The Warriors hold up shirts after winning the ILH Division I championship. Pete Caldwell | SL

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Wed, Feb 12, 2020 @ Kamehameha

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Maryknoll

29

Kamehameha

38

Final	1	2	3	4
Maryknoll (11-3, 31-4)	7	6	13	3	29
Kamehameha (13-0, 28-6)	12	11	7	8	38

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

P. Ponteras 8 pts  2 3pm

S. Tolentino 10 pts

E. Kapihe 8 tot  2 off  6 def

N. Robben 7 tot  2 off  5 def

X. Lever 1 ast

N. Robben 1 ast

KAPALAMA HEIGHTS — Top-ranked Kamehameha found ways late in the fourth quarter to pull away from No. 2 Maryknoll, 38-29, to win the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I title in a winner-take-all contest at Kekuhaupio Gymnasium Wednesday.

It didn't come easy as the Warriors cap a grueling ILH campaign with a 13-0 record and clinch the league's seeded berth to end an eight-year state tournament drought. Kamehameha has a first round bye and awaits the winner of Waiakea/Leilehua on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at McKinley.

"It's a credit to our boys. Our players show up at practice and work. We show up at games whether it's four games in a week. They find a way to win. Tonight was a different game from the others we played Maryknoll. They're courageous and competitors and they find a way to win," Kamehameha coach Larry Park said.

All three of Maryknoll's losses came at the hands of Kamehameha. The Spartans host Kalaheo to open the state tournament next week Monday, Feb. 17. 

The Warriors got a balanced scoring effort led by Preston Ponteras (eight, two 3's), Paliku Kamaka (seven off the bench), Christmas Togiai (seven), and Kordel Ng (six).

"Our depth is our strength," Park said. "We tell them to play to their strengths, they're all different players and when they do that our team is solid."

"It's not just Christmas and Kordel. It's a collection of guys doing their roles. They got their roles established. Every time we've played them, they hit some big shots. It's not just those two guys, it's everybody else. Our guys have to match that," Maryknoll coach Kelly Grant added.

Kamehameha jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead off of Ponteras' 3-pointer. Maryknoll got on the scoreboard nearly halfway through the quarter on Sage Tolentino's free throws. The 7 footer finished with a game-high 10 points and blocked four shots for the Spartans. Niko Robben made it a three point game after converting the 3-point play, but Bailey Lee's put back went in before the buzzer sounded for a 12-7 lead.

"Sage is athletic and can dribble and shoot from the outside. He makes it difficult for someone to try and guard him, he needs some space for him to be able to hit his shot," Grant said of Tolentino.

Justin Yap cut it down to three off of his 3-pointer from the right wing, but Ng answered with a triple from the top and Ponteras hit his second 3-pointer of the game from the right corner to give Kamehameha an 11 point advantage, 23-12. Robben went 1 for 3 from the free throw line as the Spartans trailed, 23-13 at halftime.

"He's tough as nails and he's a great defender. We know he can shoot it, he works hard on his shot and when it goes in, it's exciting for everybody," Park said of Ponteras.

Maryknoll opened up the third quarter on a 7-2 run. Liko Soares got his first points of the night, Tolentino followed with two free throws and Soares completed the 3-point play to make it, 25-20. Every time Maryknoll got close, Kamehameha found a way to answer. Kamaka drained a 3-pointer from the right wing to extend the lead. Tolentino threw down a two-handed dunk and converted the assist from Robben as the Spartans trailed by four heading into the final stanza.

"There's a familiarity. They're (Maryknoll) a great team and well-coached. They know us, we know them. It was a possession by possession battle," Park said.

Kamehameha held a four point lead for much of the fourth quarter. Robben, who finished with eight points, had a chance to cut the deficit in half, but missed both of his free throws at the 3:39 mark.

On the other end, Kamaka hit both one-and-one foul shots then converted a field goal to put the Warriors up eight, 34-26. Maryknoll got looks close to the rim all quarter, but had trouble finishing until Robben's drive off the glass made it, 34-28 and coach Grant called a quick timeout.

"The defense was unbelievable and they competed. Bailey (Lee) competed and was guarding whoever, diving on the floor. The effort was unbelievable and he's the anchor to our defense," Park said of Lee who later fouled out late in the fourth.

"Niko feels bad now. He felt he let the team down, but without him we wouldn't be where we are," Grant said.

The Spartans shot 8 for 13 from the free throw line while the Warriors were 7 for 10, four of those free throws came in the final three minutes.

Togiai made two one-and-one free throws and later followed up a miss with a tip in to put Kamehameha up 10 with under a minute. Reggie Eiland split free throws with 14 seconds left for the game's final points.