Iolani's Hugh Hogland blocks a Farrington shot attempt. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Iolani's Robert Mann (32) and Ikaika Phillip (14) battle for rebound against Farrington. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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A combination of power and skill down low was the key in Iolani’s state title game victory over Oahu Interscholastic Association champion Farrington Saturday night.

The Raiders – despite donning the red and white – used a blue-collar game plan to claim their 10th state championship in school history. Iolani was just the more dominant team in the post, both offensively and defensively.

“Coach Dean (Shimamoto) told us the game plan was to attack them because Farrington (has) never seen a team this big before in the OIA,” explained Iolani’s 6-foot-7 center Hugh Hogland. “We kept on attacking and this is the (end) result.

Hogland, just a freshman, was coming off an impressive defensive outing of seven blocked shots against Campbell in the semifinal round of the Hawaiian Airlines/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division I Boys Basketball Championships. Although he only tallied two blocks in the title game, his presence alone forced the Farrington guards to think twice about coming into the paint. 

“I’ve grown a lot,” remarked Hogland. “I’ve made really big sacrifices and I really thing that these guys really helped me grow – Iolani helped me grow and most of all Coach Dean, he helped me grow a lot too.” 

That growth was on display through the very end, when the team needed it the most to clinch victory. Down 39-32, Farrington’s Isaiah Smith drove baseline to attempt a shot attempt to cut the lead down to five. However, Hogland was able to rotate over on defense and alter Smith’s shot attempt, which drew nothing but the side of the backboard. Hogland then later came up on a huge block on the Governors’ Mark Dudalao, preserving the seven-point lead with 48.6 seconds remaining in regulation.

“I just try to be there. I had to be there for my team, I had to be there for my coaches (and) I had to be there for Iolani,” said Hogland. “I had to be that post presence – (being) that 6-foot-7 guy that I am – so that I can swat shots and get rebounds and be that dominant presence.” 

Overall the Raiders held Farrington to 28.2 percent shooting from 2-point range (11-for-39), a stark contrast to the Governors’ 58.6 percent clip against Maryknoll in the semifinals (17-for-29).

 “Our defense was huge; that’s the type of Iolani basketball that we play,” said Hogland. “We try to control the tempo, make them take difficult shots, contest every jump shot (and) every layup. That’s our defensive goal every game.” 

Iolani also won the rebounding battle, 34-31.

“Coach made an emphasis to block out,” said the Raiders’ Ikaika Phillip.

Defense wouldn’t amount to anything unless you put points on the board. The same mentality of protecting the paint was evident in the Raiders’ offensive game plan. Iolani’s shooting results reflects that, converting their 2-point attempts on a 40 percent clip (12-for-30 shooting).

Exemplifying that pattern was Phillip, who finished with a team-high 15 points on 60 percent shooting from 2-point range (6-for-10).

“I think it was mostly coaching giving me an opportunity to play for him,” said Phillip. “I worked on (my game) in the offseason a lot. I just concentrated on that and (when) I got the opportunity to play I just performed.”

The senior forward put on a clinic against the Governors, showing a variety of post moves to get the ball into the hoop. Phillip got the first quarter scoring going with a off the glass basket from the baseline. He later than converted on a jump hook inside the lane to make the score 4-0. 

Phillip’s scoring after that was even more impressive. His first points of the second quarter came after posting up a defender at the high post. He also was able to convert on a shot attempt in the lane over three Farrington defenders, as well as a baseline drop step move. 

“When I was younger I used to play post so I kind of had that down,” said Phillip. “The versatility just helped us. We had an inside-outside game with me and Hugh, and even Kamu (Borden) – so they had to be honest (on defense) and not just (defend) the three ball.”

Phillip’s intensity in the paint set a tone that was carried throughout the entire team, which truly emphasized the Raiders’ “One Team” mindset. Even the smallest guy on the team – Chris Gallacher at 5-foot-8 – got in on the action, garnering two offensive rebounds that netted four points in the third quarter.

While the Raiders were probably sore the next morning after all the banging in the paint, a state championship makes all the pain worthwhile.

“I’m speechless, really happy,” exclaimed Phillip. “It was a very bumpy road, a lot of ups and downs, but we peaked at the right time and we came out with this win in the state championship. It feels great.”