Thu, Dec 19, 2013 @ Iolani

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West Linn

65

Iolani

59

Final	1	2	3	4
West Linn	16	18	17	14	65
Iolani (10-3, 23-7)	13	16	13	17	59

Ikaika Phillip 20 pts  3 3pm  5/5 FTs

Payton Pritchard 22 pts  1 3pm  7/10 FTs

West Linn's Ben Shearmire puts up a shot over Iolani's Hugh Hogland. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Iolani's Ikaika Phillip challenges a shot attempt by West Linn's Payton Pritchard. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Iolani's Zach Buscher drives to the basket against West Linn. Sean Nakamura | SL

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West Linn's Haydon Coppedge glides in for a breakaway layup against Iolani. Sean Nakamura | SL

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West Linn's Ben Shearmire puts up a shot over Iolani's Hugh Hogland. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Iolani's Ikaika Phillip challenges a shot attempt by West Linn's Payton Pritchard. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Iolani's Zach Buscher drives to the basket against West Linn. Sean Nakamura | SL

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West Linn's Haydon Coppedge glides in for a breakaway layup against Iolani. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Sophomore guard Payton Pritchard scored 13 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and West Linn (Ore.) defeated 'Iolani, 65-59, in quarterfinal action of the 'Iolani Classic boys' basketball tournament Thursday night.

The Lions will face White Station (Memphis, Tenn.) in the semifinals, 6:30 p.m. Friday at 'Iolani's lower gym.

Prtichard led a trio of Lions who posted double-digit scoring.  Anthony Mathis, who has offers from Oregon State and Portland, had 15 points followed by Ben Shearmire's 13.  Pritchard and Mathis each had a 3-pointer.

The 5-foot-11 Pritchard showed why he is a member of the USA Basketball Development team.  He was 7 of 10 from the free throw line, had three assists and four rebounds.

"I told my players that's as good of a guard you're going to see all season," 'Iolani coach Dean Shimamoto said. "He's not just a super-athletic guard. He heady, he's strong with the ball, he dishes, can hit shots, jumpers, he finishes we'll, hits free throws. He's the worst guy to play against the best guy to have on your squad."

West Linn coach Eric Vluhkola thought Pritchard made a difference in helping the Lions pull away from the Raiders.

"I thought Payton, our point guard, took control," Vluhkola said. "He made some great plays for us, getting to the basket, getting to the free throw line. I thought that was the difference, too, in the second half."

The defending 6A Oregon champions started the game with successive 3-pointers from Kevin Edwards and Pritchard.  It was 8-0 and nearly halfway through the first quarter before the Raiders go their bearings, scoring their first points of the game when Zach Buscher hit three free throws at 4:16 in the quarter.

"When you see the score go 8-0, you get a little nervous," Shimamoto said. "I called a timeout.  The kids got their feet under them and started playing, so it was good to see that we were right there with a really good team."

The Raiders managed to pull to within 16-13 entering the second period.

'Iolani took its first lead of the game at 17-16 at 6:56 in the second quarter on basket by 6-7 freshman Hugh Hogland with an assist from Buscher.  But the ubiquitous Pritchard scored off a steal to give West Linn the lead again at 18-17.

The lead would change four more times before the Raiders tied the game at 24 with 2:47 left in the half on Phillip's 3-pointer.  But Mathis put his team ahead with three free throws at 2:37.  'Iolani's Robert Mann pulled his team to within one when he made his two free throws with 2:28 left.

The Raiders took their final lead of the game with 2:11 in the half on Yamada's 3-pointer.  But the Lions finished the half with a 7-0 run to widen their margin to 34-29 at the half.

The Lions' zone defense slowed the Raiders in the third quarter, as West Linn increased its lead to 51-42 at the end of the third quarter.

"When we went zone, it confused them a little bit and kind of let us get in a run, let us build a little cushion," Vluhkola said. "But that (Shimamoto) is smart and they kind of figured it out."

Shimamoto felt his team got a little fatigued in the second half.

"We haven't had to play a pace against a team that's that good and our guys played longer in the second half," Shimamoto said.  "I'm really proud of how they fought."

Phillip scored 15 of his team-high 20 points in the second half for the Raiders.  He made three 3-pointers, was 5 for 5 from the free throw line and 13-of-17 free throw shooting.  He also had seven rebounds, scoring twice on them.

"We're looking to him to being our top three of scorers and take those kinds of shots and make those kinds of shots," Shimamoto said. "He's a tough matchup.  He's strong, he has good size, he's a mis-match."

The freshman Hogland missed Tuesday's opener against Radford because he was sick, Shimamoto said.  He scored only two points, but had three defensive rebounds.

"He played tough," Shimamoto said. "Just having him a big 6-7 body in there to defend shots and grab rebounds is great.  We're expecting big things from his this season."

The Raiders will play Mount Vernon (N.Y.) in a consolation round game Friday.