The Jefferson Democrats were on a successful campaign in Honolulu.
Then they met the Eagles of Montverde Academy and it wasn’t much of a battle. The top-ranked Eagles dominated from the start, getting 17 points and 12 rebounds from 6-foot-9 Makhel Mitchell en route to a 71-43 championship win over Jefferson (Portland, Ore.) on Wednesday night at the ‘Iolani Prep Classic.
Mitchell was in foul trouble just one day earlier as his team struggled past a determined Fairfax (Los Angeles) team 79-70.
“I just tried not to block every shot because I know I’m not a shot blocker. I just tried to move my feet,” Mitchell said.
The nation’s No. 1 college prospect, RJ Barrett, was once again unstoppable. The 6-7 senior finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. He was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Andrew Nembhard, a future Florida Gator, added 11 points and four assists, and Michael Devoe tallied 11 points and three dimes.
It was more than offense, of course. The Eagles, of Montverde, Fla., played stellar team defense every minute of their four-game swing in Honolulu, where they stopped on the way back from China. There was complete composure, except for one moment with a few minutes left and the Eagles ahead by 20. One of Barrett’s teammates got into a minor back-and-forth chat with a Jefferson player.
“I said we only got 3 minutes left, let’s close it out well. It’s my third year here, just been working at it. It’s a process, but definitely worth it,” said Barrett, who will play at Duke next season.
Marcus Tsohonis led the Demos with 14 points. Jefferson’s nimble 6-10 senior, Kamaka Hepa, finished with 12 points and three rebounds. He was named the tourney’s most outstanding player. On this night, the Texas-bound senior faced physical defenders at every cut and turn, all part of the plan by Montverde coach Kevin Boyle.
“He doesn’t play around, for sure. It really took me to the end of (sophomore) year getting used to a different type of system,” Barrett said. “Coach wants us to play great defense.”
Jefferson was a scoring machine most of the tourney, but shot less than 29 percent from the field against Montverde, including 1-for-11 in the opening quarter. The Eagles zoomed to a 21-4 lead in efficient, almost clinical fashion with Nembhard attacking the rim and Barrett letting the game come to him. Late in the second quarter, the lead was 37-15 and the Eagles never let up defensively.
“We’re a little tired,” Barrett said, “So that’s why at the end of this trip, we said, let’s get the win and go home.”
PREP BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD
ILH
Division I
Varsity girls
‘Iolani 46, Punahou 26
Kamehameha 42, Sacred Hearts 33
Leading scorers—IOL: Tori Lynn Maeda
18, Kellie Okamura 14.
Junior varsity boys
Kamehameha-White 43, Maryknoll 42
Division III
Varsity girls
Hawaiian Mission 30, Lanakila Baptist 18
St. Andrew’s Priory 38, Island Pacific 22
Leading scorers—SA: Sage Hottendorf
10.
PRESEASON TOURNAMENTS
‘Iolani Classic
Varsity boys
Championship game
Montverde (Fla.) 71, Jefferson (Portland,
Ore.) 43
Third place
Fairfax (Los Angeles) 66, Bishop O’Dowd
(Oakland) 60
Consolation
Pearl City 48, Kalaheo 45
Kamehameha 47, Leilehua 33
Kapolei 67, Moanalua 54
Maryknoll 51, Lahainaluna 42
Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.) 62, ‘Iolani 47
Greensboro (N.C.) 61, Rainier Beach
(Seattle) 49
Leading scorers—PC: Justin Pfau 15,
Ryan Yamamoto 11. KALH: Ryan Pardini
16. KS: Christmas Togiai 13, Kobe Young
10. LEI: Jaymond Agdinaoay 13. KAP:
Zoar Nedd 11, Marquis Montgomery 10.
MOAN: Isaiah Sugiura 14, Caleb Casinas
12. MYRK: Jaylen Cain 17, Marcus Tobin
12, Makoto Kamata 11. LAH: Siale Hafoka
13, Reece Pascua 10. Taft:
Demetruis Calip 16, Makani Whiteside
13, Kihei Clark 11, Khalil Haywood 11,
Brandon Wilson 10. IOL: Frank Felix 14.
Greensboro Day: Carson McCorkle 13,
John Newman 12, Noah Dunn 10. Rainier
Beach: Ken Curtis 19, Trevante Anderson
14, Freddie Roberson 10.
St. Francis Holiday Hoops Classic
Varsity boys
Kailua 63, Kealakehe 59
Waiakea 55, University 42
Punahou 50, Kahuku 48
St. Francis 72, Campbell 62
Leading scorers—KEAL: Bryton Lewis
14, Qishaun Gallon 12, Howard Robert
12. KAIL: Everett Torres-Kahapea 25,
Kaniala Williams 12, Naianoa Peters 10.
WAIK: Rekky Prudencio 22, Kiai Apele
12. ULS: Leif Fautanu 14. PUN: Kaulana
Makaula 14, Zayne Chong 13, Hunter
Hosoda 11. KAH: Tolu Smith 18, Marcus
Damuni 10. STF: Kameron Ng 30, Boris
Vukovic 12, Manoa Kualii-Moe 10.
CAMP: Robert Hutchinson 21, Larsen
Jones 15, Mitchell Williams 12, Andrew
Mersburgh 10.
