The Maryknoll Spartans pose for a photo after capturing their third straight ILH Division I title. CJ Caraang | SL

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MAKIKI – No. 1 Maryknoll avenged its only regular-season loss with a convincing 45-24 win against No. 4 Kamehameha Thursday night to capture its third consecutive Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I girls' basketball championship at the Tony Sellitto Court.

The Spartans (13-1), who have won six overall league crowns, have earned the ILH's seeded berth to next week's state tournament. The Warriors (9-5), who beat the Spartans, 46-45, a week ago, secured the league's second berth when it beat Iolani, 64-61, Wednesday night in overtime.

The Spartans were ready to atone for their loss to the Warriors.

"I think the last time we played them, it was a wake-up call," Spartans post Isabella Cravens said. "We're not indestructible. That woke us up. We had so much more confidence in this game."

Maryknoll coach Chico Furtado said he went over the stats of that loss and the players weren't pleased. Although his team is made up of mostly juniors (it has one senior), they played like season veterans, which they are.

"Take nothing away," Furtado said. "This team's been together since freshman year. There are 11 juniors on this team. This is their third ILH championship. They deserve it."

The Spartans' size and speed made it tough for the Warriors to make passes or find open shots. And when they shot, the Spartans were ready with open hands for rebounds.

"We locked down on the defensive end," said Spartans guard Rhianne Omori, who led the team with 11 points and was second with five rebounds.

Dominating the boards was the 6-foot-1 Cravens, who scored only four points – two from free throws – but hauled in 11 of the team's 26 rebounds. Her only field goal, of course, came off an offensive rebound.

"I wasn't doing too well on the offensive end, so I had to make it up on defense," Cravens said.

Her performance wasn't lost on her coach.

"I don't know how many points she got, but her value is beyond points," Furtado said.

The Warriors took an 11-4 lead into the second quarter, but the Warriors clawed back to pull to within 20-15 at the half.

But fatigue from the OT game began to show for the Warriors in the second half. Maryknoll opened the second half with a 6-0 run, scoring the first two field goals by Moe Notoa and Cravens off of putbacks and on a dribble drive by the 5-2 point guard  Omori to open the Spartans' margin to double digits. The Warrors could not recover, as they managed only two field goals and nine points in the second half. Kalina Obrey led the Warriors with eight points, but six were in the first half.

In the end, Kamehameha's OT win against Iolani might have hurt it against the longer and quicker Spartans, who also played Wednesday, but had fresher legs because they were able to clear their bench in an 70-38 win against Punahou.

Warriors coach Joe Cho said he did not like the scheduling of the league's second-round format, but still gave credit to the Spartans, who also had the home-court advantage for winning the regular-season title.

ILH champions listed below.