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He may be the nation’s No. 1 prep basketball player, but P.J. Washington’s goals are all about his Findlay Prep (Nev.) Pilots.
“I want us to win a national championship,” he said after scoring 30 points in the Pilots’ 89-39 win over Mid-Pacific on Friday night in the opening round of the ‘Iolani Prep Classic.
Washington, a 6-foot-9 senior, did a lot of everything, and he did it almost seemingly at cruise control. The Kentucky-bound power forward grabbed 12 rebounds, dished four assists and blocked four shots.
Justin Roberts added 18 points, including 10 in the second quarter as the Pilots flew away, turning an eight-point lead into a 21-point margin. Lamine Diane, a 6-6 senior, added 11 points. Donnie Tillman, a 6-7 senior, had eight points and six rebounds, and Reggie Chaney, a 6-8 junior, added seven points and seven caroms.
Zion Shepherd led the Owls with seven points and and nine boards.
“Our main goal was to make them earn everything,” the 6-4 senior said. “We were respecting them so hard. It’s definitely a good experience to play a team like that.”
Findlay Prep (13-0) is ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps.com and No. 2 in the USA Today Computer Rankings. The Pilots entered the game averaging just a shade below 100 points per game, including totals of 122, 127, 141 and 144.
Mid-Pacific, undersized in comparison, led 3-0 on Jacen Kimura’s NBA-range 3. But Washington started the Pilots’ attack with a dunk, then blocked a shot, went coast to coast for a layup, and they never trailed again.
“Defensively, we wanted to match up and hold them under 50 points,” said coach Paul Washington Sr., father of P.J.
Findlay Prep won the Classic crown in 2012, which makes this the first hoops trip to the islands for everyone on the roster.
“We come here for the fans and the weather,” the coach said. “We just go one game at a time and go about our business.”
Washington is a cross between LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, his father said.
“I’m a player who will do anything, play defense, rebound, block shots, pass, score for his team,” he said as a crowd of about 25 kids waited to get his photo and autograph.
The lead opened to 19-9 before MPI’s Kamana Lapina hit a 10-foot floater over the giants just before the end of the first quarter.
A 3 by Nalu Coito cut the score to 21-14 early in the second quarter, energizing the Owls’ crowd of about 60. The Pilots, however, got into a groove behind their fullcourt press and unselfish passing.
Findlay scored the next 11 points as guard Justin Roberts caught fire. The senior scored all 10 of his first-half points in the second quarter, and Chaney added seven points as the Pilots stretched the lead to 43-21 by halftime.
The margin expanded quickly after intermission. Still, MPI fans roared with each basket as if Findlay was Kentucky. Or the Cleveland Cavaliers. It wasn’t that far off; the Pilots are a basketball program tied to Henderson International School. They have eight players at least 6-5, and four are 6-8 or taller.
With MPI gaining a boost off a mini-run and Findlay up 74-32, Pilots coach Washington Sr. sent Washington Jr., Roberts and Chaney back on the floor to restore order.
Oak Hill (Va.), which begins play at the Classic today, is ranked No. 4 in USA Today. They won the Classic in 1989, ’99, ’03, ’08, ’10 and ’14.
‘Iolani 53, Kaiser 36
Hugh Hogland, the Raiders’ 6-foot-9 center, had 19 points and eight blocked shots for the defending Hawaii state champions. Guard Justin Genovia added 11 points. Shaun Kim led Kaiser with 13 points.
The Raiders will meet Findlay Prep at 5 p.m. Monday in a quarterfinal game.
Southwind (Memphis, Tenn.) 76, Punahou 51
Carlos Marshall scored 21 points, Markylan Freeman had 15 and Robert Boyd and Christian Jones added 14 each for the Jaguars.
Chris Kobayashi had 12 points and Cole Mausolf and Keala Martinson chipped in 10 apiece for previously unbeaten Punahou (8-1).
The Jaguars went on an 18-6 run to close the third quarter and break open a close game. Punahou, the No. 1 team in Hawaii, was within 39-32 midway through the third.
Kailua 52, Corona Del Sol (Ariz.) 47
Christian Mejia’s pass to Makana Robson on a fastbreak tied the game at 42, and Robson scored again on a steal to give the Surfriders the lead for good in an upset of Corona Del Sol. Mejia scored a game-high 16 points. Robson finished with 12 and Zachary Marrotte tallied 10.
