Joshua Burnett sensed the seconds ticking away, but knew he had just enough left.

After Maryknoll’s defense forced a loose ball, Burnett scooped it up, bolted down the sideline and swooped toward the rim. His layup fell though the net as the buzzer sounded, giving the top-ranked Spartans a 39-37 win over ‘Iolani. It triggering a raucous senior night celebration inside Clarence T.C. Ching Gymnasium on Wednesday night.

"I looked up with about two seconds at halfcourt, and I was like, ‘Yeah I can get to the rim,’ " Burnett said. "So I just took my extra dribble and got to the rim."

Burnett, one of the eight seniors honored after the game, finished with 11 points, the last two keeping Maryknoll (7-1) atop the ILH standings.

The Spartans’ first chance to clinch the ILH Division I regular-season title comes Saturday when they face Punahou, with a game at Kamehameha also left on the regular-season schedule.

‘Iolani (5-3) positioned itself to tighten the ILH race by edging out to a 37-34 lead with 1:03 left before Maryknoll guard Kaleb Gilmore drained a tying 3-pointer from the wing seven seconds later.

"Kaleb had the biggest shot; that was a huge shot," Burnett said. "That’s really what saved it for us."

The Raiders worked the clock down to 9.2 seconds before calling timeout. Coming out of the break, ‘Iolani got the ball to Zach Buscher, who was promptly triple-teamed and passed out of the trap.

The ball was poked loose and Burnett came up with it and raced in for the game-winner.

"It was more important because we played the best team defense we played the entire season to get the steal in the first place," Burnett said. "So it was everything coming together at the right time."

After the dramatic finish, Maryknoll coach Kelly Grant was grateful for the call he didn’t make.

"I was about to call a timeout," Grant said. "Best timeout I never called."

Gilmore led Maryknoll with 13 points, and his tying 3-pointer was Maryknoll’s first field goal of the fourth quarter, as both teams were icy from the field for much of the game.

"We were struggling on offense the whole game. We were just lucky we had our ‘A’ game as far as defense," Grant said. "I thought we did a really good job with all the role guys playing excellent defense."

Buscher led all scorers with 16 points, finishing

8-for-8 from the free-throw line for the Raiders.

"We just have to keep playing and keep trying to win games and put ourselves in position and take care of ourselves," ‘Iolani coach Dean Shimamoto said.

"(Maryknoll) made two great plays. They’ve got great players."

‘IOLANI–Pikai Winchester 3, Ikaika Phillip 6, Zach Gelacio 2, Chris Gallacher 4, Erik Yamada 4, Zach Buscher 16, Robbie Mann 2, Hugh Hogland 0.

MARYKNOLL–Michael Miske 0, Sean Ogata 4, Samuel Ahn 0, Kaleb Gilmore 13, Joshua Burnett 11, Calvin Koo 5, Kamakana Winquist 2, Shane Victorino 0, Tyson Kaloa 0, Brandon Floyd 0, Micah McGivern 4.

3-point goals–‘Iolani 1 (Winchester). Maryknoll 4 (Gilmore 3, Koo).

No. 2 Punahou 55, Mid-Pacific 41

Daniel Andrews scored 19 points and Justin Kam added 15 points as the Buffanblu defeated the winless Owls.

MID-PACIFIC– Kyrie McRaven 0, Daniel Florenco 11, Mycah Lee  0, Kyle Husslein 2, Den Suehiro 3, Ken Colombe 7, Andrew Kargol 4, Justin Daise 14, Burson Whang 0.

PUNAHOU–Daniel Andrews 19, Randon Oda 4, Chris Kobayashi 3, Blake Wade 1, Dayson Watanabe 2, Justin Kam 15, Micah Ma’a 8, Ronley Lakalaka 2, Kalai Santos 0, Davis Miyashiro-Suapa’ia 0, Semisi Uluave 0, Jared Lum 0, Alexander Kidani 0, Kanawai Noa 1.

3-point goals–Mid-Pacific 3 (Florenco 3). Punahou 4 (Kam 3, Kobayashi).

ILH DIVISION II BOYS

Hanalani 43, Le Jardin 40

The Royals slipped past the Bulldogs, who rallied with a 22-point fourth quarter.

LE JARDIN–Alex Tatum 6, Michael Gabrelek 10, Mitchell Hashimoto 8, CJ Jones 0, Dillon Van Ness 6, Dominic Valenzia 0, Corey Grip 2, Shane Mausolf 0, Jerry Lawson 7, Stig Regan 1.

HANALANI–Zane Pantil 9, John Brady 12, Jeff Schaake 4, Patrick Metts 0, Niko Milone 5, Logan Oyama 4, Kai Saruratari 0, Tyler Cruz 0, Grant Kagimoto 0, Josh Rotz 0, Colby Schoniwitz 7, Jesse Tory 2.

3-point goals–Le Jardin 5 (Gabrelek 2, Van Ness 2, Lawson). Hanalani 2 (Pantil 2).

St. Francis 58, Hawaii Baptist 43

The Saints made 12 of 17 free throws in the fourth quarter to rout the Eagles.

Matthew Nuumanaia led the way for St. Francis with 18 points.

ST. FRANCIS–Keola Kealoha 6, Kyle Lau 8, Nathan Koki 0, Janson Kupau 2, Matthew Nuumanaia 18, Kawika Ulufale 2, Ranan Mamiya 13, Blayne Won 5, Maunakea Matthews 0, Micah Kalei 0, Justin Sarsuelo 4, David Zimmerman 0.

HAWAII BAPTIST–Bryson Hirokawa 0, Dallas Wong 1, BJ Hosaka 4, Brent Vargas 0, Mike Dang 0, Ty Minatoya 3, Danton Tominaga 9, Matthew Kishaba 5, Jordan Kauwe 10, John Killough 7, Joshua Kishaba 2, Brett Miller 2, Christian Pingree 0, Robert Bueche 0.

3-point goals–St. Francis 6 (Mamiya 3, Lau, Nuumanaia). Hawaii Baptist 4 (Tominaga 2, M. Kishaba, Hosaka).

Damien 57, University 47

Jaylen Layco scored 15 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter to push the Monarchs past the Junior ‘Bows.

UNIVERSITY–Anthony Canencia 29, Anson Canencia 0, Micah Agcaoili 0, Eric Leung 9, Ryan Kaleikini 0, Shaun Mahiko 1, Ryan Hobus 0, Frank Hobus 6, Lachlan MacLeod 0, Joshua Akamine 0, Tyler Yoshinaga 0, Micah Kahumoku 2, Milton Monico 0, Kapena Fitzgerald 0.

DAMIEN–Brandon Estacio 0, Ernie Kornya IV 0, Kobe Ikari 5, Aaron Miyahira 0, Jaylen Layco 21, Linden Quintal 2, Reggie Liunoras 0, Bransen Apao 0, Kapi’ina King 12, Paul Galang 0, Rakeeb Craig Jr. 0, Ezekiel Naum 3, Cameron Mogpoc 0, Rocklen Mori 12, James Roy 2.

3-point goals–University 5 (Leung 3, Anthony Canencia 2). Damien 1 (Naum).

Also

Varsity boys

Division I-AA

Kamehameha 53, ‘Iolani 41