Crusaders waste no time

Thankfully, this one didn't take so long.

After suffering through consecutive double-overtime games, the sixth-ranked Saint Louis Crusaders were finally able to take care of business in regulation last night, defeating the Maryknoll Spartans 58-36 at Mid-Pacific Institute gym.

Jack Miller, who struggled all game with his outside shot, managed to finish with a game-high 18 points, and added 10 rebounds and six assists to lead the Crusaders to their second straight win.

"It was a total team effort tonight," Miller said. "(Our big guys) did a good job rebounding and putting the ball back up."

Both teams struggled from outside, but the bigger Crusaders dominated the boards, resulting in easy second-chance points. Cameron Bayne was the biggest beneficiary from all the offensive rebounds, coming off the bench to score 12 points.

When they weren't grabbing rebounds, the Crusaders were standing at the foul line. Saint Louis finished with 38 free-throw attempts to just 13 for Maryknoll.

"Our guys attacked hard," head coach Delbert Tengan said. "We did a nice job of spacing and moved the ball well and when it was open, we were able to drive."

Eighteen of the Crusaders' first 22 points came from the charity stripe, but Maryknoll held tough. After the Spartans fell behind by as many as nine early, Tommy Nguyen nailed back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the lead to 20-19 with 3 minutes left in the first half.

But the Crusaders extended the lead to 11 at halftime by finishing with a lightning-quick 7-0 run in the final 90 seconds.

"What made this such a good win for us was our ability to get a lead and maintain it the rest of the game," Tengan said. "We have been squandering leads and letting games slip away, but tonight we were able to hold it."

The Crusaders used pressure defense to extend the lead in the second half, as back-to-back jumpers by Miller opened up a 12-point Crusaders lead at the end of the third quarter.

Tyler Tsukazaki gave the Spartans one last ray of hope, scoring four quick points to open the final quarter. But eight consecutive free throws by Saint Louis put the game away, as they finished 29-for-38 from the line.

"Those last two overtime games really gave us good experience I think," Tengan said. "We're a young team and I think going through those games really has helped us mature as a team and it showed tonight."

Tsukazaki finished the game with 15 points to lead the Spartans. At 8-4, the Crusaders control their own destiny in the race for third place in the ILH. They hold a one-game lead over Kamehameha with two games to play, but the Warriors and Crusaders will meet in the regular-season finale for both teams next week.

"This postseason tournament for that final spot is going to be tough," Tengan said. "We're going to take everyone's best shot and we're looking forward to it."

"We still have two tough games to play," added Miller. "But if we can play good team defense and not let any one player have a big game on us, we feel we can beat anybody."

At Mid-Pacific Institute gym

Saint Louis (8-4)	11	21	10	16	--	58
Maryknoll (3-8)	6	15	9	6	--	36

SAINT LOUIS--Kulia Aiona 2, John Quindara 1, Kawika Kekuawela 2, Kyle Gonzaga 3, Cameron Bayne 12, Joshua Ah Yuen 2, Cole Shidaki 12, Jack Miller 18, Elliot Purcell 2, Jamison Miller 0, Jacob Barit 4.
MARYKNOLL--Tyler Tsukazaki 15, Tommy Nguyen 8, Simeon Ke-Paloma 0, Richardson Talavera 0, Kyle Lambert 0, Chris Lum 5, Zachary Misajon 0, Riley Tang 0, Chris Hsia 2, Jordan Ho-Ching 2, Richard Herring 4.
3-point goals -- Saint Louis 0, Maryknoll 2 (Nguyen 2).

No. 1 Iolani 70, Mid-Pacific 56

Vinny Nip scored a game-high 24 points, including six 3-pointers, as the Raiders defeated the Owls.

Kellen Hastie led the Owls with 21 points in the loss. Bryson Beirne and Daniel Gordon each chipped in 10 points for the Owls.

At Mid-Pacific Institute gym

Iolani (12-0)	16	23	22	9	--	70
Mid-Pacific (1-11)	12	15	11	18	--	56

IOLANI--Aaron Young 4, Vinny Nip 24, Barry Kang 6, Ryan Dung 4, Taylor Mounts 7, Kekai Kealoha 4, Kawika Shoji 12, Kyle Pape 5, Jon Takamura 0, Wes Eberlin 0, Blayne Yama 2, Wally Marciel 0, Kiran Kepo'o 2.
MID-PACIFIC--Bryson Beirne 10, Kellar Ellsworth 6, Daniel Gordon 10, J.D. Lum 4, Kellen Hastie 21, Chris Young 3, Jarryd Yasui 0, Steve Hilton 0, Chad Takabuki 0, Allen Ko 2.
3-point goals -- Iolani 10 (Nip 6, A. Young, Mounts, Shoji, Pape), Mid-Pacific 3 (Gordon 2, Lum).

No. 7 Kamehameha 59, Damien 44

Kamalu Miller scored 12 points and Ikaika Hardie added 11 points, including two 3-pointers, to lead the Warriors past the Monarchs.

Matthew Gochenouer scored a game-high 13 points to lead the Monarchs.

At Kekuhaupio Gym

Damien (1-10)	11	14	12	7	--	44
Kamehameha (7-5)	6	14	15	24	--	59

DAMIEN--Devin Shiroma 8, Matthew Gochenouer 13, Michael Sipili 0, Garyk Ontai 2, Kealoha Pilares 7, Antonio Cerezo Jr. 4, Winni Boy Gapuz 0, Lolomana Mikaele 10, Brad Akiona 0, Ferd Paredes 0.
KAMEHAMEHA--Keo Wright-Pacarro 7, Ikaika Hardie 11, Brandon Ahlo 0, Rykin Enos 7, Jacob Ho 11, Michael Nii 2, Randy Cummings 2, Mitchell Kauweloa 0, Matt Hoapili 4, Kea Smith 0, Kamalu Miller 12, Quincy Crowell 3.
3-point goals -- Damien 2 (Shiroma 2), Kamehameha 4 (Hardie 2, Pacarro, Crowell).

Varsity Division II
Iolani 53, Lanakila Baptist 41
Word of Life 51, Assets 24
Saint Louis 60, Christian Academy 41
High scorers--Iol: Josh Starbuck 17, Kyson Morikuni 10. LB: Charles Hazlewood 20. WOL: Aaron Tipoti 10. Ast: Nick Castello 11. StL: Jason Allen 14, Bo Ronduen 14. CA: Joshua Ko 19.
Junior varsity
Division I
Damien 56, Saint Louis 40
Iolani 73, Punahou-Gold 58
Division II
University 63, Le Jardin 22
Word of Life 42, Mid-Pacific 41