Justin Anderson and the Montrose Christian Mustangs just wanted to bring home an ‘Iolani Classic trophy, just one.
They finally did it with the program’s 10th trip to the islands. Anderson, the tournament’s most outstanding player, scored 14 points as Montrose Christian (Md.) overpowered Orlando Christian 47-36 last night in the final at ‘Iolani School gym.
The win gave coach Stu Vetter his first Classic title as coach of Montrose Christian.
“This tournament meant so much not only to Coach Vetter or us, but it was for our program,” Anderson said. “We gave 100 percent effort not just in this game, but for the whole tournament. It was a hard-fought tournament. Everybody played well.”
A near-capacity crowd saw Anderson help his team control the tempo after the Mustangs raced to a 16-2 lead before holding off the persistent Warriors. Montrose Christian post Michael Carrera, a 6-foot-6 senior, had 14 points and nine rebounds en route to most valuable player honors.
Dre Clayton, a 6-6 junior, led Orlando with 13 points. Isaac Cohen added 11.
The Warriors dropped their man defense in favor of a 2-3 zone after falling behind early. They got within 43-36 on a trey by Jordan Montgomery with 46 seconds left, but got no closer.
Montrose’s man defense limited Orlando to just 29 field-goal attempts, and the Mustangs had a 26-15 rebounding edge.
“We emphasize defense a lot in this tournament and it paid off in the long run,” said Anderson, who won the slam-dunk contest on Monday night and might be the top-rated recruit in the country.
The Mustangs shot nearly 50 percent from the field
(18-for-37) and hustled for 10 offensive rebounds. Along with the tenacious defense, they committed just eight turnovers — hallmarks of Mustangs basketball during the long, classy tenure of Vetter.
Though Vetter won three titles at Flint Hill with star scorer Dennis Scott in the 1980s, his teams at Montrose had been a perennial powerhouse nationally without winning the ‘Iolani Classic in those nine previous tries.
“Our team did an outstanding job defensively. We’ve prided ourselves on our defense all year long. It’s nice, especially for Justin Anderson, who has been here since his freshman year, guarding Momo Jones (of Oak Hill) as a freshman,” Vetter said. “So many of our past players text messaged me today, (Greivis) Vasquez, saying ‘Go get it.’ Guys like Kevin Durant, guys who we want to win for. All the kids, guys that didn’t get to have this win before. It’s just a great win for us.”
Vetter is looking forward to more return trips to the islands.
“I don’t think this tournament gets enough credit nationally,” he said. “Every high school team wants to be here. It’s the No. 1 high school tournament in the country.”
Other Wednesday scores
Third place-Westbury Christian Prep (Tex.) 93, Bishop O’Dowd (Calif.) 69
Fifth place-De La Salle (Calif.) 23, Lincoln (Calif.) 19
Seventh place-Fairfax (Calif.) 41, ‘Iolani 40
Consolation championship-Kamehameha 58, Academy of the Pacific 49
Tsinghua (China) 45, Kahuku 23
Kamehameha-Hawaii 55, Kalani 34
Kaimuki 50, Farrington 46
