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‘Iolani advances by edging Moanalua in OT

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

‘Iolani’s Kawika Lee rose for a shot as Moanalua’s Kyle Hughley, left, tried for a block during a state quarterfinal game at Moanalua on Thursday.

Ice and cold mean nothing to the ‘Iolani Raiders.

Kawika Lee led the way, rallying his team with four treys to finish with 20 points as the Raiders stunned second-seeded Moanalua 52-47 in overtime Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Snapple/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships.

‘Iolani (22-11), the third-place team from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, will meet rival Punahou, the league runner-up, in tonight’s semifinal at Stan Sheriff Center.

“We’ll just try to survive and advance,” Raiders coach Dean Shimamoto said.

Moanalua (20-7), the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion, suffered its first loss at home after 10 wins.

Sam Wheeler also scored 20 points for the Raiders.

Geremy Robinson and Elijah McGruder led Moanalua with 11 points each. DiAeris McRaven, Moanalua’s shot-blocking, 6-foot-5 junior, did what he could after reinjuring his ankle.

“It was about our mentality,” Shimamoto said. “We were more aggressive going to the bucket, but also on defense, too. We went smaller and that made it tough for their big to cover.”

‘Iolani’s grit down the stretch was built on a season’s worth of comeback wins and tough losses.

“In the first half, we were getting shots up. They just weren’t falling. Moanalua played great defense, attacking us,” Lee said. “We knew we had to play two ends of the floor in the second half. We’ve been taking a lot of outside shots all year. They were shots we like. We mentally stress the positive. My team always has my back. They found me and I was open.”

The Raiders trailed by as many as seven in the fourth quarter before clawing back. They were 2-for-17 from 3-point range at one point, but Lee’s corner 3 sparked the rally.

“I always have confidence, no matter what. I know my teammates have my back,” the senior said.

In overtime, Lee hit a straightaway 3 to give the Raiders a 44-41 lead. Moanalua’s Isaiah Sugiura connected on a 3 off an offensive rebound and pass by McGruder, to tie the game. That’s when Wheeler and Frank Felix scored on hard drives to the bucket to give the visitors a 48-44 lead.

McGruder’s three-point play in the lane cut it to 48-47. Sugiura then tipped a pass on the sideline by Felix and it caromed off ‘Iolani with 1:01 left. After a timeout, however, Sugiura’s interior pass to McRaven was deflected by Shayden Molina, who then hit both ends of a 1-and-1 for a 50-47 Raiders lead with 40.5 seconds left in OT.

Suguira’s step-back 3 off the dribble missed, and Noah Bumanglag fed Wheeler downcourt for the easy bucket with eight seconds left, sealing the win.

Moanalua had a near-capacity crowd roaring for most of the game, providing a huge homecourt edge.

However, it was the visiting Raiders who opened with a halfcourt matchup zone that limited Moanalua to 2-for-12 shooting from the field in the opening quarter. ‘Iolani stretched its lead to 10-5 early in the second quarter on Lee’s layup.

Moanalua bounced back with an 8-2 run, getting buckets off steals by Robinson and Sugiura to take a 13-12 lead. Wheeler’s putback at the buzzer helped the Raiders tie the game at 17 going into the second half.

Moanalua opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run. Robinson found Rocky Ramones open for a corner 3, and Kyle Hughley scored inside as Na Menehune opened the lead to 24-17.

The Raiders patiently worked for open looks from the arc, but they were 2-for-17 there when Lee connected from the left corner to bring the Raiders within 30-27 with 5:43 left. They remained beyond the three-point margin until Lee hit another 3 from the left corner to bring the Raiders within 37-35 with 2:45 to play.

Carter Kamana sank two free throws to tie the game for ‘Iolani, then fouled McRaven under the basket and left his eye bloody. Ramones entered and sank two foul shots to make it 39-37 for Moanalua with 1:45 remaining.

The teams exchanged baskets, with Robinson hitting a tough bank shot, and Wheeler driving for his second layup in a row. Then Robinson rushed a quick 16-foot air ball.

‘Iolani played for the final shot in regulation. Bumanglag’s twisting left-handed attempt in the lane over McRaven missed at the buzzer, sending the game into OT.

Kailua 52, Waiakea 48

Everett Torres-Kahapea poured in a game-high 22 points, including four 3-pointers, and Kailua knocked off No. 4 Waiakea at McKinley.

The Surfriders (11-4) jumped out to a 24-16 advantage at the half, but watched as the Warriors (13-1) rallied with a 15-9 third quarter, and whittled the lead down to 33-31 entering the fourth.

Jerek Prudencio led Waiakea with 14 points, and William Soares added 11. Lydell Romero had 10 points, six rebounds and six steals for Kailua.

Maryknoll 51, Kapolei 30

Kalai Akaka had 14 points, helping to lead the top-seeded Spartans to a win over the Hurricanes at McKinley.

Marcus Tobin added 12 points, five rebounds, four blocks and four steals for Maryknoll (13‐1). The Spartans slowed down Kapolei’s top scorer Ja’Shon Carter, who managed 12 points but shot just 4-for-14 from the field. Nathaniel Whitehurst added 10 points for the Hurricanes (13-2).

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