The legacy lives, at least for now.
Gabriel Vega and Duke Pauli combined for 29 points as No. 7 ‘Iolani escaped with a 39-37 win over No. 2 Academy of the Pacific on Thursday night at Le Jardin gym.
Wilson MacLeod’s 3-point try at the buzzer was short, allowing the Raiders to tighten up the race in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. ‘Iolani, which won the state title two years ago and reached the state final last season, improved to 6-3 in league play (12-8 overall), and AOP fell to 7-2 (18-5 overall). Punahou was the frontrunner coming into Thursday night’s slate, with Maryknoll and Kamehameha also in the logjam, tied with ‘Iolani.
Only two automatic berths to the state tourney are available, with a third available in the upcoming wild-card league playoffs. That made a win important for the Raiders, who have nine state crowns in all.
"We pride ourselves on defense. Coach (Dean Shimamoto) said play good defense," said Vega, who also had five boards. "AOP is a great team. They’re going to hit shots every now and then, so we have to make sure we stay calm, which we didn’t do a very good job of. It’s a learning experience. It wasn’t pretty, but AOP’s a really good team and we have a lot of respect for their program."
The 39-37 final was the same as the score from the first meeting between ‘Iolani and AOP on Jan. 19. The difference was that AOP won in overtime that night at the Raiders’ gym.
"They were just a better team today. They came out hustling," said AOP senior David Daniel, who had 11 points. "We just have to execute our plays. We’ll be fine."
This time, ‘Iolani pounded the ball into the paint and Pauli went to work, scoring 14 points. The Raiders also got 10 points from Zach Buscher, but almost gave it away at the foul line. After going 6-for-6 there in the first three quarters, they shot 3-for-10 in the final stanza.
‘Iolani was crisp in the opening half on both ends of the floor. Shimamoto used a 5-for-5 platoon system. Reece Foy had three steals in the opening quarter as the Raiders stifled AOP. The Raiders jumped to an 8-0 lead against AOP’s man defense, then built it to 19-9 late in the second quarter. ‘Iolani opened the lead to 28-17 on Pauli’s bucket in the post midway through the third quarter.
The Dolphins then unleashed traps on the Raiders, who committed eight of their 10 turnovers in the second half. Mattia Raebel hit a wing 3 and reserve Marshall Gouley came through with a putback to bring AOP within 32-27 going into the final quarter.
Drew Viena (11 points) brought AOP within three on a driving bucket, but ‘Iolani kept the Dolphins at bay and had a 38-32 lead on a post bank shot by Pauli with 2:59 left.
‘Iolani’s inaccuracy at the charity stripe gave AOP plenty of chances. Viena drove for a 3-point play in traffic and Daniel hit a free throw to bring the Dolphins within 38-36 with 1:57 remaining. The lead would have been cut to one point, but Daniel ran into the key after his free throw, a violation that nullified his shot.
After Pauli missed two foul shots, Daniel brought AOP within 38-37 by making one of two free throws.
Austin O’Leary then missed two tries from the stripe with 24 seconds left, giving the crowd of about 300 a little more drama to deal with.
Viena missed a difficult shot over Vega in the paint, and the 6-foot-7 senior hit one free throw with 4.8 seconds to go for a 39-37 lead.
The Dolphins got the ball to MacLeod for a final shot, but his pull-up 3 from the left wing hit the front of the rim as time expired.
At Le Jardin gym
| ‘IOLANI (6-3) |
8 |
13 |
11 |
7 |
— |
39
|
| AOP (7-2) |
3 |
10 |
14 |
10 |
— |
37 |
‘IOLANI–Andrew Okimura 0, Drew Uchiyama 0, Erik Yamada 0, Reece Foy 0, Austin O’Leary 0, Gabriel Vega 15, Zach Buscher 10, Joshua Hannum 0, Josiah Situmeang 0, Duke Pauli 14.
