Saint Louis win over Iolani tightens up battle for ILH D1 second seed

Jayce Camlin | Special to SL

Zion Lefotu was a workhorse when his team needed it, scoring a season-best 27 points to pace Saint Louis to a 50-39 result in a must-win game over Iolani, setting up a season finale against Maryknoll on Thursday with an automatic berth to the Division I state tournament on the line.

"I can't even speak right now, I'm so tired," said a visibily winded Lefotu after the game went final.

Lefotu hit a huge three to close of the third quarter after the Raiders rallied back to get within a single point, then scored 11 points in the fourth period alone to help seal the deal for the Crusaders, who improved to 8-3 in the ILH D1 standings to sit, for now, in the all important second spot.

"When he (Keanu Meachem) got those two fouls and was taken out I knew I had to step up and get the team involved and the team really stepped up today," said Lefotu. "It was a team win today."

The sophomore guard also knocked down all eight of his free throws, seven of those makes coming in that home stretch with Iolani forced to foul.

With Meachem basically locked out of playing the remainder of the opening half after being saddled with that second foul early in the first quarter, the Crusaders did seem a bit out of sorts offensively, and in turn seemingly leaned a bit more than maybe they are used to on its defense and bigs.

Ricky Liilii and Ryder Brink both factored into the contest, Brinks doing his damage on the offensive side with 11 points and nine boards and Liilii with his defensive presence and energy, while Liilii was held scoreless but racked up four blocks, four rebounds and two steals.

Liilii actually could have had his first basket of the game in the closing seconds, as he got he ball on a leak out pass and racied to about 3/4 court before suddenly stopping on a dime and was called for a travel.

"I did want to dunk," said Liilii of the play. "But it was the feeling of humbleness and respect. It plays a big role in my life."

Following that play, Iolani inbounded both did not attempt to initiate anything offensively, opting to let the clock run to zeros.

Iolani got 30 of its 39 points from the duo of Declan Beckette and Raymond Teocscon, but that output came on a combined 8 of 29 from the field. The pair did knock down 11 of 14 free throws. Aiden Goo sscored just three points and just 1 of 6 shooting from the field.

"We knew Raymond, Declan and Aiden was going to try and light this place up and we just keyed on them and thankfully some of their shots never drop in," said Lefotu.

Iolani finished the regular season at 8-4 and is assured a seed no lower than four heading into the ILH postseason. Punahou can clinch the top overall seed with a win against Mid-Pacific Thursday, but win or lose a ticket to the state tourney is locked in for the defending state champs. A win for the over the Spartans would give the Crusaders the second seed and the other automatic berth.