Saint Louis guard Jaymason Nunuha drives to the basket against Mid-Pacific. Nunuha scored a team-high 16 points in a win over the Owls. Peter Caldwell | SL

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01141609_1601_StLouisBB_021.jpg - Peter Caldwell | SL

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KALAEPOHAKU — No. 2 Saint Louis overcame a furious fourth quarter rally to hold off Mid-Pacific (2-1), 53-50 to improve to 3-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu standings at McCabe Gymnasium.

"We had to keep pushing through it all. Mid Pac is a scrappy team and they fight for everything and I have respect for them because they know how to play. We came on top this time, but it's going to be a great game the next time we play," said center Tristan Nichols, who scored 14 points. "We didn't feel comfortable until the clock struck zero."

"It was never safe and Mid Pac is a good team and we moved the ball around. There is never an off night and there are no weak teams in the ILH," added Saint Louis coach Allan Silva.

Leading 52-50 with 12.3 seconds remaining, Zach Choo could not put the game away and missed both free throws. Daniel Florenco had a good look near the free throw line, but the shot hit back iron. Nichols grabbed the rebound and was fouled immediately. He made 1 of 2 free throws with a second remaining and blocked Justin Daise's throw as the buzzer sounded.

"Credit Saint Louis because they made a lot of basketball plays, made shots and put us in bad positions. Missed layups and free throws will come back to bite you at the end of the game," said MPI coach Ryan Hirata.

The score was deadlocked at 10 until Jaymason Nunuha hit a 3 to give the Crusaders the lead after the first quarter. MPI made only one field goal in the second quarter. Daise went 1 of 2 from the free throw line and the Owls went scoreless for the next 3 minutes and 15 seconds. The Crusaders closed out the quarter on a 9-1 run to take a 26-14 lead at halftime.

MPI started on a 5-0 run in the third quarter prompting Silva to call a timeout. The Owls brought the deficit to single digits after Florenco's spinning shot, but the Crusaders pushed the lead back up to 10 and eventually led 38-26 going into the fourth quarter.

The Crusaders' size and length was problematic for the Owls as they settled for jumpers and 3-pointers. MPI went 5 of 17 from the 3-point line, while Saint Louis shot 3 of 14.

MPI began to trim away at the deficit and cut it to single digits. Daise and Zion Shepherd came alive and combined for 18 of the team's 24 fourth quarter points to lead the rally and Florenco scored six of his 10 points off of 3's. Daise and Shepherd also combined for 27 rebounds.

"I knew coming into this game they were undersized so they were trying to foul me and they did a great job at that. They got into my head and I played out of my game. Coach sat me out for the rest of first half. Our team cleaned it up and we pulled through when we needed to," said Nichols, who had to battle foul trouble through out the game.

Nunuha, who finished with 16 points, fouled out with 1:13 remaining and Daise sank both foul shots and he also converted a steal into points to bring the Owls within two, 52-50 but could not get any closer.

MPI will play at No. 5 Iolani (2-1) on Saturday, Jan. 16 while Saint Louis will play No. 8 Kamehameha (1-2) on Friday, Jan. 15.