This matchup pits CIF powerhouse Fairfax (Calif.) and Hawaii’s No. 1-ranked team, host ‘Iolani.
Raiders getting some good looks offensively, but not capitalizing. First quarter ends with the Lions up 12-7.
SECOND QUARTER
Jamal Hartwell answers an ‘Iolani 3 with a jumper from the foul line. FAX time out, up 18-10 with 4:26 to go.
FAX not shooting well, but hustling for offensive boards. More than that, their on-ball defense and length is a major factor.
The Raiders picked up some momentum, getting to the foul line. Hugh Hogland hit a shot in the paint. Confidence builder. But the Raiders threw the ball away with 5 seconds left in the half and that turned into a breakaway dunk by 6-foot-7 Babacar Thiombane at the buzzer. FAX leads 24-16 at the break.
THIRD QUARTER
Fairfax defense still has a lid on the Raiders. 6-0 run has the visitors up 30-16.
Raiders back to their more standard ways, applying fullcourt pressure. The lead is 30-19 for FAX after a nice fastbreak layup by Hogland.
Now it’s 30-23. The fullcourt pressure by IOL has changed momentum.
Nice halfcourt execution by FAX. Hartwell works an unusual double-high, pick-and-roll screen for a 10-foot floater in the paint. The screens by Fairfax’s big men were lined up parallel to the sideline rather than the baseline.
IOL gets a nice break. FAX shoots and misses with 7 seconds left in the quarter. Outlet from Hogland to Robby Mann at midcourt, and he drives for a layup at the buzzer. FAX leads 35-27 entering the fourth.
FOURTH QUARTER
Raiders run their backdoor cut play — the same one UH ran for years (and Kaiser has in their playbook, too) — to perfection for a Mann layup. After a Fairfax moving screen, Hogland works the middle of the key to perfection, as well, with Kevin McHale footwork and a nice layup. Time out FAX, 35-31, 6:50.
Future college star (yes, I said it) Donald Gipson called for an offensive foul, a push off against Nick Kennedy’s defense. The Lions have been borderline on push-offs in the second half, but that’s the first one I recall being called.
Now Hogland works the post against two defenders and comes close to his own push-off. Instead, a foul is called and FAX is over the limit. But Hogland misses his 1-and-1.
Hogland gets called for having both hands on the back of a Fairfax player in the low post and IOL coach Dean Shimamoto is irate. “That’s been going on all game,” he bellows.
Next play FAX draws a foul and hits one of two FTs. Then Justin Genovia gets under the rim, draws the giants and shovels the ball to Hogland for a clean flush. FAX 36, IOL 33. Time out, IOL, 4:34.
Hartwell beats sloppy on-ball defense and drives hard from midcourt, but Mann pins his layup at the glass. Then IOL scores to cut to 36-35. FAX misses a baseline J, but IOL turns the ball over on a 40-foot pass.
It’s getting real awesome in here…
Mann at the line for a 1-and-1. Hits the first, ties it at 36. 2:53 left. Mann misses the second.
Tough drive by Ethan Anderson to draw a foul on Hogland at the rim. First FT misses short. I do not remember IOL ever beating Fairfax. Second FT good. FAX up 37-36 with 2:24 left. Raiders call time out with 2:12 to go.
Mann gets a great look from the top on an inbounds pass, but his 3-point try curls out. FAX rebound and they’re in their delay offense. 1:08 left.
Hogland fouls Thiombane with 30.4 seconds left. His shot rattles out and Hogland is fouled over the back by Jeremy Hamilton. Huge break for IOL. 28.7 left.
Hogland hits the first to tie it at 37. Second shot good. IOL leads 38-37.
Hartwell misses a 3 from the top, but Anderson soars for a rebound and is fouled hard in mid-air. :15.9 left. 1-and-1 time. He landed on his back but is OK after being down for about 20 seconds. Time out.
Anderson hits the first shot, ties it at 38. Clutch. The IOL students are stomping the bleachers and I can feel the vibration across the court. Second FT is in and out. Rebound IOL, time out at midcourt with 11.5 seconds to go. WOW.
IOL still has two time outs left. FAX has none.
Raiders barely get the ball inbounds in time. Hogland is open on the roll to the basket but Zach Gelacio doesn’t see him. Gelacio forces up a bank shot from 12 feet that misses, time expires. OVERTIME. Hogland down with maybe a cramp to his right calf.
Somewhere up there, Coach Glenn Young is watching this with Coach Pete Smith and they are loving it.
OVERTIME
Hogland is off the court getting his leg tended to. Thiombane is fouled and hits two foul shots. Not sure why they fouled him without the ball. FAX 40-38.
Genovia hits one of two FTs, FAX 40-39. Hogland returns.
Raiders run their backdoor play and it works again. Pass to Mann, easy layup and the Raiders lead 41-40.
Anderson works his way back to the foul line. Hits the first, ties it at 41 with 1:40 left. Second shot all net, FAX leads 42-41.
IOL goes to the backdoor play and nothing is there. Hartwell steals the pass from Gelacio. Then Thiombane drives from midcourt past Hogland for a tough lefty layup and foul. He hits the foul shot and FAX leads 45-41.
IOL misses from the perimeter. FAX rebounds and is back the line with :32.4 left. Anderson has been clutch. He has been money. He misses the first FT. He misses the second.
Mann misses a tough turnaround jumper on the baseline off the dribble and FAX runs off a bunch of time before Antoine Monroe is fould with 7.1 seconds left. Gelacio scores on a layup at the buzzer. FINAL: Fairfax 47, ‘Iolani 43. Great game.
POST-GAME: I’ll have stats up later. For now, though, it was great to see ‘Iolani rally and make a game of it after Fairfax took command during the third quarter. It would’ve been easy for any team to fold at that point and the Raiders took the game to the Lions with that fullcourt press. And they started to execute beautifully in their halfcourt set. Hogland was a totally different player in the second half. Even in OT, he had Thiombane missing badly on a low-post bank shot (no rim) just be being present and active.
The first-half Hogland was not memorable. The second-half Hogland was a beast.
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