The Aztecs are ranked No. 16 nationally in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rankings. The visitors were led by Arizona commit Alex Barcello’s 24 points and Vanderbilt commit Saben Lee’s 14 points.
ILH DIVISION I GIRLS
No. 1 Maryknoll 52, No. 6 Kamehameha 51
At Maryknoll
KS (1-3) 11 10 10 20 — 51
Maryknoll (5-0) 19 15 14 4 — 52
KAMEHAMEHA—Jewel Paaluhi-Caulk 13, Noelle Sua-Godinet 3, Kiana Vierra 9, Mikiala Maio 18, Kalina Obrey 8.
MARYKNOLL—Kamalu Kamakawiwo‘ole 11, Rhianne Omori 16, Dakota Viena 5, Isabella Cravens 7, Chayse Milne 9, Moe Notoa 2, Kehau Gilliland 2.
3-point goals—Kamehameha 5 (Vierra 3, Maio, Paaluhi-Caulk). Maryknoll 8 (Omori 4, Milne 2, Kamakawiwo‘ole, Viena).
ILH DIVISION II GIRLS
Hanalani 45, St. Andrew’s 28
At Hanalani
St. Andrew’s (0-4) 1 4 4 19 — 28
Hanalani (3-1) 16 9 9 11 — 45
ST. ANDREW’S—Mie Oishi 1, Olivia Sou 7, Jodi Adachi 0, Katie Itoh 4, Sage Hoffendorf 9, Hattie Hapai 3, Anna Grondolsky 0, Isabella-Marie Geppert 2, Anika Yu 0, Pohai Del Rosario 2.
HANALANI—Faith Lee 1, Kira Matsuda 2, Sierra Kurihara 0, Kelsy Chong 5, Anastasiya Li 3, Keila Tsutsui 13, Alexis Nihipali 10, Lexis Tam Ho 4, Kiara Peterson 6.
3-point goals—St. Andrew’s 1 (Hoffendorf). Hanalani 3 (Tsutsui 3).
ILH DIVISION III BOYS
Christian Academy 64, Island Pacific 37
At Hanalani
CA (1-0) 13 19 22 10 — 64
IPA (1-1) 10 10 5 12 — 37
CHRISTIAN ACADEMY—Frederick Harris 21, Zachary Benigno 0, Rylie Schenbeck Chang 4, Matthew Tokuda 8, William Hatcher 0, Dakota Fisher 25, Hollis Tam 5, Brayden Salas 1.
ISLAND PACIFIC—Andrew Merriman 1, Jake Arakawa 10, Nathan Bek 3, Jake Lundstrom 1, Jordan Carrancho 2, Bradley Sweet 1, Christopher Gionson 15, Caleb Aki 1, Jacob Weinhardt 3.
3-point goals—Christian Academy 4 (Fisher 4). Island Pacific 1 (Arakawa).
Also
Junior varsity boys
Maryknoll 52, Punahou Gold 42
OIA EAST GIRLS
Thursday
Kahuku 55, Moanalua 49
At Kahuku
Moanalua (0-3) 14 9 9 17 — 49
Kahuku (2-0) 10 21 16 8 — 55
MOANALUA—Lei-helani Talaro 9, Samantha Lum 0, Jillian Ota 0, Kylie Casinas 3, Kyrah Hughley 1, Kelcie Leong 18, Raven Rosa-Lasco 7, Amber Balite 0, Delylah Sanerivi 7, Brittany Passi 4, Tinei Sanerivi 0.
KAHUKU—Lehiwa Benson 5, Savannah Christensen 19, Logotaeao Galeai 9, Honey Perez-Wasson 2, Ilaosaane Pooi 0, Talei Niu 4, Liana Holani 2, Leving Jinadasa 5, Brittni Blake 7, Kailyn Unga-Nihipali 0, Lydia Taulapapa 2.
3-point goals—Moanalua 5 (Leong 3, Talaro, Casinas). Kahuku 2 (Benson, Galeai).
Junior varsity—Moanalua 42, Kahuku 41
Also
BIIF
Varsity boys
KS-Hawaii 49, Kealakehe 42
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