Buzzer-beater lifts Sabers to win in tourney opener

STORY SUMMARY »

It's a long way from Carlmont, Calif., to Honolulu. That's why the Scots' remarkable comeback, fueled by senior Kevin Hindenach, would have made for a sweet opening chapter against Campbell.

Instead, the Sabers spoiled the Scots' voyage when Joseph Atimua scored an uncontested layup at the buzzer to lift Campbell in a 48-46 win last night at Na Menehune/Reebok Holiday Classic.

The Scots limited Campbell gunner Mike Makinano to 12 points and got 20 points from Hindenach. However, they struggled at times after Campbell switched from a man-to-man defense to a 1-2-2 zone in the second half.

"Coming here all the way from the mainland, you don't want to play poorly," Carlmont coach Dave Low said. "I wish we hadn't dug ourselves a hole at the beginning, but we battled back. We just didn't do enough to win."

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For Joseph Atimua, sharing is caring.

The burly 6-foot-2 forward dished out a team-high four assists, but it was a give-and-go with teammate Nicholas Daniels that allowed Atimua to score the go-ahead basket as time expired in Campbell's 48-46 win over Carlmont (Calif.) last night in the first round of Na Menehune/Reebok Holiday Classic.

With 4.7 seconds to play, Atimua was the inbounds passer, 94 feet from the bucket.

"Coach (Glenn Flores) told us to give it to Mike (Makinano), but he wasn't open. They had tight 'D' on him," the senior said.

Atimua found Daniels open on the right side while the Scots continued to swarm near Campbell's leading scorer, Makinano. Daniels dribbled across midcourt and found Atimua hustling on a cut through the middle.

"I was surprised he was that open," Daniels said.

Atimua took the pass and scored easily without a defender nearby. "We did what we could to neutralize (Makinano). When you do that, you roll the dice," Carlmont coach Dave Low said. "Our point guard was on the wrong side of (Atimua) and it became a 2-on-1. He made a great play."

A linebacker on the football team, Atimua finished with 11 points and six rebounds. The Sabers escaped with a win over the taller Scots on a night when Makinano was cold (3-for-11 for 12 points) and forward Patrick Ward left after suffering an ankle injury in the third quarter.

Kevin Hindenach led the visitors with 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting. His repeated drives to the basket helped Carlmont rally from a 13-point deficit, and the Scots seemed to have the game under control after Dan Figone hit a pair of foul shots with 2:38 left. Carlmont led 43-37.

The Scots had a three-point lead when Makinano went coast-to-coast with a rebound and swished a 3-pointer from the top to tie the score at 46 with 17 seconds left.

Moments later, Hindenach drove the baseline for an apparent layup, but was whistled for stepping out of bounds with 4.7 seconds left. It was another bump in the road in a long night for the visitors.

"You go 3-for-8 at the line in the fourth quarter, we could've been up seven, eight, nine points with no shot clock," Low said, noting that his team normally shoots about 74 percent from the foul line.

Makinano did not start, but the Sabers jumped to a 10-2 lead with crisp backdoor cuts and precise passing. Makinano entered the game at that point, and Campbell's lead extended to 20-7 after Zachery Manuel turned a steal into a layup to start the second quarter.

At that point, however, Hindenach went on a roll.

The 6-3 senior scored 12 points in the second quarter, almost all on drives to the basket in transition. Hindenach's layup gave the Scots their first lead of the game, 25-24, late in the first half.

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Tyrus Ceria-Lux led the Red Raiders with 14 points.

Maryknoll 66, Waianae 51

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Jamerson Smith led the Seariders with 20 points.

No. 8 Mid-Pacific 53, Castle 29

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Kaimuki 43, Kapolei 42

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No. 9 Moanalua 72, Iolani II 17

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University 60, Radford 48

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Quentin Kimura had 11 for the Rams.

Laguna Beach (Calif.) 68, Punahou II 47

Kenny Sullivan scored 17 points, Marcus Haiston had 16 and Dylan Roley tallied 14 for the Breakers.

Jeremy Kaimikaua led the Buffanblu with nine points.