Chase for the Championship
Gelacio lifts No. 4 Iolani past No. 10 Campbell, 29-27; returns to title game


  



Fri, Feb 27, 2015 @ Stan Sheriff


Final 1 2 3 4  
Iolani (8-4, 18-8) 2 871229
Campbell (11-2, 19-8) 12 4 2 927
J. Bantolina 9 pts  1 3pm  0/2 FTs
Z. Gelacio 10 pts  2/4 FTs
D. Marrero 8 tot  2 off  6 def
H. Hogland 7 tot  2 off  5 def
E. Yamada 2 ast

MANOA—It was an ugly win, but Iolani will take it.

Zach Gelacio scored the final three points in the waning seconds to lift Iolani past Campbell in the semifinals of the New City Nissan/Hawaii High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball Division I State Championships on Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center. The defending state champions will make their 14th appearance in the title game and seek their 11th overall championship.

David Marrero hit a floater in the paint with 26.3 seconds left to give Campbell a 27-26 lead. Iolani called back-to-back timeouts with 15.9 seconds remaining on the clock. Erik Yamada passed it to Gelacio who hit a long jumper near the right corner 3-point line and Campbell called timeout with 3.6 seconds remaining. Ironically, the play wasn't drawn up for him.

"The play we drew up, I wasn't supposed to shoot it. We were supposed to look inside to Hugh because he was playing well, but the defense was sagging on him and they knew we'd go inside. EY (Erik) found me and knocked it in," said Gelacio, who finished with 10 points.

"Every game-winning play I call it's always for someone, but someone else makes the play. Credit to our guys for being ready and seeing the opportunity and making the most out of it," said Iolani coach Dean Shimamoto.

Hogland deflected Jayce Bantolina's full court pass and Gelacio came up with the ball and was fouled with 0.8 seconds remaining. He sank the first free throw, but missed the second to make it 29-27 as Campbell grabbed the ball with 0.2 seconds and called a timeout. Michael Merchant's heave beyond half court fell short.

"We had the opportunities but fell short, I can't be more proud of the guys. We have a good bunch of kids, but it sucked not to get one for these guys. They left it all on the court," said Campbell coach Wyatt Tau.

Campbell jumped out to an early 9-0 lead in the first quarter. Bryson Hamada scored Iolani's only field goal as the Raiders shot 1 of 8 from the field. Jomar Jett Gapusan's 3-pointer in the left corner put the Sabers up, 12-2.

"It seemed like a mirror image of Wednesday night. Sometimes when you think when you're not finishing, you think it's your fault, but they (Campbell) are long had a role in that. We had opportunities, but didn't finish them," said Shimamoto.

The Sabers pushed the lead to 16-5 after Jayce Bantolina's layup drive. Bantolina finished with a team-high nine points. Kamu Borden and Pikai Winchester scored to cut the deficit to eight, 16-8. Robby Mann hit a pair of free throws as the Raiders pulled within six, 16-10 going into halftime.

Iolani shot 3 of 16 (18.8 percent) from the field in the first half and shot 11 of 28 (39.3) from the field for the game. Campbell shot 7 of 16 (43.8 percent) in the first half, but shot 5 of 19 (26.3 percent) in the second half. The Raiders committed 14 turnovers compared to the Sabers who had 10.

Campbell took a 18-12 after Lamart Dudley's baseline jumper, which turned out to be the only Sabers' basket of the quarter. The Raiders rallied in the third quarter and managed to cut the deficit to one, 18-17 after Hogland hit a cutting Hamada to the basket.

"We have to take care of the ball and we cannot fall into that trap. These guys will control the ball and they are very disciplined," said Tau.

"Campbell wasn't going to come out here to give it to us. We knew if we got down early we have to dig ourselves out and kept grinding, trying to chip away and came out on top. All credit to Campbell, they're a great team," said Gelacio.

Iolani took the lead, 19-18 for the first time at the 7:30 mark in the fourth after Hogland's shot in the paint. Gelacio scored back-to-back baskets to give the Raiders a 23-20 lead. Merchant drained a 3-pointer to tie the game at 23 and Dudley tied the game at 25. Gelacio hit a free throw to put Iolani up, 26-25 with 1:27 remaining. Iolani shot 7 of 13 (53.8 percent) from the free throw line for the game. Campbell made only one trip to the foul line for the whole game. 

The Sabers will play Kahuku for third place at 3 p.m.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].




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