Every game, every possession, every free throw in the treacherous world of ILH basketball matters, even with a more liberal playoff format around the corner.
That’s why, in spite of 19 turnovers and a few questionable decisions in clock management, the Maryknoll Spartans left Kekuhaupio Gymnasium wearing smiles on Saturday night.
Josh Burnett’s 21 points, including 5-for-6 shooting from the 3-point arc, helped No. 3 Maryknoll escape from No. 5 Kamehameha with a 46-44 win.
“Coach said to let the game come to us, and I was open. My teammates found me,” said Burnett, a 6-foot-3 junior.
Maryknoll improved to 8-1 in league play (20-2 overall) and clinched second place. That matters to coach Kelly Grant because the top two finishers — Punahou has secured the other spot — will have opening-round byes in the ILH playoffs. Kamehameha dropped to 5-4 in league play (14-9 overall), losing to Maryknoll for a second time in regular-season action.
“This is huge. Even if we lose to Saint Louis or Punahou, we still get the second seed (in the ILH tournament),” Grant said. “I’m happy we won, but I’m not happy with the way we played. Kamehameha’s a good team. Julian (Nakanishi) does a really good job of preparing his kids. It’s hard to defend them. Even though we’ve been working on breaking their (traps) for the last four weeks, it’s tough.”
With three sick players — Kaleb Gilmore, Danny Danbara and Tobias Powell — the Spartans felt fortunate to get a win in tough territory. They were just 4-for-8 from the foul line in the first three quarters, but returned to form in the final eight minutes with 70 percent accuracy (7-for-10). They’re shooting 68 percent at the line this season.
“This is by far the best free-throw-shooting team I’ve had in all the years I’ve coached,” Grant said.
Burnett drew the assignment to cover Kamehameha’s 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Makoa Camanse-Stevens, who shot 5-for-14 from the field and led the Warriors with 15 points.
“He’s tall, but you just keep him in front of you,” Burnett said.
Burnett was on fire in the first three quarters against a Kamehameha man-to-man defense that siphoned off the low post. The home team led for almost all of the first half, but Burnett drained a pull-up trey with help from screener Tobias Schramm to give Maryknoll a 26-25 lead.
Kody Chai’s layup tied it at 29 for the Warriors, but they never regained the lead. Schramm hit two foul shots and Burnett hit his fifth 3-pointer to silence Warriors fans. When Gilmore hit his second trey of the second half, the visitors had a 37-29 lead early in the fourth quarter.
From there, the Spartans overcame six fourth-quarter turnovers. Kamehameha shot 5-for-11 at the foul line in the fourth.
With a 41-37 lead and less than 2 minutes to play, Grant had his team in delay mode, but Gilmore nonetheless jacked up an open 3 from the left wing that missed. Hyrum Harris corralled the offensive board and fed Schramm for a layup and a 43-37 lead.
Gilmore, who was throwing up before the game, hit two big foul shots to give the Spartans a 45-40 lead with 1:20 left. But after Camanse-Stevens made two free throws, Gilmore threw the ball away against a trapping Kamehameha defense.
At Kekuhaupio Gymnasium
Maryknoll (8-1) 12 11 11 12 — 46
Kamehameha (5-4) 14 11 4 15 — 44
MARYKNOLL—Sean Ogata 0, John Mayer 0, Danny Danbara 6, Kaleb Gilmore 10, Tobias Powell 0, Joshua Burnett 21, Tamamoko Green 0, Tyson Kaloa 0, Hyrum Harris 0, Tobias Schramm 9.
KAMEHAMEHA—Noa Kinimaka 5, Makoa Camanse-Stevens 15, Javen Sablay 1, Elijah Leslie 0, Kason Smith-Bejgrowicz 5, Noah Sua-Godinet 3, Austin Gerard 10, Makana Harrison 0, Kamal Olowofoyeku 0, Kody Chai 5.
3-point goals—Maryknoll 8 (Burnett 5, Gilmore 2, Danbara), Kamehameha 2 (Sua-Godinet, Gerard).
ILH DIVISION II
Hanalani 85, Christian Academy 61
Michael Milton scored 11 of his game-high 28 points in the third quarter as the Royals blitzed the Patriots.
Matthew Urcia led Christian Academy with 12 points.