AOP–Shai Brown 1, Carter Kauwenaole 0, Keomalu Akiona 0, Mattia Raebel 6, Kamana Keohohou 0, Arkadiy Mkrtychyan 2, Drew Viena 11, Artur Mkrtychyan 0, David Daniel 11, Wilson MacLeod 2, Marshall Gourley 2, Bret Kanoa 2.
3-point goals–‘Iolani 2 (Buscher 2), AOP 2 (Raebel).
MORE ILH DIVISION I BOYS
No. 1 Punahou 62, No. 5 Maryknoll 37
Malik Johnson scored 16 points and DeForest Buckner added 14 as the Buffanblu beat the Spartans.
Maryknoll’s Isaiah Dowdell scored 10 points.
At Punahou
| MARYKNOLL (5-4) |
9 |
8 |
14 |
6 |
— |
37 |
| PUNAHOU (8-1) |
19 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
— |
62 |
MARYKNOLL–Andrew Wu 0, Kaleb Gilmore 2, Kekoa Welsh 1, Brandon Floyd 2, John Mayer 4, Danny Danbara 2, Isaiah Dowdell 10, Tobias Powell 4, Joshua Burnett 2, Noa Wellbrock 0, Wyatt Pedro 4, Varrick Suezaki 0, Tobias Shramm 4, Tyler Cordoni 2.
PUNAHOU–Sean Gruebner 7, Jordan Tanuvasa 10, Bryan Matsukawa 0, Micah Ma’a 0, Steven Lakalaka 7, Dayson Watanabe 4, Matthew Taniguchi 0, Ka’aha McAfee-Torco 0, Taylor Henderson 2, Jeffrey Yamashiro 0, Nick Valasquez 2, Malik Johnson 16, Kanawai Noa 0, DeForest Buckner 14, Daniel Andrews 0.
3-point goals–Maryknoll none. Punahou 3 (Tanuvasa 2, Watanabe).
ILH DIVISION II BOYS
Saint Francis 41, Le Jardin 38
Matthew Nuumanaia scored 12 points as the Saints edged the Bulldogs.
At Le Jardin
| SAINT FRANCIS (6-0) |
8 |
12 |
7 |
14 |
— |
41 |
| LE JARDIN (4-5) |
10 |
8 |
5 |
15 |
— |
38 |
SAINT FRANCIS–Austin Ursua 5, Sosiua Havea 3, Keola Kealoha 0, Matthew Nuumanaia 12, Kaohukea Sanborn 2, Shabir Lynton 4, Drew Wilson 4, Keoni Tom-Millare 3, Kai Sun 4, Blayne Won 4.
LE JARDIN–Alec Macleod 0, Frank Montalvo 8, Sean McWhinnie 9, Sam Spengler 4, Julien Perkins 8, Stig Regan , Jake Blaskowski 5, Dillan Van Ness 0, Michael Gabrelcik 0, Nick Vinsonhaler 4, Stig Regan 0, Johnson Le 0, Alex Tatum 0.
3-point goals–Saint Francis 2 (Havea, Tom-Millare). Le Jardin 1 (Blaskowski).
OIA RED GIRLS PLAYOFFS
No. 8 Kaiser 69, Kahuku 57
Darcey Goulsby scored 18 points and Chandler Arce added 15 as the Cougars downed the Red Raiders.
Kahuku was led by Leighlani Paselio’s 15 points. Kaiser plays Kaimuki in an elimination game Saturday.
At Kaiser
| KAHUKU |
15 |
12 |
13 |
17 |
— |
57 |
| KAISER |
22 |
17 |
8 |
22 |
— |
69 |
KAHUKU–Delycia Seui-Matagi 0, Fia Tailele-Latu 12, Tyra Williams 2, Kalynn Latu 2, Talia Brown 0, Pati Anae 0, Jaelynn Kaio-Scott 7, Tisa Teo 6, Tihane Kamae 0, Suva Tapusoa 0, Manaia Afalava 0, Leighlani Paselio 15, Mata Tonga 9, Tara Tailele 2, Sinamomi Tonga 2.
