The marquee attraction of the 33rd annual ‘Iolani Classic turned into a showcase for Findlay Prep’s P.J. Washington.
The 6-foot-8 Kentucky commit, ranked No. 16 in the country in the senior class by ESPN, finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to lead the Pilots to a 78-62 win over Oak Hill (Va.) on Wednesday night at ‘Iolani.
Washington scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half for Findlay Prep, which improved to 8-0 all-time in the ‘Iolani Classic with a mild upset of the Warriors.
Oak Hill (Va.), which lost for only the third time in 40 games at ‘Iolani, was ranked No. 5 in the country by USA Today while the Pilots came in at No. 8.
“I feel excited. (Oak Hill) is a great team and I’m proud of our boys,” first-year Findlay Prep coach Paul Washington Sr. said. “Our game plan was to apply pressure. We tried to get to 90 points.”
Lamine Diane added 19 points and Donnie Tillman chipped in 15 points despite spending most of the game in foul trouble for the Pilots, who are 17-0 this season and won by an average of 42.0 points in its four tournament wins.
The Pilots scored their first three baskets on dunks with two by Diane, who also nailed a 3-pointer to put Findlay Prep ahead 11-3.
Tillman had three dunks out of his 11 first-quarter points and Justin Roberts capped a 19-2 run with a 3-pointer to give the Pilots their largest lead at 21-5.
“From the jump we got what we wanted,” said P.J. Washington, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player. “We’re the best team in the country and we proved that tonight.”
Matt Coleman got Oak Hill within 10 at 25-15 with a 3-pointer to end the half as the Warriors battled just to make the game respectable.
Oak Hill picked it up on the defensive and Lindell Wigginton, an Iowa State commit, hit two tough contested shots in the lane to keep Oak Hill in it.
Wigginton had eight of his team-high 23 points in the second quarter and hit a runner in the lane to bring the Warriors within 10 at 35-25 at the break.
Coleman nailed one of his six three-pointers to get Oak Hill within five with 5:45 remaining in the third quarter before PJ Washington decided to take the game over.
Washington scored seven points during a 9-0 run to put Findlay Prep back in front by 14 and assisted on a Diane dunk to help the Pilots lead 57-42 after three quarters.
Washington added the first four points of the fourth quarter and Tillman and Reggie Chaney took turns throwing down monstrous dunks as Findlay Prep led by as many as 23.
Coleman finished with 22 points and Devontae Shuler added 11 for Oak Hill.
‘Iolani Classic
At ‘Iolani
Boys Varsity
Waiakea 62, Kaiser 51
Punahou 66, Waianae 48
Mid-Pacific 61, Kapolei 49
Corona del Sol (Ariz.) 91, Mount Vernon (N.Y.) 64
Dr. Phillips (Fla.) 57, De La Salle (Calif.) 49
‘Iolani 63, Kailua 33
Third Place
Kahuku 55, Southwind (Tenn.) 51
Championship
Findlay Prep (Nev.) 78, Oak Hill (Va.) 62
Tony Sellitto Hawaiian Island Basketball Challenge
At Maryknoll
Boys Varsity
Leilehua 39, Crater (Ore.) 36
Kamehameha 60, Pearl City 40
Maryknoll 53, Overlake (Wa.) 38
Girls Varsity
Claremont (BC) 52, Marknoll I-AA 19
St. Francis Holiday Hoops Classic
Championship
St. Francis 57, University 49
Others
Kamehameha I-AA 45, Hilo 44
Punahou I-AA 62, Nanakuli 34
Roosevelt 65, Tafuna 51
OIA WEST GIRLS
Pearl City 38, Aiea 35
At Aiea
Pearl City (2-3) 7 6 10 15 — 38
Aiea (0-4) 10 1 10 14 — 35
PEARL CITY—Winniebhelle Cadiz 6, Allison Gonzaga 11, Vivian Barnes 4, Allysa Oshita 15, Skylar Umbay 0, Charli Kea 2.
AIEA—Chantelle Shimabukuro 8, Jaslyn Madriaga-Aguigui 0, Devahni Ogawa 2, Kailly Paulo 11, Tia Ueoka 0, Vien Crisostomo 6, Kelsie Shibata o, Angelica Moli 0, Ufi Ale 8.
3-point goals—Pearl City 3 (Oshita 2, Gonzaga). Aiea, none.
Junior varsity— Aiea 40, Pearl City 38
ILH DIVISION I GIRLS
Maryknoll 57, Punahou 30
At Punahou
Maryknoll (6-0) 15 15 16 11 — 57
Punahou (2-4) 7 6 7 10 — 30
MARYKNOLL—Kamalu Kamakawiwo’ole 19, Rhyenne Filisi 0, Rhianne Omori 5, Georjette Stietzel 4, Dakota Viena 1, Isabella Cravens 5, Chayse Milne 8, Kenna Tanouye 0, Moe Notoa 8, Taryn Holeso-Aki 0, Kehau Gilliland 0, Ysabelle Halemano 5, Sierra Murobayashi 0, Sisilia Kaufusi 2.
PUNAHOU— Kamaile Kandiah 3, Tanisha Elbourne 4, Kiarra Young 2, Lexie Taylor 2, Kamakani DeBlake 3, Abigail Aplaca 4, Tara Kaneshiro 0, Kristen Tamagawa 2, Jenna Reformina 0, Elle Uyeda 10, Kylie Yamauchi 0, Sina Uluave 0, Mahina Pua’a 0.
3-point goals— Maryknoll 2 (Milne 2). Punahou 2 (DeBlake, Uyeda).
ILH DIVISION II GIRLS
St. Andrews 38, La Pietra 30
ILH DIVISION II BOYS
Hawaii Mission 41, Island Pacific 36
Christian Academy 56, Lanakila Baptist 27
