Greensboro Day (N.C.) 59, Maryknoll 33, F
Halftime, Greensboro Day (N.C.) 32, Maryknoll 15
End 1Q, Greensboro Day (N.C.) 16, Maryknoll 7
Montverde (Fla.) 95, Lahainaluna 27, F
R.J. Barrett, the nation’s premier college prospect, poured in 40 points to lead the nationally-ranked Eagles over the Lunas. Barrett, a 6-7 senior, threw down a half-dozen or so dunks, mostly on alley-oop lobs. Michael Devoe added 17 points and center Filip Petrusev added 16 points. Reece Pascua led Lahainaluna with six points.
End 3Q, Montverde (Fla.) 75, Lahainaluna 20.
The nationally-ranked Eagles have roughly 10 dunks in this game, almost all by the nation’s top prospect, R.J. Barrett. Explosive.
Halftime: Montverde (Fla.) 48, Lahainaluna 13.
End 1Q, Montverde (Fla.) 25, Lahainaluna 9.
Jefferson (Ore.) 103, Kapolei 54, F
Marcus Tsohonis poured in 38 points as the Democrats advanced. They will meet Taft in the quarterfinal round on Monday. Kamaka Hepa, a 6-foot-10 senior, had 16 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks while Khalil Chatman added 15 points and 11 caroms. Point guard Robert Ford had 14 points, five assists and seven steals.
Ja’Shon Carter led Kapolei with 20 points.
End 3Q, Jefferson 84, Kapolei 43.
Tsohonis with just four points in the third quarter as the Democrats slowed the pace. He now has 34 points.
Halftime, Jefferson 60, Kapolei 31.
Tsohonis sat for the first 3 minutes of the second quarter and went back to work. He now has 30 points on 13-for-16 shooting from the field. That includes 2-for-3 from the 3-point arc, and he’s 1-for-1 from the line along with two boards, two assists, one steal and one turnover.
Ja’Shon Carter has 13 points to lead Kapolei.
End 1Q, Jefferson 35, Kapolei 13. An INCREDIBLE first quarter for the Democrats’ Marcus Tsohonis, who has already scored 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the field plus 1-for-1 at the foul line.
1Q, 1:31: Jefferson 29, Kapolei 13. Democrats’ lead was down to 15-10, but it’s been a string of steals and easy buckets since.
1Q, 5:37, Jefferson 11, Kapolei 4.
Note: I just felt the new Nike basketballs being used for games. This looks and feels like plastic. Kapolei and Jefferson (Ore.) ready to tip off.
Fairfax 83, Leilehua 33, F
Ethan Anderson hit four treys and finished with 19 points to lead the Lions. Jamal Hartwell and Shawn Booker added 12 points apiece, Robert McRae had 111, and Daylen Williams and Kirk Smith chipped in 10 each. Jaymond Agdinaoay paced the Mules with 10 points.
End 3Q. Fairfax 65, Leilehua 24.
Halftime: Fairfax leads Leilehua 44-13. The Lions are tall, energetic, skill, fundamentally sound. As expected.
2Q, 4:47. Fairfax leads Leilehua 35-8.
1Q, 3:31. Fairfax is up 10-2 after a Leilehua layup.
Here we go, 3:30 p.m. in the islands, Fairfax taking on Leilehua.
The Iolani Classic has come a long way since it’s inception in 1983. The Classic has become a popular destination for many of the nation’s high school basketball powerhouses every winter. Who could argue with leaving the cold and snowy conditions of home and spending it in beautiful and sunny Hawaii playing basketball. The popularity of the Iolani Classic has made it the top high school basketball tournament in the nation. Thanks to Nike, their years of sponsorship and support of the Iolani Classic has given this national tournament the endorsement of many of the nation’s elite high school coaches.
The Iolani Classic has become a national institution for prep basketball and has unintentionally put Hawaii on the map for high school basketball. Really? Yes, along side New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Huh?
It’s hard to put your hands around that notion but many of the nation’s top high school players have graced the hardwood floor of the Iolani Gym. Some of them moving on to have great college and/or NBA careers with Kevin “K.D.” Durant being the most notable Iolani Classic Alumn.
I’m a fan of the Iolani Classic, but I can’t help but wonder if Hawaii high school basketball truly benefits from the Iolani Classic. I guess it depends on how you weigh the pros and cons of the Iolani Classic.
One can view it as an opportunity every winter to gawk at the showcase of elite high school talent. It’s not everyday you see high school players 6’10 who can handle and shoot a basketball like a point guard. Or 6’3 point guards with post-up power, speed and quickness, and tremendous ball handling skills. Definitely not in Hawaii.
I believe for most Hawaii fans, the Iolani Classic has become an attraction like the “Harlem Globetrotters”. Whether or not you choose to accept it, the Classic has become more of an entertainment attraction than a venue for competitive basketball games.
The opening round of the Iolani Classic has become a forgone conclusion with Hawaii’s teams usually on the losing end of a lopsided game. Although our Hawaii teams are usually overmatched, there is hope before each game that the impossible is possible. But unless we get the talent and height to compete with the mainland teams we will have to expect more lopsided games in the future.
Hawaii teams did have its best showing in 2016 with 3 teams placing in the top 6 spots. Also last year, Kahuku High School had the best finish of any Hawaii high school team ever by placing 3rd in the Classic. But Kahuku was able to compete among their mainland opponents because of recruits from Utah and New Zeland. Has Kahuku shown us the way to compete? We’ll answer that question on another day.
I’ll always continue be a fan of the The Iolani Classic. I wish the Classic many great years of success.
Lastly, I want to sincerely thank the founder of the Iolani Classic, the late Glenn Young for his vision and direction. He has a positive impact Hawaii high school basketball and his legacy will live on through the Iolani Classic.
@ N. Peterson
I was thinking about this the other day. Do the local teams really benefit by being in this tournament? This year’s Iolani tournament first-round was a stark reminder that as a state, we are not nearly on par with the majority of the country that has not been a secret. The average margin of defeat has to be about 40-50 points. This tournament could easily be cut to an 8-team tournament with 7 out-of-state teams and of course host Iolani. When I think about it that way, I would much rather have the local kids get a chance to play these teams even if they are far outmatched by height and skill. So what? Give em.
In response to your comment about Kahuku, I must say that seeing all the home teams get blown out again this year makes me appreciate the fact that they placed 3rd, beating THREE of the visiting out-of-state teams. That has not been done before and I’ll be surprised to see that feat accomplished again. I could care less about the “recruits” that were on that team (btw, how was Samuta Avea considered a recruit when he played 3 of his 4 years at Kahuku anyway?). I honestly dont give a rats because that was a team full of Polynesian kids who took it to mainland powerhouse schools (who probably recruited in their own right). Kahuku did show us the way to compete – DON’T BACK DOWN!
Norm Peterson, good points. Enjoyed your insights. However, Samuta Avea grew up on the North Shore and played for Kahuku/Laie youth teams as a kid. He went to Utah for his junior year and moved back home before senior year. There were no recruits from Utah.