Warriors bat back
Jr. ’Bows

Michael Ni'i scored 10 points and Kamehameha withstood several rallies by University en route to a 59-52 win last night at Kekuhaupio Gym.

A polite crowd saw the Warriors fend off the Jr. 'Bows over and over before taking a 15-point lead in the final quarter. Even then, however, University rallied with a 14-4 run to pull within 57-52 with 32 seconds left.

Jacob Ho, who had seven points, broke away on a long inbounds pass for an easy layup. That gave Kamehameha its final seven-point margin of victory with 29 seconds left, sealing the win.

Ikaika Hardie and Kamalu Miller added nine points each for Kamehameha, which improved to 7-4 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (12-9 overall). The Warriors are ranked No. 7 in the Star-Bulletin Top 10.

Iolani and Punahou are locks to claim the ILH's top two state tournament berths. Though Kamehameha and University are out of the league title chase, the league's tournament for its third state berth is not far away.

"We played with a lot of intensity. The guys know we want to build momentum going into the third-place tournament," Kamehameha coach Jesse Nakanishi said. "We're playing with much more urgency now. They know they have a chance to win that tournament, get to states and play for the state championship."

University dropped to 4-7 in league play (11-12 overall) after committing 20 turnovers. Alfred Clark led the Jr. 'Bows with 19 points, including three 3-pointers. John Duro added 12 points before fouling out, and David Johnson had 10 points, including eight in the second half.

It was night and day for the Jr. 'Bows, who upset sixth-ranked Saint Louis in double overtime on Tuesday. "In the second half and the two overtimes, we committed just two turnovers," University coach Walter Quitan said. "That was totally different."

The Jr. 'Bows shot 42 percent from the field (21-for-50). Kamehameha sank 21 of 48 tries from the field (44 percent).

Kamehameha didn't get an offensive explosion early on from Hardie, but the senior distributed three assists. More importantly, the Warrior defense kept University off balance throughout the first half.

The visiting Jr. 'Bows led 6-5 after Duro scored on an inbounds pass from Mike Tenorio. Kamehameha scored the next six points, including a trey by Rykin Enos. The Warriors never trailed again.

Kamehameha gave University a gift of sorts in the third quarter. After Johnson drove for a layup, a technical foul was assessed to the Warriors. Alfred Clark sank two free throws to bring the Jr. 'Bows within 30-25, but a turnover triggered an 8-3 run by Kamehameha.

Down by 10, the Jr. 'Bows went on an 8-0 run. Scott Nishimoto banked in a trey and Clark swished a 3-pointer from the left corner. After Johnson sank two foul shots, Kamehameha's lead was down to 38-36 with 1:15 left in the third. The Jr. 'Bows committed a pair of turnovers to slow momentum.

Ho, who gave University matchup problems with his height and quickness, scored on a follow shot to give the Warriors a 4-point lead. Moments later, Tenorio rushed and missed a 3-point try with 13 seconds left in the third. Hardie, left unguarded, swished a trey from the top with 2 seconds remaining in the third. That gave Kamehameha breathing room with a 44-36 lead.

Hardie and Keo Wright-Pacarro drained 3-pointers to start the fourth quarter, and after Ni'i drove for a layup, the Warriors had their largest lead, 52-38, with 4:59 left in the game.

University sparked a final run in the final 3:20. Johnson drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing, and Clark hit a layup and a pull-up baseline jumper. The Jr. 'Bows trailed 53-47 with 2:02 remaining.

Hardie responded again, driving through the middle for a lay-in, and Miller scored down low on a feed from Wright-Pacarro to extend the Warriors' lead to 57-47 with 1:02 left. Clark scored the next five points, including another trey from the right corner, but University got no closer the rest of the way.

At Kekuhaupio Gym

University (4-7)	8	7	21	16	--	52
Kamehameha (6-5)	12	12	20	15	--	59

UNIVERSITY--Scott Nishimoto 5, Michael Tenorio 2, Alfred Clark 19, Matt Bayan 0, John Duro 12, David Johnson 10, Rance Yanabu 4, Lucion Holyfield 0.
KAMEHAMEHA-- Keo Wright-Pacarro 6, Ikaika Hardie 9, Brandon Ahlo 0, Rykin Enos 7, Jacob Ho 9, Quincy Crowell 5, Michael Ni'i 10, Matthew Hoapili 4, Kamalu Miller 9.
3-point goals -- University 5 (Clark 3, Johnson, Nishimoto), Kamehameha 7 (Hardie 2, Wright-Pacarro 2, Enos, Crowell, Ni'i).

No. 6 Saint Louis 69, Damien 66, 2OT

Jack Miller scored eight of his 25 points in the second overtime period, including the go-ahead shot with 30 seconds left that lifted the Crusaders past the Monarchs.

Matthew Gochenouer's 29 points led Damien, but it was a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left in the first OT period by Justin Casil that tied the game at 58 and sent it into the second overtime period.

Gochenouer had eight of his 29 points in overtime.

This was the Crusaders' second straight game that went into two overtimes.

At Damien H.S. gym

Saint Louis (7-4)	16	13	12	9	8	11	--	69
Damien (1-9)	16	14	15	5	8	8	--	66

SAINT LOUIS--Kulia Aiona 7, John Quindara 0, Kawika Kekuawela 2, Kyle Gonzaga 0, Cameron Bayne 6, Joshua Ah Yuen 11, Cole Shidaki 10, Jack Miller 25, Elliot Purcell 4, Jamison Miller 0, Jacob Barit 4.
DAMIEN--Justin Casil 6, Devin Shiroma 7, Matthew Gochenouer 29, Michael Sipili 6, Garyk Ontai 0, Kealoha Pilares 4, Antonio Cerezo Jr. 0, Winni Boy Gapuz 6, Lolomana Mikaele 8, Brad Akiona 0, Ferd Paredes 0.
3-point goals -- Saint Louis 0, Damien 4 (Casil 2, Gochenouer, Shiroma).

No. 1 Iolani 73, Maryknoll 54

Kawika Shoji scored a game-high 22 points and Kyle Pape added 21 as the Raiders used a 23-5 first-quarter run to get past the Spartans.

Tyler Tsukazaki buried three 3-pointers and scored 17 points, and Jordan Ho-Ching and Tommy Nguyen each added 10 for Maryknoll.

At Iolani H.S. gym

Maryknoll (3-7)	5	16	14	19	--	54
Iolani (11-0)	23	14	21	15	--	73

MARYKNOLL--Tyler Tsukazaki 17, Tommy Nguyen 10, Richardson Talavera 0, Simeon Ke-Paloma 2, Kyle Lambert 2, Chris Lum 4, Zachary Misajon 6, Riley Tang 2, Chris Hsia 0, Jordan Ho-Ching 10, Richard Herring 1.
IOLANI--Aaron Young 0, Vinny Nip 7, Barry Kang 6, Ryan Dung 7, Taylor Mounts 0, Kekai Kealoha 0, Kawika Shoji 22, Kyle Pape 21, Wes Eberlin 3, Blayne Yama 0, Wally Marciel 5, Kiran Kepo'o 2.
3-point goals -- Maryknoll 5 (Tsukazaki 3, Nguyen 2), Iolani 5 (Pape 3, Dung, Nip).

Division II varsity boys

Hawaii Baptist 48, Academy of the Pacific 41

Kamehameha 56, Lutheran 37

Leading scorers--HBA: Mark Stinton 13. AOP: Puna Kaopuiki 17, Mana Komine 12. Kam: Logan Rodrigues 12. LHS: Matthew Uffman 14, Shayne-Keith Searle 13.