Thu, Feb 9, 2017 @ Iolani

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Saint Louis

39

Iolani

49

Final	1	2	3	4
Saint Louis (2-10, 11-16)	7	11	12	9	39
Iolani (11-4, 22-11)	14	9	14	12	49

Justin Genovia 14 pts  1 3pm  3/7 FTs

Jaymason Nunuha 13 pts  1 3pm  0/0 FTs

Iolani's Justin Genovia puts up a shot attempt over Saint Louis in an ILH single-elimination tourney game Thursday night. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Iolani's Justin Genovia puts up a shot attempt over Saint Louis in an ILH single-elimination tourney game Thursday night. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Iolani and Punahou give new meaning to magnet schools.

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I rivals will meet for the fourth time this season for the league's second-round boys' basketball championship 6 p.m. Friday at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

No. 4 Iolani downed Saint Louis, 49-39, in Thursday's semifinals at the Raiders' lower gym. The regular-season champion and No. 3 Buffanblu knocked off No. 8 Kamehameha, 61-42, in the other semifinal.

Punahou (10-2) can clinch the overall championship and the coveted seeded berth with a win. Iolani (10-3) must beat Punahou Friday and Saturday to earn the seeded berth.

Both enter the game knowing they will represent their league in the Snapple Division I state tournament. But the big difference between being champion and runner-up is days rest. The runner-up will play a regional first-round game on Monday. The seeded team begins play Wednesday.

"Punahou's a familiar team to us," Iolani coach Dean Shimamoto said. "They came out and were really hot last time, so we'll see if we can make some adjustments, make it more difficult for them. Come at them again."

The Buffanblu beat the Raiders, 59-52, on Tuesday to win the regular-season title. They split the regular-season home-and-home series.

Guard Justin Genovia ignited the Raiders with a team-high 15 points, scoring six off fastbreaks. He had three steals, scoring off one of them in the second half.

"I was getting really frustrated with myself, wasn't doing anything," Genovia said. "I just turned it up on the defensive side since I couldn't on the offensive side. My teammates found me on the fastbreaks and tried to get me back into the game."

"He brought energy from start to finish," Shimamoto said of Genovia. "Last two games, he's been a second-half guy. Some of the coaches were challenging him to be a full-game guy. He did that today. He was getting out in transition. He was attacking for free throws. He did a great job. He's tired, I think, but he really worked tonight."

Cole Hogland, who scored all of his six points in the second half, had seven rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Big brother Hugh Hogland had 11 points.

Jaymason Nunuha paced the Crusaders with a team-high 14 points, scoring off a steal and two putbacks. He also had a block and three defensive rebounds.

Saint Louis (2-10), the sixth seed in the second-round, came in coming off an upset of No. 2 Maryknoll, 63-57, eliminating the Spartans, who entered the final game of the regular season in first place, only to lose to Iolani in successive meetings.

Trailing 23-18 at the half, the Crusaders opened strong in the third perid, pulling to within 25-23 on Josh White's 3-pointer and 27-25 on Jaymason Nunuha's layup off a fastbreak.

But Genovia responded with five points on a 3-pointer and off his steal to help Iolani pull away.

In the fourth, Maryknoll cut its deficit to 41-35 with 4:25 left on Noah Browne's 3-pointer. But Iolani pulled away again, making 7 of 9 free throws along with a basket by Helam Baldomero to seal the game.

The Raiders employed a two-team platoon throughout. It began with starters Baldomero, Kawika Lee, Genovia and Cole and Hugh Hogland. Shimomoto then changed all five with Frank Felix, Ryan Van Canfort, Bailey Alabanza and Cameron Chang.

Punahou and Iolani met four times last year. Iolani won the regular-season title and Punahou won the second round. They played for the overall title, won by the Raiders, 56-48. But this time, Punahou, as regular-season champs, has secured home court for Friday and, if necessary, Saturday.