Kalaheo went toe-to-toe with the nation's No. 6-ranked boys basketball team for three periods last night, but Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) pulled away in the final eight minutes to win its 'Iolani Prep Classic opener, 56-36.

Montrose Christian, ranked No. 6 in USA Today's latest Super 25 released Monday, will face perennial Los Angeles power Westchester in tonight's feature game at 8. The annual slam dunk contest will follow the game.

For one half last night, Kalaheo appeared primed to pull off the biggest upset in the Classic's 24-year history. Kalaheo trailed 24-22 at halftime, and only after missing 11 of 20 free throws.

Kalaheo made six steals in the first period and fought back from deficits of 15-9 and 20-12 to close to 24-22 after Cheynne Lishman's free throw 2.1 seconds before halftime.

"Give them credit, they played hard and did what they had to do in the first half," said Montrose Christian coach Stu Vetter. "They competed hard and were physical on the inside."

Lishman's 3-pointer 21 seconds into the second half gave Kalaheo a 25-24 lead, but Montrose Christian answered with Terrell Vinson's layup 25 seconds later and never trailed again.

Montrose Christian went up 34-25 midway through the third quarter after back-to-back spectacular two-handed slam dunks by Isaiah Armwood and Tristan Spurlock, but Kalaheo again fought back and closed to 36-31 after Bruce Andrews' jumper with 40 seconds remaining in the period.

Montrose Christian opened the final quarter with James Samuels' three-point play, and stretched the lead to 49-33 over the next four minutes with several transition baskets. Lishman's 3-pointer cut it to 49-36 with 2:43 left, but that would be Kalaheo's final points of the night.

"They stepped up their defensive intensity tremendously in the second half," said Lishman, a senior wing who finished with a game-high 18 points. "For some reason, our own intensity faded."

Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado agreed Montrose Christian's defensive pressure made it tougher for his team to find scoring opportunities.

"Their defense gave us fits in the second half, it was hard to get any open looks," Furtado said. "That's what usually happens when you play teams like these — in a 32-minute game, their size and talent eventually takes over and comes to fruition. But our kids played hard and I'm happy with their effort."

MONTROSE CHRISTIAN 15 9 12 20 — 56

KALAHEO 10 12 9 5 — 36

MONTROSE CHRISTIAN — Dominic Milburn 0, Darius Smith 0, Micah Fraction 4, Douglas Browman 3, Tyler Hubbard 0, Tristan Spurlock 16, Kevon Moore 5, Brandon Rascoe 4, Terrell Vinson 16, Isaiah Amrwood 8, Keith Crockett 0, Temi Adebayo 0, Brian Okam 0. Totals 22 12-18 56.

KALaHEO — Alika Ka'anapu 0, Cody vonAppen 3, Keano Bruhn 0, Taylor Jay 5, Richard Preza-Haynes 1, Colby Lee 0, Bruce Andrews 2, Christian Kepa 1, Cheynne Lishman 18, Shawn Hipa 0, Aaron Fernandez 3, Giovanni Wozniak 0, D.J. Chang 2, Matt Gasparine 1, Carlos Craig 0. Totals 12 9-20 36. 3-point goals: Kalaheo 3 (Lishman 2, Fernandez).

LEFLORE (ALA.) 87, MOANALUA 45

DeMarcus Cousins, a 6-foot-9 1/2, 250-pound junior for LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.) ranked by Rivals.com as one of the top five juniors in the nation and Scout.com's second-best junior center prospect in the country, scored a game-high 28 points to help the Rattlers cruise past Moanalua.

"He's special, but he's still learning to play the game the right way for 32 minutes," LeFlore coach Otis Hughley said of Cousins.

The Rattlers, who won the 2006 Classic and are ranked No. 14 in USA Today's latest Super 25 released Monday, jumped to a 27-5 lead after one period and led 51-23 at the half.

Still, Hughley came away impressed with Moanalua senior point guard Stevie Austin, a 2007 Advertiser All-State second-team selection. Austin led Na Menehune with 12 points.

