Here we go, the opening day of the ‘Iolani Prep Classic. The girls played last week with No. 2 Archbishop Mitty (Calif.) edging No. 9 Clovis West (Calif.) 76-75 in overtime.
The boys feature No. 3 Oak Hill (Va.) and Findlay Prep (Nev.). Findlay Prep is ranked No. 1 nationally by MaxPreps.
Friday’s games
‘Iolani 53, Kaiser 36, F
Southwind (Tenn.) 76, Punahou 51
Findlay Prep (Nev.) 89, Mid-Pacific 39
Kailua 52, Corona del Sol (Ariz.) 47
Saturday’s games
2 p.m. Dr. Phillips (Fla.) vs. Waiakea
3:30 p.m. Mount Vernon (N.Y.) vs. Kahuku
5 p.m. Oak Hill (Va.) vs. Kapolei
6:30 p.m. De La Salle (Calif.) vs. Waianae
Game 4, 8 p.m.
KAILUA 52, CORONA DEL SOL (ARIZ.) 47
Fourth quarter
Mejia in the paint, dish to Keoni Serikawa Jr. for the layup and Kailua leads 39-38. Barcello with the nifty behind-the-back dribble to avoid two Surfriders at midcourt, nice pass to Saben Lee for the layup, CDS 40-39.
Serikawa fouled; Kailua’s been in the bonus since the third quarter. First FT good, 40-40. Kailua very clunky on offense, guys driving into crowds instead of open space on the baseline. Aztecs running again and Lee follows a missed layup to give his team a 42-40 lead. Time out, Kailua, 5:00.
Mejia looks to drive for the first time in awhile, ball goes loose, called for a charging foul. Other end, Barcello travels. Lee hustling his tail off. Misses a reverse layup, takes the ball out of Hapaki Kupahu-Phillips’ hands and is fouled. Misses both FTs.
Fatigue a factor, no question, for both teams. Turnover, Aztecs, Mejia with a nice lob downcourt to Makana Robson for a layup, that ties it at 42. Aztecs pass the ball out of bounds. They look jet-lagged to me. Mejia powers on the low post, lot of contact, foul called on CDS. Mejia misses both.
Kailua in 2-3 zone and Corona del Sol not in any rhythm. Steal by Robson, lefty layup good, KAIL 44-42. Time out, CDS 2:21.
CDS corner 3 is short, but Dalen Terry, a 6-3 freshman hustles for the offensive board. Offensive foul, Jordan Guy, 1:53. Kailua ball.
Wild scramble, both teams turning the ball over and Robson shoots two with 1:36 left. He makes one, 45-42. Lee goes coast to coast with the rebound, 45-44. Kailua pushes, sophomore Everett Torres-Kahapea handling the pressure. Double foul called with :11 on the shot clock, 1:01 game clock. Game stoppage after the scoreboard operator reset the shot clock mistakenly.
Mejia drives, scores, 47-44. Lee’s pass to a cutting teammate is off target. Foul on CDS, Zach Marrotte to the line for two, :40.1. He makes both, 49-44
Aztecs miss a corner 3, wild scramble and Mejia ends up with the ball going for a layup, fouled, :23.2. They gave the foul to the wrong guy. Guy is befuddled as he leaves with his fifth foul. Mejia makes both FTs, 51-44. CDS 3 misses and Mejia rebounds. Foul on the Aztecs with :10.4 left, Robson back to the line. He’s been clutch in the second half.
This could be a signature win for Coach Wally Marciel and the Surfriders. Lee is a commit to Vanderbilt and this is a team that won its league last year. Robson makes one of two, 52:44. Time out, Kailua.
Barcello is the returning Arizona Gatorade player of the year, committed to Arizona. Barcello with a nice pull-up 3 from the top, 52-47, :03.2. Time out, CDS. The Aztecs don’t challenge the inbounds pass, game over, Kailua with maybe (I’ll have to ask) their biggest win ever at the Classic.
