Iolani shoots down Kentucky power

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

In its 10th and last opportunity, Hawai'i finally earned a boys basketball victory over a Mainland opponent in the 21st Annual Iolani Prep Classic last night, and it was a big one.

Pape

Male, with four key players back from a team that went 20-10 last year in a basketball-rich region, entered the tournament ranked No. 5 in Kentucky. Hawai'i teams had lost nine straight games against Mainland competition before Iolani's win.

"If (the Raiders) shoot like that, they can play with any of the teams we have back home," Male coach Bryce Hibbard said. "They played well. They got the ball to the shooters when they needed to, and they have good role players who set good screens."

Iolani also has Pape, its lone senior who snapped out of a two-game shooting slump by sinking 10 of 17 shots, including 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. Pape made only one 3-pointer — an uncontested shot that bounced up and through the rim as time expired — in Monday's 57-36 loss to Rice (New York) and had none in Tuesday's 55-50 defeat to Roman Catholic (Philadelphia).

He started the Rice game 0 for 7 from the field.

"It's a new team this year, and in those two games I thought I could do it all by myself," said Pape, who also had six rebounds last night. "I just had to calm myself down and remember that I can't do anything without my teammates. Tonight it was 100 percent team, and fortunately my shots started falling."

Pape got things started early, scoring two baskets as the Raiders jumped to a 10-2 lead. The Bulldogs came storming back, closing to 17-14 by the end of the period and taking a 34-28 lead into halftime despite Pape's 17 points.

But Pape stayed hot in the second half, swishing a 3-pointer to give Iolani the lead for good at 56-54 with 4:25 remaining in the game. Male stayed within two after Alex Gravelle's banker made it 58-56 with two minutes left, but Pape sank all four of his free throws in the final 1:12 to seal it.

"Three things won it for us tonight," Raiders coach Mark Mugiishi said. "One, Kyle broke out of his slump. Two, we finally executed the sets we called at the right moment. And three, we hit all our free throws down the stretch. It's the first time we got all three things going like that."

Vinny Nip added 11 points, including three 3-pointers in six attempts, and Kawika Shoji contributed 10 points (2 for 2 on 3-pointers), five rebounds and five assists.

"When we finally got out on No. 30 (Pape), No. 12 (Nip) would hit one, and then when we got out on him, No. 25 (Shoji) would hit one," Hibbard said. "They shot the ball really well, and we didn't (4 of 16 on 3-pointers)."

Rice beats rival to capture championship

Rice ran away from New York City league rival Xaverian, 62-42, last night for its second Iolani Prep Classic championship in seven years.

Rice (4-0), from Manhattan, won the Classic title in 1998 and was making its first appearance since. The Raiders are No. 23 in USA Today's Super 25.

Xaverian (3-1), from Brooklyn, was ranked No. 9 in Street & Smith's preseason national rankings.

Rice led from the start behind guard Tasco Brown's game-high 24 points. Center Curtis Kelly added 12 points.

Rice jumped to a 21-10 lead after one period and led 31-15 at the half. Xaverian closed to 37-30 late in the third quarter, but the Raiders outscored the Clippers 23-12 in the final period to seal the victory.

Roman Catholic turns back Punahou

Bob Jordan scored 13 points, including 8 of 8 free throws, as Roman Catholic (Pa.) held off Punahou, 48-41, despite Miah Ostrowski's second straight 20-point night.

Punahou (1-3) led 7-6 midway through the first period, but Roman Catholic (3-1) took the lead back at 8-7 on Mike Ringgold's layup with 3:30 remaining and never trailed again.

Ostrowski hit a short banker to pull the Buffanblu to 14-12 to open the second quarter, but the Cahillites responded with a 13-2 run to stretch the lead to 27-14 with 1:28 left.

After Roman Catholic maintained its lead in the third period, Punahou rallied to close to 42-39 with five minutes remaining in the game. But that was as close as it would get, as the Cahillites sank six straight free throws down the stretch.

Ostrowski, who had 22 points in Wednesday's 54-48 loss to Male (Louisville, Ky.), finished with 20 points and three assists.

OTHER GAMES

FAIRFAX (CALIF.) 52, MONTVERDE (FLA.) 44: Jamal Boykin scored 24 points as the Lions (3-1), who have won the Classic two times, took third place. Luc Mbah A Moute scored 17 for the Eagles (2-2).

RADFORD 56, KAMEHAMEHA 52: Mike Davis scored 17 points and the Rams (3-1) shot 19 of 37 from the field to beat the Warriors (2-2). Michael Nii led Kamehameha with 11 points.

ROOSEVELT 61, ST. ANTHONY 53: Danton Balbas had 16 points and 12 rebounds to help the Rough Riders (2-2) rally from a 15-6 first-quarter deficit. John Powley had 24 points and eight rebounds to lead the Trojans (1-3).

KAUA'I 62, KALAHEO 39: Jerry Manuel scored 18 points and the Red Raiders (2-2) outscored the Mustangs (1-3) 24-6 in the second quarter to pull away. Kahua Hollinger led Kalaheo with eight points.

'AIEA 60, MCKINLEY 44: Nicholas Helsham scored 14 points and Jerry Miller added 11 points and 11 rebounds, lifting Na Ali'i (1-3) over the Tigers (0-4). Kapena Quisano scored 11 points for McKinley.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.