'Iolani denied Mid-Pacific Institute a long-awaited state tournament berth last night, holding off the Owls, 60-55, in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu girls basketball tournament final.

A vocal crowd of about 600 at 'Iolani Gym watched the Raiders finish 11-3 in ILH play and earn the league's second state tourney berth, beginning play in Tuesday's first round. ILH champ Punahou (11-1) has a first-round bye and will start play in Wednesday's semifinals.

MPI, which opened the regular season with an upset at Punahou, ends its year at 8-6.

The Owls made a spirited run at their first state berth in at least 10 years, but their fate was sealed at the free throw line. Mid-Pac led 13-4 after the first period but made just 6 of 19 free throws in the first half, after which 'Iolani led, 28-21.

By contrast, the Raiders were 8 of 10 at the line in the final quarter, including four straight by Lahela Usui in the final 49 seconds.

MPI finished 19 of 38 from the line; 'Iolani was 13 of 19.

"That was the whole game right there — free throws," Owls coach Wes Masuda said.

Mid-Pacific still had opportunities in the final minute, after Jordan Kealoha's two free throws closed it to 56-55 with 43 seconds remaining. Usui sank both ends of a one-and-one with 10.8 seconds, then intercepted a pass near the top of the Owls' key and raced downcourt for a layup as time expired.

"We practice (free throws), because we know that the game will get aggressive and there will be a lot of fouls at the end," said Usui, a junior guard who finished with 11 points. "We try to practice shooting under pressure, because we know that over and over, it's a key part of the game."

With MPI struggling from the free throw line (3 for 9) in the second period, the Raiders capitalized with a 17-5 run starting with Saphyre Rezentes' 3-pointer and ending with Alex Masaquel's layup 12 seconds before the halftime buzzer.

'Iolani built the lead to 41-26 after Shauni Watanabe's layup with 4:46 left in the third period, but the Owls closed it to 46-39 heading into the fourth quarter.

Raiders coach Eddie Maruyama said his team needed a complete effort, given MPI's constant challenge.

"They came out and played with intensity, they put a lot of pressure on us from the beginning," Maruyama said. "They played with a lot of spirit and energy."

Lori Yamashita led 'Iolani with 16 points — including seven in the second period — and Masaquel added 14 points. Jenna Savusa led the Owls with 17 points and Keaton McFadden added 10 points.

MID-PACIFIC (8-6) 13 8 18 16—55

'IOLANI (11-3) 4 24 18 14—60

MID-PACIFIC — Paige Young 6, Megan Kinoshita 0, Ashley Yamachika 6, Mahina Docktor 0, Kiana Robertson 2, Shanon Nishimura 2, Jordan Kealoha 8, Taylor Babbitt 4, Keaton McFadden 10, Jenna Savusa 17, Camille Ganahl 0. Totals 18 18-38 55.

'IOLANI — Saphyre Rezentes 6, Kryn Masutani 3, Kylie Rae Maeda 0, Lori Yamashita 16, Georgette Lopes-Liutolo 3, Kaitlyn Shikada 5, Lahela Usui 11, Shauni Watanabe 2, Alex Masaquel 14, Brittany Barnes 0, Taimane Passi 0. Totals 20 13-19 60.

3-point goals — Mid-Pacific 1 (Yamachika). 'Iolani 7 (Rezentes 2, Yamashita 2, Masutani, Shikada, Usui).

ILH BOYS DIVISION II

UNIVERSITY HIGH 44, KAMEHAMEHA 36

Isaiah Delaura scored 13 points, Makena Rothenborg added 10 and the visiting Jr. Rainbows used an 11-2 third quarter to open up a 31-19 lead in beating the Warriors.

UNIVERSITY HIGH (11-1) 14 6 11 13—44

KAMEHAMEHA (10-4) 8 9 2 17—36

UNIVERSITY HIGH — Adam Oshiro 2, Micah Ganiron 0, Gavin Vestal 1, Nalu O'Connor 9, Makena Rothenborg 10, Ian Akamine 0, Cameron Conant 1, Isaiah Delaura 13, Gui Aires 5, Ben Keller 3. Totals 11 18-32 44.

KAMEHAMEHA — Keanu Haina 7, Beau Jordan Oshiro 3, Ronson Nakoa-Moniz 6, Evile Ieriko 0, David Stant III 4, Brock Kau'ulaau 2, Landon Aano 2, Brandon Marfil 10, Kaiwipaoa Amina 0, Wyatt Ferreira 0, Kieran Watson 2. Totals 12 11-16 36.

3-point goals — University High 3 (Rothenborg, deLaura 2). Kamehameha 1 (Oshiro).

Reported by Debbie Lukela

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 51, WORD OF LIFE 45

Jason Ko and Axton Durand each scored 20 points, helping the Patriots turn back the Firebrands in an ILH Division II game at Hanalani's gym.

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (7-7) 14 8 14 15— 51

WORD OF LIFE (4-9) 11 7 15 12—45

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY — Jason Ko 20, Michael Urcia 6, Jason Ocel 1, Ryan Kobayashi 0, Axton Durand 20, Zachary Fu 0, Kalani Baughman 2, Ethan Reyes 0, Ryan Helsham 0. Totals 16 17-33 51.

WORD OF LIFE — Ryan Alvarado 1, Keawa Poggi 12, Javison Caires 10, Isaac Iwamoto 11, Alex Robinson 4, Nathaniel Lim 5, Josh Ramos 0, T.J. Russell 2. Totals 20 3-8 45.