It’s a final. Big win for Kailua over a team ranked No. 16 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25. Corona del Sol’s first loss (7-1). In their last four games, they had scored 90, 99, 84 and 96 points.
Third quarter
My apologies, had a story to file for print. This game? Close all the way with the Aztecs in front. They stretched the lead to about eight points during this third quarter behind hot shooting by guard Alex Barcello, but Kailua keeps grinding. Christian Mejia hustled for a putback as the Surfriders pulled within 38-37 late in the quarter.
End Q3: Corona del Sol 38, Kailua 37
Game 3, 6:30 p.m.
FINAL: FINDLAY PREP (NEV.) 89, MID-PACIFIC 39
Fourth quarter
Washington back on the floor to start the fourth quarter.
Less han a minute left, three, no four starters still on the floor for the Pilots, 85-39. Not a deep team, but the starting 5 is insanely good.
Third quarter
Pilots getting reserves into the game.
End Q3: Findlay Prep 69, Mid-Pacific 27.
Second quarter
Pilots in man defense again, Jack Schwietz enters the game. He rebounds and feeds Reggie Chaney, slam. FP 21-11. Washington with a hustle play on the offensive boards for a putback, and then he rebounds, pushes and feeds Justin Roberts for a 3, FP 26-14, 5:31.
Huge run by the Pilots, 15-5, to open the lead to 41-19 before Travis Murayama hits two FTs. Findlay’s length, nonstop fullcourt pressure and constant attack are as great as expected. Murayama takes a feed from Zion Shepherd, drives on a defender for a double-clutch reverse layup on the fastbreak. Owl fans go bananas.
End Q2: Findlay Prep 44, Mid-Pacific 23.
First quarter
I’ll be statting (full) and videotaping, so I’ll check back in between quarters. Findlay is ranked No. 1 in the nation.
Findlay leads 6-4 with 5:23 left in the first quarter. PJ Washington, a 6-9 center, is the real deal. Athletically and skill-wise, he reminds me of another former Classic star, DeMarcus Cousins. Under control, yet explosive. I dunno. He might be more like a Scotty Pippen.
Game 2, 5 p.m.
SOUTHWIND (TENN.) 76, PUNAHOU 51
Fourth quarter
Boyd with a tough turnaround J on the baseline, Jones layup and Marshall with a follow slam as the Jaguars run away. SW 63-38, 6:33.
Clemens with a hustle play for a putback, but Jones swishes a corner 3, SW 66-40. Looks like Coach Paul Edwards has his guys holding the ball deep into the shot clock every time. They seem very comfortable doing this. One clutch shot after another.
Makaula, who has been everywhere with his hustle, hits one of two FTs. Clemens runs to the baseline for the offensive board, feeds Kobayashi at the top for 3. 66-44.
Boyd goes from halfcourt to the rack for a one-handed slam, 70-46
Third quarter First possession of the second half, Jaguars spread the floor and Boyd crashes the boards, misses both FTs. Clemens misses a tough layup, and Jones goes over Clemens’ back on the other end chasing a board.
Makaula dribbles the ball off his foot and Freeman scores. Punahou turnover, Freeman pushing, alley-oop to Marshall, who lays the ball in, fould, long on the FT, 37-26, 6:29. Makaula drives from the corner, fouled on the layup attempt. Misses both, Martinson rebounds, power move and misses inside. Marshall coast to coast, nice move and layup, SW 39-26. Makaula misses a corner 3, follows, layup. Kobayashi steal, layup, 39-30.
Entry pass to Clemens in the low post, one dribble, bank shot, good. 39-32. Jones attack again. He is relentless. Fouled, two FTs. Makes both, SW 41-32. Kobayashi drives, scores, 41-34. Now it’s Morgan with a high-arching runner off the glass, pretty. SW 43-34.
Jaguars keep pushing, Boyd with the putback. Mausolf follow shot. Jones with a layup, feed from Freeman, SW 47-36. Time out, SW, 2:52.
Nice play by SQ, layup by Boyd at the shot clock buzzer and a foul. FT good, SW 50-36. Turnover, Punahou, Anderson scores on the break, 52-36. Mausolf easy layup, but Jones scores on a corner 3 and a layup, SW 57-38. Only two Buffanblu pressing, three back.
