Maryknoll guard Alexis Delovio blocks a Kamehameha shot attempt. She scored nine points to help the Spartans shake off a slow start. Steve Erler | Special to SL

Purchase image 1 of 1

Tue, Dec 8, 2015 @ Kamehameha

---

Maryknoll

57

Kamehameha

40

Final	1	2	3	4
Maryknoll (13-2, 23-3)	9	14	18	16	57
Kamehameha (3-11, 10-12)	12	7	9	12	40

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

M. Maio 12 pts  1 3pm  3/10 FTs

C. Milne 10 pts  2 3pm  0/0 FTs

M. Maio 6 tot  1 off  5 def

B. Kaawa 1 ast

L. Lee 1 ast

KAPALAMA HEIGHTS — Visiting Maryknoll shook off a slow start to pull away from Kamahemaha, 57-40, in both team's regular season-opener at Kekuhaupio Gymnasium Tuesday night.

The Spartans were able to overcome nine first quarter turnovers to remain undefeated (7-0 overall, 1-0 ILH). Kamehameha dropped to 8-2 and 0-1.

Maryknoll, the defending Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I champions, was able to outscore the Warriors in every period after the first quarter thanks to its bench play, defense and 3-point shooting (8-for-18 from beyond the arc).

"We had a slow start, but coach told us to flush it and in the second half we just picked it up and pulled it out, said senior guard Alexis Delovio. "We kind of didn't have a lot of good competition in the preseason like in the ILH, but I think this is a good start. It's the start of our momentum as we're just trying to defend our ILH championship."

Delovio had nine points with four assists and four steals and was one of four Maryknoll players to finish with eight points of more. Chayse Milne knocked down two early treys to finish with a team-high 10 points and Rhianne Omori chipped in nine more points.

Reserve Ysabelle Halemano scored eight points on 3-for-4 shooting to help the Maryknoll bench outscore Kamehameha's reserves, 23 to 12. Other key bench players for the Spartas include Kodee Viena and Sierra Murobayashi, who each knocked down two triples.

"The bench is important us," said Maryknoll coach Chico Furtado. "We only can start five, but we can rotate anybody and that's what we're going to try to do to keep our players fresh."

The Spartans held Kamehameha to a 31.7 percent shooting clip (13-for-41 from the field) and were able to record 13 steals in the contest. Mikiala Maio led the Warriors in scoring with a game-high 12 points, but needed 14 shot attempts to get there.

"They're tough defensively," said Kamehameha coach Joe Cho. "We just didn't get the right shots. We took terrible shots that helped them defensively and we weren't patient enough. When we're patient, we're right there with them."

Cho added that fatigued played a factor in his team's performance. The Warriors flew in from a tournament in Oregon Sunday night. The game with the Spartans was also originally scheduled for Friday, but got pushed up to Tuesday.

"I think we got to work on getting some rest first," Cho said. "What we need to do is get back to our basic fundamentals and play as a team and not as individuals, but I think that all has to do with our trip. It was a long, tiring trip, but in the long run I think it's going to help us."

Maryknoll jumped out to an early 8-3 lead thanks to Milne's hot shooting start. Kamehameha climbed back into it with the Spartans throwing the ball away and went on a 9-1 run to close out the first quarter.

"We've kind of had our way in the preseason, we weren't challenged that much," said Furtado. "I wasn't sure how we was going to come out and that first half was pretty ugly."

The Spartans scored the first five points in a back and forth second quarter that saw four lead changes and two ties. They took the lead for good, 18-17, on a triple by Murobayashi and was able to take a 23-19 halftime lead.

Maryknoll pushed its lead to 10, with a 7-0 run midway through the third quarter and gradually increased the gap down the stretch with its guard play. The Spartans' largest lead of the game was 20.

Kamehameha will look to bounce back against Sacred Hearts while Maryknoll will play in its first game at home against Punahou. Both games are slated for Friday.

INJURY UPDATE: A scary moment in the game happened late in the third quarter when Kamehameha reserve post Brooke Kaawa tweaked her right knee going up for a lay-up attempt. She was helped off the court and did not return to the game. Cho said that she could have hyperextended her knee and will most likely miss the two games that the Warriors have this month.