KAISER–Chandler Arce 15, Taylor Simeona 0, Kiana Nakai 5, Kylee Nihipali , Ashley Soong 10, Micaela Bitanga 7, Kayla Soong 2, Alyssa Soong 2, Courtney Phillips 0, Darcey Goulsby 18, Kellie Sakai 10, Brandi Arita 0, Chantelle Arce 0, Caylee Tashiro 0, Kiana Matsumoto 0.
3-point goals–Kahuku 3 (Tailele-Latu 2, Paselio). Kaiser 4 (Sakai, Ch. Arce, Nakai, Bitanga).
No. 5 Kaimuki 45, Mililani 43
Keana Paez and Ashley Savusa each scored 11 points as the Bulldogs edged the Trojans.
Down 44-43, Mililani had a chance to take the lead but committed a turnover with about 10 seconds remaining. Kaimuki’s Krysta Yasui hit a free throw with 4 seconds remaining for the final margin.
At Mililani
| KAIMUKI |
8 |
17 |
9 |
11 |
— |
45 |
| MILILANI |
9 |
8 |
9 |
17 |
— |
43 |
KAIMUKI–Canny Aikau 0, Keana Paez 11, Roxy Ramos-Dias 9, Dejah Faasoa 6, Ashley Savusa 11, Krysta Yasui 8.
MILILANI–Jerika Bacuycuy 0, Kaylee Torres 4, Kapili Amamalin 8, Taylor Babbitt 14, Kayla Wright 2, Nayla Long 15.
3-point goals–Kaimuki 4 (Savusa, Paez, Ramos-Dias, Faasoa). Mililani 1 (Babbitt).
OIA WHITE GIRLS PLAYOFFS
Kalani 50, Waianae 32
Haley Omiya scored 19 points and the Falcons hit 10 3-pointers in a victory over the Seariders. Waianae’s Gina Atiga scored 18 points.
At Kalani
| WAIANAE |
11 |
5 |
8 |
8 |
— |
32 |
| KALANI |
12 |
15 |
6 |
17 |
— |
50 |
WAIANAE–Lokelani Kelii 5, Cayshia Alapai 0, Kaitlyn Kaahaaina 3, Lia Gilbert 0, Mary Keaulana-Riotutar 2, Gina Atiga 18,
Nue Sivia 0, Makana Kealoha 1, Makea Atiga 3, Ana Richardson 0.
KALANI–Kimberly Sakamoto 0, Carly Kakuda 6, Riley Kishaba 0, Rose Alama 0, Haley Omiya 19, Kelli Marumaru 0, Taili Iinuma 6, Brenna Beall 5, Kari Green 0, Kaiana Iaea 0, Alex Salas 6, Taylor Murai 8, Teualilo Petelo 0, Tiani Maafala 0, Samantha Shizumu 0.
3-point goals–Kalani 10 (Omiya 4, Iinuma 2, Salas 2, Murai 2). Waianae none.
Radford 51, McKinley 48
Imani Wimbush scored 19 points to lead the Rams past the Tigers. Sybil Coryell led McKinley with nine points.
At Radford
| MCKINLEY |
14 |
8 |
12 |
14 |
— |
48 |
| RADFORD |
11 |
15 |
10 |
15 |
— |
51 |
MCKINLEY–Mariz Navarro 4, Ashley Mun 0, Miranda Schmillen 6, Tiare Sugui 2, Laika Aragon 0, Jourdan Mills 8, Jessica D’Amato 0, Katey Ezra 9, Tino Mulitauaopele 2, Dorothy Aumua 2, Sybil Coryell 9, Porscha Sannago 0, Savanna Gonzalez 6.
RADFORD–Imani Wimbush 19, Kylee Marcum 0, Felicana Vasquez , E’Lexius Evans 3, Rojelia Lojkar 0, Rachael Kapesi 5, Tyler Whitener 8, Feliciana Vasquez 0, McKenna Wall 3, Brittany Perry 6, Daysha Jones , Cierra Garcia 0, Kennedy Johnson 0, Korie Johnson 7.
3-point goals–McKinley 1 (Coryell). Radford none.