At Hanalani
CA (0-7) 16 17 14 14 — 61
Hanalani (5-3) 18 27 23 17 — 85
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY—Matthew Urcia 12, Shaun Bonilla 9, Austin Miura 0, Xavier Matthews 10, Jarrin-James Ralar 4, J. Sugiura 4, Ethan Reyes 2, Philip Onomura , Ryan Helsham 1, Jacob-Aaron Salas 0, Brandon Hong 8, Joshua Luna 8, Eli Sugura 3
HANALANI—Lucas Leaman 6, Michael Milton 28, John Brady 8, Jordan Ebisu 0, Logan Oyama 0, Nicholas Milone 5, Zane Pantil 11, Jesse Tory 0, Conner Kaneshiro 2, Chas Kubo 2, Jeff Schaake 7, Tyler Cruz 0, Isaac Liva 12, Colby Schoniwitz 0, Scott Fujiwara 4, Duane Teem 0, Kody Fahrni 0.
3-point goals—Christian Academy 2 (Urcia, E. Sugiura). Hanalani 3 (Milone, Pantil, Schaake).
St. Francis 84, Damien 69
Keoni Tom-Millare scored 25 points as the unbeaten Saints handed the Monarchs their first league loss.
Tom-Millare drained five of St. Francis’ 11 3-pointers. Matthew Nuumanaia scored 15 points, and Austin Ursua and Ranan Mamiya added 12 apiece.
Kapiina King had 19 points, Nick Arakaki 17 and Alex Fant 13 for Damien.
At Damien
St. Francis (8-0) 23 22 20 19 — 84
Damien (7-1) 14 15 14 26 — 69
ST. FRANCIS—Austin Ursua 12, Keola Kealoha 3, Sosiua Havea 0, Matthew Nuumanaia 15, Kalani Akana 3, Shabir Lynton 8, Blayne Won 5, Keoni Tom-Millare 25, Lachoneus Tautuiaki 1, Ranan Mamiya 12.
DAMIEN—Kobe Ikari 2, Aaron Miyahira 2, Jaylen Layco 4, Linden Quintal 2, Nick Arakaki 17, Kapiina King 19, Marcus Mafi 1, Ashton Obrero 7, Alex Fant 13, Rocky Mori 2.
3-point goals—St. Francis 11 (Tom-Millare 5, Mamiya 2, Ursua 2, Kealoha, Nuumanaia). Damien 4 (Arakaki 2, Fant 2).
University 77, Hawaii Baptist 54
Ryan Kaleikini scored 20 points, and Chris Meyer hit four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points to lead the Jr. Bows over the Eagles.
Matthew Kishaba posted 16 points and Jordan Kauwe added 14 for Hawaii Baptist.
At Hawaii Baptist
University (6-2) 18 12 21 26 — 77
HBA (3-5) 2 11 19 22 — 54
UNIVERSITY—Chris Meyer 16, Eric Leung 6, Anthony Canencia 10, Colin Lee 5, Josh Akamine 0, R.J. Realubit 11, Milton Politano 4, Ryan Kaleikini 20, Matt Lee 1, Sean Mahiko 4.
HAWAII BAPTIST—Bryson Hirokawa 0, Joshua Kishaba 3, BJ Hosaka 10, Danton Tominaga 5, Chris Caballes 0, Michael Dang 0, Matthew Kishaba 16, Jordan Kauwe 14, Brett Miller 4, David Efhan 2.
3-point goals—University 7 (Meyer 4, Kaleikini 2, Leung). Hawaii Baptist 8 (Hosaka 2, M. Kishaba 2, Kauwe 2, J. Kishaba, Tominaga).
ALSO
DIVISION I-AA
‘Iolani 55, Saint Louis 37
FRIDAY’S LATE OIA BOX
Aiea 83, Nanakuli 78, 2OT
At Nanakuli
Aiea (3-6) 0 14 18 32 11 8 — 83
Nanakuli (2-8) 13 18 11 22 11 3 — 78
AIEA—Christian Maglaya 6, Mana Kaahanui 2, Aryn Antonio 20, Mikel Raza 0, Kealii Leopoldo 2, Bronson Lee 1, Brandon Lee 0, Michael Taliulu 8, Bryson Naito 32, Rusty Fontes 0, Kimo Souza 7, Matthew Sio 0, Jantsen Shinmoto 5.
NANAKULI—Alika Moore 2, Charles Garcia 3, Tryson Vincent 7, Josh DeFreitas 16, Joe Shelton 43, Royce Ochimas 4, Sebastian Gaison 3.
3-point goals—Aiea 5 (Maglaya 2, Naito 2, Souza). Nanakuli 5 (Garcia, DeFreitas 2, DeFreitas 2).
Junior varsity—Aiea 72, Nanakuli 55
