Fairfax holds off Montrose Christian for Iolani Prep title
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Fairfax High School (Los Angeles) boys basketball team made a case for a national ranking last night by defeating Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) 43-40 in the finals of the 18th Annual Iolani Prep Classic.
Montrose Christian is No. 14 in USA Today's latest Super 25 rankings. Fairfax is absent from the Super 25 but is No. 7 in USA Today's West Region rankings.
In earlier games, the top two Hawai'i teams in the tournament both fared well against tough Mainland competition.
A hobbled Kalaheo still was good enough to edge Northwestern (Miami) 53-51 for seventh place, and Iolani defeated Wilson (Florence, S.C.) 63-44 for fifth place.
Fairfax's only loss this season was an 86-84 defeat to No. 1-ranked Westchester (Los Angeles) two weeks ago. To reach the Classic finals, the Lions defeated Roosevelt 90-50, Iolani 61-59 and Clovis West 80-64.
"To win this, I'm so proud of our guys, because this is the best tournament in the country," Fairfax coach Harvey Kitani said.
The final was a fitting end to an exciting Classic. UCLA-bound Evan Burns scored on an alley-oop pass from Kevin Bell with 18 seconds remaining to give the Lions a 41-40 lead.
Montrose Christian turned it over on the baseline with five seconds left. Burns was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and sank both free throws to make it 43-40.
Montrose Christian advanced the ball to halfcourt but threw it away on an inbounds pass.
It's the second straight second-place Classic finish for the Mustangs, who lost to Northwestern in last year's final. Montrose Christian coach Stu Vetter has brought 14 teams to the Classic, winning six times.
"This is the first time for us beating (Vetter's team)," said Kitani, whose team was making its fifth Classic appearance.
Bell, the tournament's Most Valuable Player, finished with 10 points to lead Fairfax. Burns was named Most Outstanding Player.
Freshman point guard Eric Price led Montrose with nine points.
Kalaheo (11-2) won despite all-state guard DC Daniels sitting out because of a sprained ankle and starting point guard Shaine Harada out due to illness. Once the game started, point guard Zane Cabral suffered a yet-to-be diagnosed knee injury.
"We're banged up, we need to get our guys healthy," Kalaheo coach Pete Smith said. "We're a little worn down. We need a break."
The Mustangs can rest knowing they beat a Northwestern team that is expected to be a contender in Miami. The Bulls, who finished third in Florida's 6A championships last year but return no starters, presented a challenge for the Hawai'i teams.
"We're not going to play a team as athletic as that this season," Smith said.
Kalaheo took the lead for good (50-49) with 1:33 remaining on a layup by Justin Pedrina. Michael Gayle's free throws made it 52-49 with 1:05 left, but Northwestern closed it to 52-51 on Cedrick McGowan's short jumper with seven ticks left. James Robinson sank a free throw with four seconds remaining to make it 53-51, and the Bulls' ensuing length-of-court pass was intercepted.
Ikaika Alama-Francis led Kalaheo with 17 points and Gayle added 13 points. McGowan led Northwestern with 18 points and Jerrett Williams added 12 points.
Daniels sprained his ankle in the championship game of the Big Island Candies tournament Dec. 15 in Hilo. He sat out the Iolani Classic opener against Kealakehe but played Thursday night against Montrose Christian. Daniels was held to five points in that game.
"A lot of his game is elevation, and he was only getting up about half as high as he's used to," Smith said. "That's too bad, because he was really looking forward to this tournament."
• Iolani 61, Wilson (Florence, S.C.) 44: The Raiders (8-2) are believed to be the first Hawai'i team in the 18-year history of the Classic to beat three Mainland teams.
"Up to this point, they're as good as anybody I've seen," said Wilson coach Tommy Johnson, whose Tigers (7-3) entered the tournament ranked No. 1 in South Carolina among 3A (second-highest level) schools. "I told our team if we can play as smart and as hard and as well as they do, I'll be happy. I was really impressed with (Iolani's) intensity."
Bobby Nash scored a game-high 17 points and Derrick Low added 14 points for Iolani, which jumped out to a 9-2 lead and led 29-15 at the half. Raymond Dorsey scored 16 points to lead Wilson, which never got closer than the halftime margin the rest of the game.
"I saw them in this tournament two years ago and they're a totally different team now," Johnson said. "They are very well-coached, and when you add their talent to all the intangibles ... I'd be surprised if they lose again this year."
• Garfield (Seattle) 74, Clovis West (Fresno, Calif.) 68: Brandon Roy scored 28 points and Marcelus Kemp added 19 points to lead the Bulldogs to a victory in the third-place game.
Nick Dubban scored a game-high 33 points and Tyrese McDaniel added 12 points for Clovis West.
• All-Tournament Team: Nick Debban (Clovis West), Derrick Low (Iolani), Linas Kleiza (Montrose Christian), Ikaika Alama-Francis (Kalaheo), Raymond Dorsey (Wilson), Marcelus Kemp (Garfield), Devon Pearson (Northwestern), Bobby Nash (Iolani), Troy Hailey (Montrose Christian), Brandon Roy (Garfield), Tyson Parker (Clovis West), Alex Bausley (Fairfax).