End Q3: Southwind 57, Punahou 38.
Second quarter
Ke‘ala Martinson with a drive and layup, 21-12. Freeman splits the trap easily again, he’s a blur. Alley-oop to 6-6 Robert Boyd, fouled, shooting two. Hits the second, SW 22-14.
Clemens hustles for a putback, 22-14. SW shooting cold now. Chong drives to the elbow, spin and bank shot good, 22-16. SW wide open man downcourt, Jones, but he misses the dunk, out of bounds. Punahou coach Darren Matsuda rolling his reserves in and out. Jaguars haven’t gone very deep on the bench yet.
Inbounds pass to Martinson, pump fake, layup, 22-18. Buffanblu still pressing, this time Jones slams it two handed. Freeman drives baseline, floater partially blocked, but Boyd hits the follow shot, SW 26-18.
Kaualana Makaula with the big hustle for a steal, Chong’s wing 3 with help from a screen is good, 26-21. Jones drives in transition, easy reverse layup, SW 28-21. Freeman to the line for FTs, 3:00, makes the first, 29-21. Mausolf double-teamed off the rebound, having trouble, Punahou calls time out, 2:55.
Jack-Eli Tufono with the hustle for a putback, Punahou steals the ball on the inbounds, corner 3 misses. SW pushing downcourt, another Punahou steal, Buffanblu bucket, 29-25, time out SW 2:12. PUN calls off the press for now.
Both teams with a lot of sloppy passing now. Jaguars’ inexperience showing a bit. Mausolf feeds Chong, open 3, misses again. Boyd crashes the paint, hits the soft jump hook, SW 31-25. Beau Whittaker at the line for PUN, :35.6, makes the first, 31-26.
Jaguars play for the last shot, Marshall drives hard and is fouled by Whittaker with :04.3 left in the first half. Makes both FTs, 33-26. Punahou gets the ball in just in time, Chong dribbles to halfcourt and his shot draws iron, no good.
End Q2: Southwind 33, Punahou 26.
First quarter
Punahou with a steal on its first defensive trip, but C Duke Clemens’ shot in the paint is blocked. Kameron Jones, a 6-8 sophomore with a putback slam. Fastbreak, alley-oop slam by 6-6 Carlos Marshall. They’ve faced Punahou’s fullcourt press once, and PG Christian Jones split it easily. Southwind 6-2.
Pre-game
The Jaguars have come a long way. They were second in their state last season and are ranked No. 15 in Tennessee now. Thank you, ‘Iolani Classic program. Punahou is ranked No. 1 in the Star-Advertiser Boys Basketball Top 10. They are unbeaten (8-0), having won the James Alegre Invitational and finishing the OIA-ILH Challenge with a 3-0 mark.
Game 1, 3:30 p.m.
FINAL: ‘IOLANI 53, KAISER 36
Fourth quarter
Singelman with a layup, and then hustles end to end for a layup and foul, hits the FT, 47-30. Ma goes coast to coast, layup, 47-32.
The Raiders emptied their bench, but once the lead got down to 15, Coach Shimamoto sent some starters back in. 51-32, 2:02. Two-handed slam by Hogland, 53-32. Kim with a corner 3, 53-35, time out Kaiser, 1:10.
Marshall with range, all net from 3-land, and then Markylan Freeman picks Zayne Chong near midcourt, easy layup. SW 11-2, time out, PUN, 4:16.
Freeman picks Les Falatea, another easy layup. SW’s halfcourt man very tough on the perimeter. Another PUN turnover, but SW doesn’t score. Cole Mausolf drives, fouled, 3:15. Misses both.
Chris Kobayashi pokes the ball away on the sideline, but the Buffanblu can’t control. Marshall fouled on a reverse layup try. Makes the second FT, 14-2, 3:03.
