Points were tough to come by through three quarters at Clarence T.C. Ching Gymnasium on Wednesday.

That is, until Maryknoll guard Justice Sueing took over in the fourth.

The sophomore scored 18 of his game-high 27 points in the final eight minutes and the No. 7 Spartans extended their winning streak to four with a 53-38 ILH boys basketball victory over Kamehameha on senior night.

"We all knew we had to turn it on the fourth quarter," Sueing said. "I just had to be more aggressive in the fourth quarter."

Both teams struggled from the field in the first half and the rims loosened a bit in the third quarter as Maryknoll clung to a four-point lead. Sueing took control from there, finishing on two drives early in the fourth quarter and hitting 10 of 12 from the free-throw line to help the Spartans pull away. 

Maryknoll never trailed in the game, but had difficultly getting into the interior of Kamehameha’s 2-3 zone for the first three quarters. The Warriors stayed close by hitting eight 3-pointers, with Fatu Sua-Godinet draining three in the third quarter. 

But the Warriors could contain Sueing only so long.

"If we were getting some defensive stops we were able to get the ball up the floor quicker and Justice wasn’t waiting for the defense to set up and he was attacking," Maryknoll coach Kelly Grant said. "Once the defense is set up and they’re running a 2-3, it’s really hard to break that defense."

After losing four of its first five regular-season games, Maryknoll improved to 5-4 and moved a game behind ‘Iolani for second place in the Division I standings. The Spartans and Raiders meet on Tuesday to close the regular season and a Maryknoll win would force a tiebreaker, a coin flip or card draw, to determine the second seed in the ILH tournament.

"It’s a big game. We want to have the opportunity to have that first-round bye," Grant said.

"I’m assuming it’s going to be their senior night so I told the kids we have to prepared, it’s going to be rocking."

Kamehameha fell to 2-7 and closes the regular season against Saint Louis before entering the tournament.

Neither team could get a shot to fall from the field in the game’s first 5:30 and they combined to shoot 2-for-21 in the first quarter with Maryknoll taking a 6-4 lead. 

The Spartans hit four of their first five attempts to take a 17-9 lead when Sueing converted a steal into a layup. Kobe Young’s second 3-pointer of the half helped Kamehameha stay within striking distance despite 4-for-23 shooting and Maryknoll led 19-15 at halftime.

Sua-Godinet hit three 3-pointers and accounted for 10 of Kamehameha’s 12 points in the third quarter. 

The Spartans tightened their defense on him in the fourth quarter while Sueing ignited the offense. 

KAMEHAMEHA–Jayden Zarriello 4, Kamren Victorino-Kato 0, Saint Gelacio 2, Noah Gelacio 3, Kekaula Kaniho 9, Fatu Sua-Godinet 12, Kapu Mau 0, Kobe Young 6, Peter Hanohano-Hashimoto 1, Kumoku Noa 0, Pono Arias 1, Cade Pedro 0.

MARYKNOLL–Michael Miske 10, Jordyn Perez 0, Jaylen Cain 0, Darin Miyamoto 0, Calvin Koo 5, Hayato Kamata 0, Kainoa Ferreira 0, Justice Sueing 27, Sage Pulu 2, Kaulana Schmidt 0, Matthew McGivern 0, Brian Washington 9.

3-point goals–Kamehameha 8 (Sua-Godinet 3, Kaniho 2, Young 2, N Gelacio). Maryknoll 1 (Miske).

Saint Louis 48, Mid-Pacific 39 (Tuesday)

MID-PACIFIC–Codey Mita 0, Nathaniel Ng 0, Lamar Carter 0, Isaiah Browning 0, Daniel Florenco 14, Den Suehiro 2, Zion Shepherd 11, Ken Colombe 10, Andrew Kargol 2, Logan Hutchinson 0, Jacen Kimura 0.

SAINT LOUIS–Ihaka Johnson 16, Jimmy Nunuha III 13, Kevin Marks 4, Jaymason Nunuha 4, Colton Nascimento 7, Drew Kobayashi 0,

Jon Manalo 0, Jayce Smalley 2, Chris Sykes 0, Lance Sataraka 2.