3-point goals — Christian Academy 2 (Ko 2). Word of Life 2 (Poggi Iwamoto).

Reported by Robert Helsham

OIA BOYS RED TOURNEY

MOANALUA 72, CAMPBELL 51

Marcus Monroe scored 17, Marcus Keene added 14 and Reece Racoma 13 as the host Nā Menehune raced to a 19-6 first-quarter lead and were never threatened in beating the Sabers in the third round of the OIA Red tournament.

CAMPBELL (10-4) 6 10 10 25—51

MOANALUA (13-1) 19 12 27 14—72

CAMPBELL — Kristian Manuel 25, Christan Storment 15, Fouina Haskins 4, Christopher Crawford 0, Maika Ulufale 0, Mason Mau 0, Timothy Friend 0, Carter Kauwenaole 0, Clayton Darity 0, CJ Ramos 0, Allan Otanes 0, BJ Halmus 7. Totals 15 18-29 51.

MOANALUA — Bronson Kepa 0, Reece Racoma 13, Keven Amaral 2, Aaron Davis 0, Alex Braswell 0, Brandon Guerreo 0, Josiah Kauhola 7, Wesley Armbrust 4, Marcus Monroe 17, Dexter Williams 9, Marcus Keene 14, Carl Ko 0, Marcellis Turner 4, Dominque Jones 0, Richard Villasenor 2. Totals 25 16-28 72.

3-point goals — Campbell 3 (Kristian 2, Halmus),

Moanalua 6 (Racoma, Kauhola, Monroe 2, Keene, Turner).

Reported by Greg Tacon

LEILEHUA 62, WAIPAHU 50

Cassius Camanse scored 15 points, Martin Hall and Xavier Adger each added 14, and Dillon Pau'u had 10, leading the host Mules over the Marauders.

WAIPAHU (4-10) 12 11 17 10— 50

LEILEHUA (10-5) 12 12 15 23—62

WAIPAHU — Chance Delima 0, Duketoa Tili 2, Tatupu Tatupu 4, Anthony Agustin 0, Daeniel Cullen Diomanpo 23, Mike Alipio 4, Aselemo Fruean 12, Nathan Bartley 0, Anson Castello 5. Totals 21 6-12 50.

LEILEHUA — Brent Lemon 5, Dillon Pau'u 10, Elijah Padilla 0, Josiah Borrimeo 0, Richard Cherry 0, Josiah Caravallo 0, Stockton Crowley 2, Martin Hall 14, Carlos Marshall 0, Xavier Adger 14, Lopaka Chandler 2, Cassius Camanse 15. Totals 24 11-17 62.

3-point goals — Waipahu 2 (Diomanipo, Castello). Leilehua 3 (Lemon 2, Hall).

Reported by Jenna Arcedo

MILILANI 45, KAHUKU 40

RJ Griffin scored 11 points, Trent McKinney added 10, and the host Trojans raced to a 27-19 halftime lead before holding off a fourth-quarter rally by the Red Raiders.

KAHUKU (10-4) 7 11 8 14—40

MILILANI (12-2) 19 8 12 6—45

KAHUKU — Michael Tyau 0, Kawehena Johnson 2, Mua Malufau 1, Samala Afalava 0, Hans Brown 0, Evan Moe 0, Sage Kaka 4, Wonka Beatty 0, Nehoa Akina 8, Jackson Kaka 6, Shairone Thompson 13, Josh Christiansen 0, KJ Uluave 6, Mason Golden 0. Totals 17 3-7 40.

MILILANI — Brandon Fujinaga 2, Bryson Calma 0, Josh Lenchanko 0, Nick Kunz 3, Ed Ocampo 4, Makena Kaahoano 2, RJ Griffin 11, Ryan Jacobs 0, Joe McGlamery 3, Robbie Griffin 0, Hassan Richardson 7, Trent McKinney 10, Bradon Tacadena 0, Chris Baltazar 0, Forrest Garcia 3. Totals 18 6-10 45.

3-point goals — Kahuku 3 (Akina 2, J. Kaka). Mililani 3 (McGlamery, R.J. Griffin, Kunz).

Reported by Ed Gonzales

FARRINGTON 39, KAIMUKĪ 29

Lancelot Williams scored 15 points and the visiting Governors took a 30-22 lead into the fourth quarter and held off the Bulldogs.

FARRINGTON (5-10) 12 5 13 9—39

KAIMUKĪ (8-7) 13 4 5 7—29

FARRINGTON — Scotland Smith 2, Gregie Bupgos 0, Paul Solomon 3, Jayfrey Damo 7, Jefrey Madarang 5, Justin Vele 4, Lancelot Williams 15, Ronald Williams 2, Keoni Kiko 0, Viane Viana 1. Totals 14 9-17 39.

KAIMUKĪ — Raphael Vares 3, Tevin Nishiyama 5, Nicholas Motellang 0, Mason Kualii-Moe 8, Gordan Gestrich 0, A.J. DeJesus 0, Jonn Kakitani 3, Gabriel Stietzel 5, Chester Sua 4, Fiaosi Haloapiapi 1, Ken Hashimoto 0. Totals 10 4-7 29.

3-point goals — Farrington 2 (Solomon, Damo). Kaimukī 5 (Vares, Nishiyama, Kualii-Moe, Kakitani, Stietzel).

Reported by Kelly Grant

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