Warriors get Hardie win

Jacob Ho and Ikaika Hardie combined for 29 points, and Kamehameha opened a big lead before holding on for a 69-56 win over Maryknoll last night at Kekuhaupi'o Gym.

The Warriors (16-9) advanced to the finals of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu tournament. They'll meet Saint Louis tonight at 6:30 at Kekuhaupi'o for the league's third and final state tournament berth.

Hardie was instrumental in Kamehameha's second-quarter run, initiating fast-break plays off Maryknoll turnovers. He finished with 14 points. Ho tallied a team-high 15 points, including 6-for-8 shooting from the foul line in the final quarter.

"Maryknoll never gave up. It's the playoffs and everyone's fighting to stay alive," Hardie said. "Coach said two's the magic number. We gotta win two to get to states."

Chris Lum scored 12 points and pulled down a game-high 16 rebounds for Maryknoll, which finished 4-12 in league play and 12-16 overall.

Tyler Tsukazaki poured in 29 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter to spark Maryknoll's rally. The Spartans were down 50-23 late in the third quarter before going on a 32-14 run.

"Everyone looked at each other. We knew we could do it. This team is tight. They're my brothers," Lum said.

Tsukazaki got extremely hot, scoring 14 points in the first 4:07 of the final quarter. His third trey of the stanza, a pull-up jumper through a double team, brought Maryknoll within 64-55 with 55 seconds to play.

Ho swished five of his final six free throws to help the Warriors pull away in the final moments.

It was a bittersweet ending for the Spartans and coach Blaine Gier.

"This is a good bunch of kids. I never had a team work so hard. I've had more talented teams, but not with the heart of these guys," he said.

Maryknoll committed 15 turnovers and shot 38 percent from the field (18-for-48). The Spartans also made just 15 of their 32 free-throw attempts, including 10 of 19 in the fourth quarter.

Rebounding helped them stay in the game. Maryknoll had a 33-21 edge on Kamehameha.

The Warriors, who also got 10 points from Rykin Enos, shot 53 percent from the floor (23 of 43) and 68 percent from the line (19 of 28). Michael Ni'i also stabilized the offense, with five assists.

Early on, coach Jesse Nakanishi threw a mix of defenses -- man to man, 2-3 zone and box-and-one -- to stymie the Spartans, and especially Tsukazaki.

Down 6-2, the Warriors limited Maryknoll to one point over a span of 8 minutes as Hardie chased Tsukazaki across the floor. A flurry of fast-break layups, including a few off Maryknoll turnovers, sparked a 20-4 run.

The visiting Spartans cut the lead to nine on free throws by Lum and Jordan Ho-Ching, but Kamehameha reserve forward Ho hit a pair of mid-range shots just before the half. The Warriors had their biggest lead, 28-13, at intermission.

Tsukazaki was 1-for-7 from the field for three points by halftime.

At Kekuhaupi'o Gym

Maryknoll (4-12)	7	6	12	31	--	56
Kamehameha (10-5)	10	18	22	19	--	69

MARYKNOLL--Tyler Tsukazaki 29, Tommy Nguyen 7, Simeon Ke-Paloma 0, Chris Lum 12, Zachary Misajon 3, Kyle Lambert 0, Riley Tang 0, Chris Hsia 0, Jordan Ho-Ching 3, Richard Herring 2.
KAMEHAMEHA--Keo Wright-Pacarro 2, Ikaika Hardie 15, Brandon Ahlo 2, Rykin Enos 10, Jacob Ho 15, Michael Nii 6, Mitchell Kaweloa 0, Matt Hoapili 4, Kamalu Miller 7, Quincy Crowell 8.
3-point goals -- Maryknoll 4 (Tsukazaki), Kamehameha 4 (Hardie, Enos, Ho, Crowell).