Iolani center Hugh Hogland poured in 20 points and 10 rebounds to help beat Moanalua in the OIA-ILH Challenge. Pete Caldwell | SL

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Fri, Dec 11, 2015 @ Moanalua

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Moanalua

53

Iolani

67

Final	1	2	3	4
Moanalua (8-6, 13-14)	11	15	9	18	53
Iolani (9-5, 19-9)	19	12	18	18	67

H. Hogland 20 pts  2/5 FTs

J. Wilkins 17 pts  1/4 FTs

SALT LAKE – A stronger and leaner Hugh Hogland scored a game-high 20 points and Iolani beat host Moanalua, 67-53, at the annual OIA-ILH Challenge Friday at Na Menehune gym.

Looking lighter on his feet, the 6-foot-9, 220-pound junior wreaked havoc in paint, grabbing 10 rebounds and blocking two shots for the Raiders.

Hogland, a third-year varsity player, weighed 250 pounds as a freshman, then dropped 50 pounds his sophomore year. With weight and core training from Iolani strength coach Dominic Ahuna and Division II coach Neil Tamabayashi, Hogland added 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason.

"Now I can bang with guys like (Moanalua's 6-2 post) Saige Pulu and those big, bulky guys without getting hurt," Hogland said.

Hogland said his goal in the offseason was to get stronger and improve on his jump shot. "It wasn't falling today, but, you know, it will come."

He said the added strength allows him to control his big frame for post moves. "It's quicker and more precise," he said.

Raiders' coach Dean Shimamoto said Hogland's strength is not the only aspect of his center's improvement.

"He's been working really hard," Shimamoto said. "From after his freshman year, he lost a lot of weight and now, he's actually putting on good weight. He's more agile, he's more athletic, stronger. Most importantly, he's matured a lot. His approach to the game is a lot better than it used to be."

The Raiders dominated the first half when Hogland scored 12, storming out to a 19-11 first-half lead. But Na Menehune chipped away, eventually pulling to within three on a 6-0 run on successive baskets by James Wilkins, who led Moanalua with 17 points, 13 coming in the first half. Iolani widened its at the free-throw line in the closing 44 seconds; the Raiders made 3 of 4 shots while Na Menehune missed 3 of 4, as Iolani took a 31-26 lead into the half.

Hogland scored half the points in Iolani's 8-0 run to start the second half that allowed the Raiders to pull away. Iolani's widest margin was 17, which occurred three times in the fourth period.

Despite dominating, the Raiders are still looking to improve with each preseason game.

"Like everybody else, we're still trying to find our groove, our combinations," Shimamoto said. "Just trying to play good basketball. We're not where near where we need to be to play in the ILH. But I thought it was a pretty good effort."