"Stevie's pretty special," Hughley said. "It was tough for him, because a lot of times he had to go up against our pressure by himself. But he's got a chance to play (in college), if somebody gives him that opportunity."

LEFLORE 27 24 25 11 — 87

MOANALUA 5 18 4 18 — 45

LEFLORE — James Buford 5, Denzel McDaniels 4, Darius Andrews 8, Darryl Woods 7, Gerald Watkins 7, Wilma Simms 3, DeMarcus Cousins 28, Nick Williams 10, Demario James 4, Hilton Grant 3, Damian Bilbo 4, Melvin Payne 4. Totals 35 14-23 87.

MOANALUA — Josiah Kauhola 2, Randy Starks 3, Shane Aquino 2, Stevie Austin 12, Brandon Langrine 0, Josh Kure 6, Marcus Monroe 4, Ryan Hua 4, Shawn Richey 2, AJ Kirkman 2, Richard Villasenor 0, Maurice Allen 8. Totals 14 16-31 45. 3-point goals: LeFlore 3 (Woods, Watkins, Cousins). Moanalua 1 (Austin).

WESTCHESTER (CALIF.) 75, MID-PACIFIC 39

Dwayne Polee scored 17 points to lead the Comets past the Owls, who were led by Kellar Ellsworth's 12 points.

WESTCHESTER 17 18 17 23 — 75

MID-PACIFIC 8 12 12 7 — 39

WESTCHESTER — Tyree Smith 2, Dominique O'Connor 2, Jarred Dubois 17, Dwayne Polee 17, Jordin Mayes 9, DeShun McCoy 12, Oscar Bellfield 2, Warren Moore 2, Kelvin Smith 4, Kareem Jamar 2, Mario Nored 2, Cordell Hadnot 4. Totals 28 13-15 75.

MID-PACIFIC — Jonathan Taniguchi 2, Shane Kurihara 0, Sampson Won 9, Ryan Kurihara 2, Jaime Rivera 0, Marcus Holyfield 11, Dustyn Uchiyama 0, Brad Wu 0, Kellar Ellsworth 12, Devon Tekanaka 3, Cameron Roberts 0, Matt Shibata 0, Sililo Pale 0, Joshua Jamias 0. Totals 14 10-14 39. 3-point goals: Westchester 6 (Dubois 5, Mayes).Mid-Pacific 1 (Won).

ARLINGTON CD (FLA.) 76, BALDWIN 41

Emari Bailey scored 24 points and R.J. Wright added 21 points to lead the Apaches past the Bears, who were led by Lincoln Seto's 14 points.

ARLINGTON 22 18 28 8 — 76

BALDWIN 8 9 8 16 — 41

ARLINGTON COUNTRY DAY — R.J. Wright 21, Denzell Hayden 4, Anthony Mosley 3, Delron Summey 4, Roderick Vails 0, Emari Bailey 24, Ruan Blue 9, Tyler Stanley 0, James Bell 11, David Kaunitz 0. Totals 33 9-16 76.

BALDWIN — Lincoln Seto 14, Jayven Tabon 4, Kawika Grace 10, Ross Bisera 0, Jordan Cabajar 0, George Firmignac 0, Jordan Villanueva 2, Tevita Malafu 0, Chris Cosare 0, Viliami Lavaka 11, Michael Kahalehau 0. Totals 15 9-14 41. 3-point goals: Arlington Country Day 1 (Bell). Baldwin 2 (Seto 2).

DIVISION II

'AIEA 75, LEFLORE 64

James Buchanan scored 17 points as 'Aiea defeated LeFlore (Ala.) II to win the Division II title.

UNIVERSITY 51, 'IOLANI 34

Dylan Gomez scored 12 points to lead the Junior Rainbows to third place.

MCKINLEY 33, ST. JOSEPH 24

Ionatona Woodward scored 12 points to lead the Tigers to fifth place.

KALANI 40, KA'AHUMANU HOU 33

Anthony Asuncion scored nine points to lead the Falcons to the consolation title.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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