3-point goals–Mid-Pacific 2 (Colombe 2). Saint Louis 6 (Johnson 3, Nascimento 2, Jaymason Nunuha).

ILH DIVISION II BOYS

Hanalani 66, Christian Academy 28

Jeff Schaake’s 10 first-quarter points and a full-court press gave the Royals early separation against the winless Patriots.

Chaz Kubo scored a game-high 20 points and Schaake finished with 19 for Hanalani.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY–Zane Oshiro 0, Rylie Schenbeck-Chang 0, Xavier Matthews 7, Joshua Luna 8, Jacob-Aaron Salas 0, Dakota Fisher 0, Hollis Tam 1, Brayden Salas 0, Isaiah Harris 12, Bryson Stride 0.

HANALANI–Jeffe Leaman 2, Jeff Schaake 19, Chaz Kubo 20, Zane Pantil 5, Kenan Cooper 3, Josh Rotz 2, Aaron Leong 8, Connor Kaneshiro 2, Vasant Patwardhan 0, Ryan Kaneshiro 3, Gabe Cabo 2, Randy Villeza 0.

3-point goals–Christian Academy 1 (Luna). Hanalani 1 (Schaake).

Hawaii Baptist 58, St. Francis 45

BJ Hosaka scored 29 points as the Eagles (7-2) defeated the Saints (5-5).

HAWAII BAPTIST–BJ Hosaka 29, Michael Dang 8, Micah Mitchell 3, Isaac Liva 8, Ty Minatoya 5, Matt Sakai 2, Kellen Takatsuka 3.

ST. FRANCIS–Justin Sarsuelo 2, Boris Vukovic 11, Jansen Kupau 10, Isaac Crichton 1, Wembley Mailei 2, Micah Kalei 5, Noah Kurosawa 5, Viliami Pua 5, Supilani Mailei 4.

3-point goals–Hawaii Baptist 3 (Hosaka 3). St. Francis 1 (Kupau).

Damien 58, University 53

Kapi King and Kobe Ikari posted 16 points apiece as the Monarchs broke open a close game by pulling ahead in the third quarter.

Anson Canencia led all scorers with 18 points, including two 3-pointers, for the Junior ‘Bows.

UNIVERSITY–Micah Agcaoili 2, Ryan Hobus 5, Anson Canencia 18, Lachlan MacLeod 5, Radyn Kaleikini 9, Milton Monico 8, Shaun Mahiko 4, Tyler Yoshinaga 0, Frank Hobus 0, Otto Taylor 2.

DAMIEN–Rocky Mori 6, Shaun Apiki 10, Kapi King 16, Kobe Ikari 16, Storm Maldonaldo 7, Crummel Mooring 0, Reggie Liunoras 3, Ernie Kornya 0, Malik Adeniji 0.

3-point goals–UHS 6 (Canencia 2, Monico 2, Kaleikini, MacLeod). Damien (Liunoras, Maldonaldo).

ILH DIVISION III BOYS

Hawaiian Mission 48, Assets 40

Fisher Yu scored 16 points to lead the Knights.

ASSETS–Kainoa Coarsey 0, AJ Ulufale 9, Carter Keawai 11, David F. 4, Trevor Middleton 2, Chris Tanaka 2, Aiden Matsura 0, Cole Herrera 0, Ikani Naulu 0, Justin Hirayama 6, Kris K. 6, Bryce A. 0. 

HAWAIIAN MISSION–Andrew Yamada 8, John Saldevar 3, Daniel Saldevar 2, Reid Kim 11, Chris Chang 0, Logan Earls 0, Austin Ramos 2, Fisher Yu 16, Alan Sison 0, Richard Domingo 0, Caleb Miller 0, Jeff Yamada 0, DJ Woo 0, Joey Domingo 5, Tyler Platrio 1, Ethan Cababat 0.

3-point goals– Assets 2 (Carter, Ulufale). HMA 4 (Kim 2, Domingo, J. Saldevar).

ALSO

Island Pacific 70, Lanakila Baptist 55

ILH I-AA

Maryknoll 57, ‘Iolani 44

additional scores

BIIF Junior varsity

Kamehameha-Hawaii 48, Ka’u 20