I have not seen the ‘Iolani Raiders play in nearly two weeks. Back then, they defeated Farrington soundly. Center Hugh Hogland tweaked an ankle while blocking a shot.
Tonight, they’ve got an athletic Mililani squad to battle. The Trojans have looked much better of late, using center Isaac Liva and forward Kalakaua Timoteo.
FIRST QUARTER
The Raiders are pressing off a missed free throw, but MIL slices through it and Timoteo scores on a lay-in easily. This might turn into a track meet. That would be fine with me.
The shot clock came into play on the last possession. MIL wasn’t ready for it to expire, desperation 30-footer missed. Several of the youth leagues in town use the 30-second clock, so in theory, the town-side schools should be used to it. Mililani and the players out of town? Not sure what the West-side leagues do with shot clocks. Or not.
Hogland playing well after missing his first two shots. The 6-foot-8 center closed out on a corner-3 attempt (air ball) and raced downcourt for a pass and layup. Then he hit another shot. Now he’s at the line, hits a FT. IOL leads 8-4 4:07.
Micah Harrell hits a wing 3 and Timoteo scores on a double-pump scoop shot in the lane to bring the Trojans with 11-9 entering the second quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
Hogland’s reach is making life in the paint tough for Mililani, but the Trojans won’t back down. Marcus Mafi’s foul-line jumper cuts the lead to 21-16 before the half.
THIRD QUARTER
Isaac Liva’s baseball pass to Timoteo led to a three-point play that tied the game at 21. Between those two leapers and Kaleo Pogue, Mililani is getting a lot of second chances on the boards. But IOL’s is committed to its 2-2-1 press and it has created a bunch of MIL turnovers.
Robbie Mann with the nice lefty layup drive and Noah Bumanglag with his second trey of the game to boost IOL’s lead to 30-23.
Reserve Hailey Alabanza hits back-to-back mid-range jumpers and the lead is now 35-23. That’s a 12-2 run. ‘Iolani’s bench is coming up big again.
Quarter ends with IOL up 37-25. Liva and Timoteo playing strong for MIL, but the turnovers against IOL’s press — the Raiders are pressing after makes and misses alike — is the difference.
FOURTH QUARTER
Liva with a spike-style block on an IOL guard driving to the hoop, then throws the ball downcourt to Timoteo for a layup.
Hogland steps up. Nice spin move in the paint to score on Liva, then a halfcourt assist to Zach Gelacio for a layup. Then Hogland takes a charge from Liva. IOL leads 41-27, 5:49.
Even in a 2-3 zone, Timoteo is a beast, wreaking havoc with his hands and agility. Quick as a cat. He’s the kind of athlete, very much like Saint Louis’ Isaac Slade-Matautia, who can take over a game without scoring a point. At 6-2, he looks like a future linebacker — if this were 10 or 20 years ago. Today, guys like him turn into elite wide receivers and he was one of the greatest WRs I’ve seen in 25 years of prep football coverage.
Back to the game. Fastbreak DUNK by Hogland. IOL 47-32, 4:23.
POST-GAME
Nick Kennedy led IOL with 11 points. Mann scored nine and Hogland had eight to go with his three or four blocks.
Timoteo scored 17 points to lead Mililani.
Beast? Like Lebron or Jordan? If beast-like, shouldn’t they have won. I think a Lebron or Jordan could easily single handed take a team down.