Saint Louis stifles Mililani to claim Kaimuki Invitational title

Brian Bautista | SL

No Pupu, no problem.

Corey Bailey and Keanu Meachem combined to score 25 points in Saint Louis' 43-32 win over Millani in the title game of the Kaimuki Invitational.

The win marked the 12th straight in the preseason thus far, all won without the services of two-time Division I POY Pupu Sepulona.

"It's prepared us a lot because most of our bench players don't play as much, but we can run the ball more, especially with this group because it's just straight guards," said Meachem, who is averaging 15 points per game this season, up from 6.8 in his sophomore campaign.

Bailey had a game-high 13 and hit all four of his free throws. The junior this year has chipped in nine per game himself after just 2.5 last season.

Freshman Zion Lefotu scored nine against Mililani, right at his season average and Stone Kanoa added four more.

Mililani led 12-10 after the first quarter, but Saint Louis rallied back to inch ahead by a point at the intermission.

The Crusaders started the third with consecutive baskets, a Meachem basket and a Bailey three, to stretch the lead out to 26-20, but the Trojans rallied, closing the gap to three on back-to-back baskets by Tui Tukimaka that made it 32-29 at the 1:14 mark of the period.

Mililani did not score another point until the 2:15 mark of the fourth, when Tukimaka hit another three to the margin to 39-32, but Meachem closed the door with consecutive baskets to close out the contest.

The Trojans shooting woes were tied to a solid defensive effort by the Crusaders for sure, but mising all six attempts from the free throw line as team definitely hurt.

Tukimaka's eight points off the bench was a team-high for the Trojans, who were held to a season low output.

In order to even make the final at Kaimuki, Saint Louis had to post a big rally against Maryknoll, where they trailed 28-16 at the break before outscoring the Spartans 15-9 in the third and 12-5 in the final period to eke out a 43-42 win.

Bailey scored 10 of his 12 points against Maryknoll in the second half comeback.