowd at Iolani Gym saluted both teams with a standing ovation.
"It was a fantastic game. You're not going to see a whole lot better," Kerr said.
Said Alvarez: "All the credit in the world to them and Brooks is the real deal."
No. 17 Fairfax (Los Angeles) 40, No. 14 Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) 39: Fairfax advanced to its second consecutive Iolani Classic championship game by holding off the Mustangs.
Fairfax's Jamal Boykin scored 11 points and Alex Bausley had 10 to lead the defending tournament champions back to the title game. Linas Kleiza led Montrose Christian with 17 points.
Montrose Christian, which lost to Fairfax in last year's tournament final, had a shot to win the game in the final seconds, but Churchill Odia's jumper fell short at the buzzer.
CONSOLATION BRACKET
St. Louis 46, Leilehua 43
Kaimuki 55, Pearl City 42
Kamehameha 46, Radford 35
Siena (Tuscany, Italy) 59, Baldwin 41FIFTH-PLACE BRACKET
Vincent (Milwaukee, Wisc.) 36, Archbishop Carroll (Washington D.C.) 30
Iolani 65, Lincoln (Portland, Ore.) 51
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