No. 17 Lone Peak rallies by Mount Saint Joseph, 47-46


Lone Peak's Frank Jackson hit this shot with 1.5 seconds left in regulation to help the Knights edge the Gaels. Tyler Kanoa | SL

Frank Jackson's driving layup with 1.5 seconds left rallied Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) past Mount Saint Joseph (Baltimore, Md.), 47-46, Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Iolani Classic at the Raiders' gym.

With the game tied at 45, Randy Miller made his first free throw, but missed the second that was rebounded by the 6-foot-3 Jackson, who took the ball the length of the court and drove in with the layup to take the Knights, No. 17 in the USA Today national rankings, into Monday's semifinals.

"I'm pretty confident myself," Jackson said. "My teammates are confident in me to make big plays, especially at the end of the stretch there. I was confident and I knew we were going to get that win."

Jackson, a Duke signee, led all scorers with 23 points, including two 3-pointers.

Miller and Pierre Johnson had 13 and 10 points, respectively, for the Gaels.

"This was the worst we've shot all year," Lone Peak coach David Evans said. "Give credit to them, they played great defense. We just have to come back Monday and do a better job."

The Knights trailed by as many as 11, but fought back.

"They showed some gumption and did a good job at the end, so I'm proud of them," Evans said."

It wasn't one of Knights' prettier games, as the Gaels forced a number of turnovers. Lone Peak led 4-0 early, only to see the Gaels use a 10-run in a four-minute span to take a 10-4 lead. The Gaels went on a 6-4 run to start the second period in taking a 10-9 lead. But the Knights finished the last 2:30 with a 10-0-run to pull within 20-19 at the half.

"We looked tired," Evans said. "We just didn't look ready to play and they're really a good team. They're long and athletic and we don't see that and we don't see that much in Utah, so it was hard for us to play against guys like that."

The Gaels blew open the game in the third quarter, holding the Knights to two field goals, in taking a 38-28 into the fourth period.

Lone Peak then cashed in on turnovers and fouls in an 11-0 run to take a 39-38 lead after Nate Harkness made all three of his foul shots with 4:45; it was Lone Peak's first lead since early in the first quarter.

But the Gaels responded with Justice Kendall's 3-pointer at 3:56 to take back the lead, 41-39. Jackson's ensuing dribble-drive tied the game at 41 with 3:39.

Lone Peak regained the lead, 42-41, with 3:16 when Kendall made one of two free throws.

Miller connected on back-to-back field goals, one off a turnover, to open MSJ's lead to 45-42 with 2:31 left.

A controversial out-of-bounds call against MSJ with 43 seconds left– it appeared the ball went out off of a Lone Peak player's hand – led to a technical foul against the Gaels' coach. Steve Ashworth only made one of the two free throws to pull the Knights to 45-43.

The result of the technical also meant the Knights got to inbound the ball. That led to a foul on Jackson with 34 seconds left and his two free throws tied the game at 45.

Miller was then fouled with eight seconds left, but he missed the back end of a one-and-one that was rebounded by Jackson, who raced across the floor and made the game-winning shot.

"That's a great team," Jackson said of MSJ. "It's one of the best teams we've played all year. They're the top team out of Maryland and they've defended best out of any team we've played this year."

It was a tough loss for the Maryland school, which had outplayed the Utah team most of the game.

"It was a hard-fought game," MSJ coach Pat Clatchey said. "Felt bad for our guys because I thought we deserved to win. Kid made a great shot at the end of the game. But if we make some free throws, take care of the ball a lot better, not foul as much, different outcome."

The Gaels shot 9 of 18 from the free-throw line to the Knights' 20 of 28, and turned over the ball 18 times to the Knights' 12.



Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at [email protected].