Maryknoll takes control of ILH race

Kaulana Schmidt and Isiah Gelacio scored 11 points each as No. 3 Maryknoll fought off No. 2 Punahou 50-46 on Friday night at Clarence T.C. Ching Gymnasium.

A near-capacity, senior-night crowd saw the Spartans seize sole possession of first place in the ILH boys basketball standings. Maryknoll is 7-1, leading Punahou (7-2) and ‘Iolani (6-2). The Spartans can clinch the regular-season title and earn an automatic state-berth by winning its final two games.

“We definitely had more to play for, especially being a senior,” said Schmidt, a 6-foot-4 center. “We had to win to get No. 1 in the ILH.”

Makoto Kamata added eight points and Jaylen Cain chipped in seven for the Spartans, who were consistent and efficient. They shot 57 percent from the 3-point arc (8-for-14) and outrebounded the visiting Buffanblu 23-17.

Chris Kobayashi poured in 24 points, including six treys, despite all of Maryknoll’s defensive attempts to slow the senior guard down. He shot 9-for-15 from the field, including 5-for-10 from the arc. The rest of the squad shot 8-for-28 from the field.

Daven Pila swished a corner 3 to beat the buzzer at the end of the first quarter, and then Maryknoll stretched the lead to 16-4 early in the second after Gelacio swished a smooth baseline floater. Punahou went on a 10-1 run to pull within three points as Kobayashi caught fire. The home team responded with a 3 by Gelacio and an NBA-range trey by Payton Grant to lead 26-20 at the half.

The lead ballooned to 36-23 after Schmidt hit a straightaway 3 and a baseline jumper to go along with a mid-range shot and a wing 3 by Jordyn Perez.

From there, the Buffanblu chipped away and finally got within 45-43 with 2:39 left on a runner from the foul line by Kobayashi.

That was as close as the visitors got. Cain scored inside on a lob from Perez for a 47-43 lead with 1:31 remaining, and Kamata added two free throws with 1 minute left. Punahou got within 49-46 on a 3 by Kobayashi with 44 seconds to go, but couldn’t score again.

Schmidt iced the game with a free throw for a four-point lead with 18.2 seconds remaining.

Punahou shot 1-for-5 at the foul line in the fourth quarter.

“It’s senior night and they shot the hell out of the ball,” Punahou coach Darren Matsuda said of the hosts. “Kudos to them. They were focused and deserve to win.”

It was Punahou’s fourth game in six nights, as well.

“We just went through a gauntlet. That affected our shooting. Our shots were short and our free throws are normally good,” Matsuda said.

Punahou finished 4-for-12 at the charity stripe and saw its seven-game win streak come to an end.