Kevin Marks scored six of his 12 points during a big third-quarter run as Saint Louis outlasted Kailua 59-42 on Saturday night to capture the championship of the Surfriders Holiday Classic.
Colten Nascimento added 11 points, Jimmy Nunuha III scored nine and Ihaka Johnson tallied seven for the Crusaders (3-0).
Johnson, a 5-foot-9 senior guard, was named the tournament’s most valuable player. He was part of Saint Louis’ non-stop, on-ball pressure defensively, and also gave his team secure ballhandling against Kailua’s tough defense.
Saint Louis’ man-to-man defense was a cornerstone throughout the tourney. The Crusaders were able to go small and stymie a quick Roosevelt squad in the semifinals, and then go big against a rugged Kailua squad.
"We were sloppy tonight, but at this point, we’ll take a win. I told the guys, ‘Let’s just get better every day,’" Crusaders coach Keith Spencer said. "Our defensive effort was there. Our offensive execution was not there."
Kamu Scheer led Kailua with 15 points. Nainoa Mercado added seven.
The visitors ran hard and fast from the start. Johnson swished a 3 from the right wing and Nunuha hustled for a steal and fast-break layup to help Saint Louis take a 12-0 lead.
A putback by Christian Mejia ended the run and started a 7-0 run by the Surfriders. They stayed close until the middle of the second quarter, when Jaymason Nunuha swished a corner 3 on the break and Nascimento drove for a layup, giving Saint Louis a 23-11 lead.
Both teams were in the bonus early, but it didn’t help Kailua. The Surfriders are shooting below 50 percent at the line. On Friday, they were 10-for-30 from the free-throw line in a come-from-behind win over Waipahu. In the first half against Saint Louis, Kailua shot 6-for-17 (35 percent). Saint Louis was 7-for-14 (50 percent).
Saint Louis opened the lead to 40-25 after a couple of tough drives for baskets by Kevin Marks and a layup by Jace Smalley off an offensive board and dish by Jaymason Nunuha. After Marks launched a long pass to Jimmy Nunuha for a layup, the lead was 17 late in the third quarter.
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Seventh place: ‘Iolani I-AA 43, Waianae 35
Fifth place: Baldwin 65, St. Francis 44
Third place: Roosevelt 55, Waipahu 52