Jaguars pressing fullcourt, PUN two passes and Kobayashi drives, nifty move and hangtime for a layup. Marshall attacks, bank shot, fouled, hits the FT, SW 17-4. If this team is ranked 15th in their state with this group after finishing second in Tennessee last year, WOW.
Chong drives into the paint, feeds Kobayashi in the right corner, all net. 17-7. PUN fullcourt press has SW in trouble, referee calls a time out for PUN. Human error. SW takes it out of bounds.
Andrew Anderson, 5-10 sophomore, snags the offensive board, reverse layup, SW 19-7.
Chong feeds Mausolf, long wing 3, all net, 19-10. Marshall there again, nice 12-foot J in the paint. He’s money, old-school, DW 21-10.
End Q1: Southwind 21, Punahou 10.
Third quarter
Cole Hogland with two FTs and Hugh Hogland with a layuyp, IOL 27-12. After a Kaiser time out, Alabanza scores, IOL 29-12. Raiders staying with their 2-2-1 press, steal and Genovia scores a layup, IOL 31-12.
Ma hits a corner 3, 31-15. Genovia steal, feeds Bumanglag for a layup. Genovia corner 3 good, 36-15. Kim hits a foul-line jumper, then a wing 3. Hugh Hogland with a double-clutch layup and a 3 from the top, IOL 41-20.
Luke Harman with a J, but Genovia answers with another 3, IOL 44-22. Kim strokes another wing 3, 44-25. Cameron Chang hustles after an offensive board, feeds Alabanza at the top, 3-pointer all net at the buzzer.
End Q3: ‘Iolani 47, Kaiser 25.
Second quarter
Hogland with three blocks in the first 42 seconds of the second quarter. He has five blocks total so far. He has as many blocks as Kaiser has points. Raiders cold from the field and also on follow shots. Another ‘Iolani foul, this one by Helam Baldomero 30 feet from the rim. Brayden Nueku misses a 1-and-1. Hogland with a layup, IOL 12-5.
Cameron Ma with a nice wing jumper, 12-7.
Raiders fouling a lot, but Kaiser shooting just 50 percent at the line. Hogland with a layup and Ryan Van Cantfort with an open wing 3, IOL 20-8. Time out, Kaiser, 3:49.
Hunter Dias with a wing 3 for Kaiser, but Genovia answers for ‘Iolani with a 3, IOL 23-11.
End Q2: ‘Iolani 23, Kaiser 12.
First quarter
The Cougars are in a 2-3 matchup zone. Bailey Alabanza scores the first basket of the game, IOL 2-0. Raiders not looking comfortable against the zone. Their man defense is solid. Steal by Alabanza, Noah Bumanglag feeds 6-foot-9 Hugh Hogland for the finger-roll lay-in.
Raiders in a 2-2-1 three-quarter press off makes and misses. Another Alabanza steal and he takes it from halfcourt to the bucket. IOL 6-0, time out Kaiser 5:31. Freshman center Cyrus Singleman scores the first bucket for Kaiser. Hogland takes a break.
A lot more patience by the Cougars since the time out against the press, but not so precise against halfcourt man. Raiders being aggressive against tight on-ball halfcourt pressure. Justin Genovia charging foul earlier. Frank Felix with a putback, IOL 8-3.
Cougars attacking the man defense, 2-for-4 at the foul line so far. Offensive foul on Jaymin Khan-Smith. Cougs are very young, only five senior, and if I remember right, all five of the starters from last year’s powerhouse team graduated. They do a nice job of communicating defensively, bench completely involved vocally.
Raiders going inside-out, swinging the ball out effectively. Hogland with a putback and foul. Misses the FT, 10-4. Someone in the audience yelled for 3 seconds and I do believe he has a point.
Kaiser already in the bonus as Raiders coach Dean Shimamoto has a conversation with one of the officials. Khan-Smith makes one FT, misses the second, 10-5.
Nice feed to Singelman under the bucket. He fakes Alabanza, but Hogland rejects the shot. Raiders have the last shot of the quarter, but there’s the 3-second call as time expires.
End Q1: ‘Iolani 10, Kaiser 5.
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