A tense crowd of about 700 at 'Iolani watched the Raiders improve to 5-3 in the ILH, tied for third place with Kamehameha and Maryknoll (also both 5-3). The league's top five teams (Academy of the Pacific, Punahou, 'Iolani, Kamehameha and Maryknoll) will now play a round-robin amongst themselves, while the botton four (University High, Mid-Pacific, Saint Louis and Damien) play their own round-robin but only for a chance at a state tournament berth -- they are eliminated from championship contention.

A loss by 'Iolani last night would have forced a one-game playoff with University for that fifth spot in the Top Five.

After Vega's basket from the right side off a lob entry pass from Duke Pauli near the top of the key, the Warriors called timeout and then inbounded the ball to point guard Dyrbe Enos, who sped down the right sideline past three defenders. He got to the right corner and launched a fadeaway 3-pointer, but it fell just short and Vega secured the rebound to seal the victory.

The Raiders led by as much as 36-29 after Vega's baseline jumper with 3:37 left in the third period and never trailed until JT Campbell's 3-pointer capped an 11-4 run to put Kamehameha ahead, 49-48, with 1:43 remaining in the fourth.

Makoa Camanse-Stevens later converted both ends of a 1-and-1 to make it 51-48 with 26.7 seconds left in regulation, but Austin O'Leary tied it 17 ticks later by swishing a contested 22-foot 3-pointer and the Warriors called timeout with 0:07.4 showing on the clock.

Enos then got the inbounds pass and advanced the ball into the frontcourt where he was fouled and sent to the free throw line for a 1-and-1 with 0.8 seconds remaining, but after an 'Iolani timeout, his attempt was short.

Austin Gerard's 3-pointer put Kamehameha ahead, 54-51, midway through the extra period, but O'Leary answered with a jumper to close it to 54-53 with 1:47 left. The Raiders then regained possession on a turnover with 44.9 seconds remaining, and worked the clock down before a timeout with 16 ticks left to set up the winning play. 

Pauli finished with a game-high 20 points, Vega added 18 points, nine rebounds and one block and O'Leary chipped in with 10 points.

Camanse-Stevens led the Warriors with 18 points, Enos added 13 points -- 11 in the second half -- and Campbell finished with 11 points.