Chris Gallacher completes a lay-up ahead of Kaleb Gilmore late in the fourth. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 1 of 4

A referee waves off Kaleb Gilmore's three-pointer which was shot after the buzzer, ending the game with an Iolani win. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 2 of 4

Iolani's Ikaika Phillip, right, attempts to block a shot attempt by Maryknoll's Kaleb Gilmore. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 3 of 4

Iolani Raiders celebrate after winning the overall ILH division I championship over Maryknoll, 57-54. Sean Nakamura | SL

View image 4 of 4

Sat, Feb 15, 2014 @ Maryknoll

---

Iolani

57

Maryknoll

54

Final	1	2	3	4
Iolani (10-3, 23-7)	14	15	7	21	57
Maryknoll (10-3, 26-6)	12	14	10	18	54

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

K. Gilmore 23 pts  15/16 FTs

I. Phillip 18 pts  1 3pm  9/10 FTs

T. Kaloa 5 tot  3 off  2 def

I. Phillip 5 tot  2 off  3 def

S. Ogata 2 ast

E. Yamada 2 ast

MAKIKI - This time, the buzzer beat the shot.

Maryknoll's Kaleb Gilmore drained a 3-pointer - but after the buzzer sounded before he released his shot - and 'Iolani survived the late scare in an exhilarating 57-54 win to capture the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I boys' basketball crown Saturday night before an overflow crowd of 400 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Gymnasium.

"If we had another .5 seconds on the clock, that (basket) would've been good," Maryknoll coach Kelly Grant said.

It was an amazing run for the Raiders.

"We've been fighting the whole way since the last time we lost over here," 'Iolani coach Dean Shimamoto said. "Two big wins against Punahou and to come back back-to-back nights to beat Maryknoll, unbelievable. Unbelievable."

On Jan. 29, the Spartans beat the Raiders on Joshua Burnett's layup at the buzzer after a turnover at the Ching Gymnasium.

"It's an amazing feeling, to come to someone's house and beat them back-to-back," said Ikaika Phillip, 'Iolani's leading scorer with 18 points, half on 9-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line.

It is the Raiders' first title since 2011 and 14th overall. With the title, 'Iolani (10-3) will secure one of the seeded berths for upcoming Division I state tournament. The Spartans (10-3), who beat the Raiders twice during the regular season, but lost to them for the second consecutive night at home, also qualifies for the state tournament.

'iolani, which finished second during the regular season, won the league's single-elimination tournament Friday to force Saturday's overall title game.

"We knew coming in  it was going to be tough, but we battled," 'Iolani's Zach Buscher said. "Last night came down to the wire; tonight came down to the wire. We would've liked to finish a little better, but I'm happy with this result. It feels good."

Phillip said winning Friday's game was a booster.

"it was an obstacle because we hadn't beat Maryknoll in a long time," Phillip said. "This gave us the confidence (for Saturday)."

The Raiders had a 57-53 lead after Zach Gelacio made one of two free throws with 12 seconds left. With 1.2 seconds left, Gilmore was fouled by Zach Buscher; there was some debate as to whether he was fouled in the act of shooting beyond the 3-point arc or whether it was a non-shooting foul. The latter was decided and Gilmore had the double-bonus foul shots. He made the first to pull Maryknoll with in three before 'Iolani called time to plan a defense against a deliberate missed free throw to set up a game-tying 3-pointer.

Gilmore did miss and Maryknoll's 6-foot-7 post Micah McGivern got the rebound and passed to Gilmore on the left wing. As Gilmore prepared to shoot, the buzzer sounded just before he released his shot that went into the basket to a deafening cheer. For a second, the Spartans' fans thought they won it, but he referees made it official by signaling no basket.

"We had a defense for it, but lucky thing it was too late," Buscher said.

The Spartans had Gilmore on the left and Burnett on the right, giving them options for the 3-pointer, Grant said.

The Spartans jumped out in front early with an 8-3 lead. But a 3-pointer by Buscher and 9-of-9 shooting from the free-throw line put the Raiders ahead, 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Maryknoll tied the game at 14 on Burnett's layup early in the second period, but the Ikaika Phillip, who led the Raiders with 18 points, drained a 3 to put the Raiders back in front. But the Raiders were still able to control the quarter and take a 29-26 lead into the half.

The Spartans regained the lead for the first quarter with 3:20 left in the third quarter when Burnett made two free throws. It was part of a 6-0 run by Maryknoll that put it ahead, 36-32. But the Raiders tied it before the end of the period with four free throws.

The Raiders began pulling away in the fourth, leading by as much as eight with 44 seconds left. Burnett converted a three-point play with 23 seconds left to pull Maryknoll to within 56-51.

The pressure was mounting on the Raiders. With 20 seconds left, the best free-throw shooting team in the state saw Buscher miss two free throws. Gilmore got the rebound and Kamakana Winquist scored with 14 seconds left to pull Maryknoll to 56-53. The Spartans, chasing most of the game, fouled Gelacio with 12 seconds left. After making his first free throw to make it 57-53, he missed the second that Burnett rebounded.

Gilmore was eventually fouled with 1.2 seconds, setting up the dramatic finish.

Gilmore and Burnett combined for 44 of the team's 54 points. Gilmore led with 23, shooting 15 of 16 from the free-throw line. Burnett had 21, shooting 9 of 9 free throws.

The Raiders were 30 of 40 from the free-throw line.

"They executed their offense and game plan to a T," Grant said. "They switched their defenses up from a box-and-one, to a triangle-and-two, to man-to-man. They played excellent defense. It came down to hitting all their free throws. They had 40 free throws, we had 31. That's the way the numbers are going to be because we were chasing. The officiating did a good job; they called it real consistent."