Here we go, the third day of the St. Francis Merv Lopes Classic at St. Francis gym. Much of consolation play is done, a lot of competitive battles.
Saturday’s scores
Semifinals
Kamehameha 54, St. Francis 45, OT
Santa Margarita 53, ‘Iolani 43
Consolation
Kamehameha-Hawaii 65, Mid-Pacific 62
Kahuku 64, Saint Louis 62
Kalaheo 60, University 49
Farrington 75, Campbell 60
Leilehua 50, Kailua 47
Kamehameha II 52, Kapolei 38
Monday’s games
9:30 am 13th place: Leilehua vs. Kamehameha II
11 am 11th place: University vs. Campbell
12:30 pm Ninth place: Saint Louis vs. Mid-Pacific
2 pm Seventh place: Kahuku vs. Kamehameha-Hawaii
3:30 pm Fifth place: Kalaheo vs. Farrington
6 pm Third place: ‘Iolani vs. St. Francis
7:30 pm Championship: Santa Margarita vs. Kamehameha
Santa Margarita 13, ‘Iolani 12, end Q1
The Eagles from California have a narrow lead after one quarter. Officials calling the hand-check a lot more in this game compared to the Santa Margarita-Saint Louis game on Friday.
‘Iolani 29, Santa Margarita 20, Q2, 2:18
Pikai Winchester with two treys as the Raiders have surged ahead.
‘Iolani 29, Santa Margarita 25, halftime
Raiders relying a lot on the 3-ball. Eagles pounding the ball inside early in transition. Big Joe Furstinger (6-8) starting to take control on the low post offensively.
‘Iolani 35, Santa Margarita 30, Q3, 2:39
Eagles coach Jeff Reinert got teed up for questioning a non-call as one of his players fell to the ground. Reinert insisted his player was shoved down, and was promptly penalized and told to sit on the bench for the remainder of the game (seatbelt rule).
Official Tony Collazo told Reinert that the coach cannot tell him how to make a call. That allowed ‘Iolani’s Zach Buscher to hit two foul shots, and after was fouled on a pull-up jumper and hit two more free throws, ‘Iolani opened a five-point lead.
Santa Margarita 36, ‘Iolani 35, end Q3
Ray Shou hit back-to-back treys from the right wing late in the third to push the Eagles back in front.
Santa Margarita 40, ‘Iolani 35, Q4, 3:59
The Eagles are on a 10-0 run, clamping down on ‘Iolani’s 3-point shooters.
Santa Margarita 43, ‘Iolani 37, Q4, 2:18
Furstinger with a dagger 3 from the wing to open the lead to nine, but Zach Bushcer hustles for a tip-in to keep the Raiders within six.
Santa Margarita 49, ‘Iolani 37, Q4, 1:38
Colin Ferrier’s 3 from the corner and a layup by Shou helped the Eagles open a 12-point lead.
Santa Margarita 49, ‘Iolani 41, Q4, :30.6
The Raiders are chipping away, getting a couple of layups, then a steal by Buscher. But they missed the ensuing layup and a putback try. That may have sealed the deal for the Eagles.
Santa Margarita 53, ‘Iolani 43, final
Turnovers almost did the Eagles in. ‘Iolani’s press was effective in the first half, not so much in the second. And the Raiders couldn’t get high-percentage looks in the second half against the very, very tall Eagles.
Joe Furstinger scored 18 points and sparked the tall Eagles’ defensive shutdown of the Raiders in the second half. Brett Oosdyke added 11. The Eagles will meet Kamehameha in the tourney title game on Monday.
Ikaika Phillip led ‘Iolani with 14 points. The Raiders led 35-30 in the third quarter after Zach Buscher hit four free throws in a row — including two after a technical foul on Santa Margarita coach Jeff Reinert. But the visitors went on a 10-0 run and never let up.
St. Francis 27, Kamehameha 25, halftime
Tremendous battle on both ends between two stellar defensive units. The Saints have banked in three treys, no joke. They beat Kamehameha in early December 46-43 in overtime on this same court. But Kamehameha is a much, much improved team at this point.
St. Francis 37, Kamehameha 35, end Q3
Four more lead changes in this quarter, making it 11 lead changes in the game. Very evenly-matched teams. Saints did a good job keeping Noa Kinimaka, the Warriors’ great sharpshooter, covered. Likewise, Kamehameha did a solid job on Saint Francis’ Matthew Nuumanaia.
St. Francis 43, Kamehameha 43, end Q4
Sloppy end to regulation, both teams still playing tough defense. Jaycob Smith missed a tough shot in the key as time expired.
Kamehameha 54, St. Francis 45, OT – final
Clutch shooting in the extra period, and the Warriors shut down the Saints’ offense for the win.
Consolation
Kamehameha-Hawaii 48, Mid-Pacific 46, end Q3
Another back-and-forth contest. Owls tiring. They’re using a six-man rotation.
Kamehameha-Hawaii 65, Mid-Pacific 62, final
The Warriors got a big game from Rylan Kiko, who scored 20 points, and had a balanced offensive attack to wear down the Owls. Pukana Vincent and Laakea Manliguis had 10 points apiece and Bayley-Allen Manliguis and Micah Carter scored nine each. Kyle Husslein led MPI with 24 points. Daniel Florenco added 21 and Den Suehiro tallied nine.
The Owls are missing two players this week and couldn’t match KS-Hawaii’s depth. The Warriors, meanwhile, are a young team (just three seniors) that’s starting to adjust to the sometimes heavy contact in this tourney.
Kahuku 64, Saint Louis 62, final
Freshman guard Keanu Akina swished six 3-pointers, including the go-ahead bomb in the final minute, as the Red Raiders outlasted the Crusaders in a see-saw battle. Hirkley Latu scored 11, while Soli Afalava and Samuta Avea added 10 each. Kevin Marks led Saint Louis with 18 points. Jimmy Nunuha III added 15 and Haka Johnson tallied 11. Johnson missed a potential game-winning 25-footer with 2 seconds to play.
Kalaheo 60, University 49
Farrington 75, Campbell 60
Leilehua 50, Kailua 47
Kamehameha II 52, Kapolei 38
Here is the NFHS’ Guidelines to Enforce Illegal Contact – When contact occurs that affects the rhythm, speed, quickness and balance of the player, illegal contact has occurred. When illegal contact occurs, fouls must be called. Officials must not refrain from calling these type of actions that create an advantage for the opponent. Illegal contact must be called regardless of time and score.
No where in the 2013 – 2014 Point of Emphasis does it state that a defender putting a hand or forearm on a dribbler (hand check) is a foul.
True. It comes down to the interpretation of impeding the offensive player. And right now, there’s a significant difference between the way some ILH officials and OIA officials call it. It’ll take time for everyone to process this. I don’t think perfection is a reasonable expectation, but certainly everyone is trying. That’s the hope.