Le Jardin swingman Jerry Lawson drives to the hoop against Waipahu. Lawson scored a game-high 19 points before fouling out of the game. Michael Lasquero | SL

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Le Jardin swingman Jerry Lawson drives to the hoop against Waipahu. Lawson scored a game-high 19 points before fouling out of the game. Michael Lasquero | SL

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Le Jardin jumped out to a big halftime lead to fend off host Waipahu, 48-46, in a preseason contest Monday night. 

The Bulldogs took an early 13-7 lead in the first quarter with scores from Eric Wisnom, Jerry Lawson, Charlie Abe and Dominic Venezia.

Lawson and Abe were the top scorers for the Bulldogs. Lawson scored 19 points with nine made free throws, followed by Abe with 17 points on two triples and 11 successful free throws.

Forward Jerold Rivera and guards Daymon Oasay and Sheldon Alcaraz's 3-pointer contributed to Waipahu's seven points in the first quarter.

Guards Mark Lim and Cole Philips aided the Marauders by putting four points on the board in the second quarter, but it wasn't enough to match the Bulldogs' offense. Lawson's four consecutive free throws and Abe's 3-pointer further extended the Bulldogs' lead at the break, 23-11. 

It was not until the second half did the Marauders make a comeback. Scores from Alcaraz, Khyrsster Ipalari, Rivera, Oasay, and Felicer Barut's 3-pointer cut the deficit to eight at the end of the third quarter, 33-25.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair between the Bulldogs and Marauders. With 4:28 left in the game, the score was only a two-point differential. With the clock ticking down, Le Jardin was still in the lead because of Abe's free throws, but Waipahu still pushed through. Abe scored made 10 successful free throws in the fourth quarter alone.

Within the last few seconds of the game, Barut scored another 3-pointer for the final points of the game. Barut led the Marauders in scoring with 14 points on four made 3-pointers.