Maryknoll's Alexis Delovio puts up the game-winning layup in the closing seconds to lift the Spartans over Lahainaluna. Steve Erler | SL

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Thu, Feb 11, 2016 @ Moanalua

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Maryknoll

63

Lahainaluna

61

Final	1	2	3	4
Maryknoll (13-2, 23-3)	7	21	11	24	63
Lahainaluna (14-0, 23-3)	8	8	27	18	61

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

K. Koloi 23 pts  1 3pm  4/7 FTs

A. Delovio 17 pts  7/8 FTs

K. Koloi 13 tot  5 off  8 def

I. Cravens 6 tot  1 off  5 def

C. Fernandez 3 ast

A. Delovio 3 ast

SALT LAKE— Alexis Delovio's buzzer-beating layup catapulted Maryknoll past Lahainaluna, 63-61 in the nightcap of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association/OC16 Division I Girls Basketball State Championships semifinals at Moanalua.

The last time Maryknoll made it to a championship game was in 1987, where they lost to Iolani. Their last championship was in 1978. This is first-ever title appearance in the Division I and II era and will face defending champion Konawaena at the Stan Sheriff Center on Friday night. Lahainaluna will play Kaiser for third place.

"It was about finishing strong, battling through adversity and staying together. I'm so proud to be with these girls and I love our Maryknoll support system," said Delovio.

The Lady Spartans avenged last year's loss in the semifinals where the Lady Lunas won, 55-44.

"We made one more play than they did. Two really good programs, we battled before, it was just our turn this time," said Maryknoll coach Chico Furtado. "For the team to battle back and not throw in the towel, I'm so proud of our girls."

Following a miss by Keleah Aiko Koloi, Isabella Cravens rebounded the ball and Maryknoll held it for the final shot. They drained the clock all the way down to 16.1 seconds before calling a timeout. With the game tied at 61, Delovio attacked the basket and her layup dropped as the buzzer sounded.

"I saw how spread the court was and my opportunity with the open lane. I went up with confidence and head full of steam and it fell through", said Delovio, who scored a team-high 17 points.

Furtado believed Delovio was due for a breakout game. She struggled in their games against Punahou, but tonight, she bounced back making her presence felt on the offensive and defensive end. She had four steals, three assists and a blocked shot.

"I told her, there is a big game in you and I'm going to wait for it. Tonight was it and not on the offensive end, she had could picks, jumped passing lanes, blocked shot. That's the Lexi I know and love," said Furtado.

"I think our game plan was executing and being patient on offense. We knew they were a run and gun team and slow down the tempo and game sort of brought them out of their game," said Delovio.

Maryknoll tried to slow down the tempo and spread the ball out on offense. Kodee Viena and Chayse Milne drained consecutive 3-pointers to make it, 20-12. Braenna Estabillo answered with a 3, but the Lady Spartans closed out the quarter on a 8-1 run to take a 28-16 lead at halftime.

"That is one of the teams you don't want to run with. Having them chase us around early winded them. Then we kicked it in full gear with our press," said Furtado, on dictating the tempo.

The Lady Spartans shot 18 of 39 (46.2 percent) from the field for the game, while the Lady Lunas shot 23 of 45 (51.1 percent).

Maryknoll went up by as much 12, but that lead evaporated as Lahainaluna went on a 11-0 run. Cameron Fernandez's 3-point play cut it to one, 32-31 with 4:29 remaining. Lahainaluna turned up the pressure and force Maryknoll into untimely turnovers and went up, 39-33. The Lady Lunas led, 43-39 going into the fourth.

"The length and quickness, we didn't do a good job handling the ball, they came down and hit shots, but before you know it, they're up," said Furtado.

The Lady Lunas experienced foul trouble as Fernandez picked up her fourth foul with 2:25 left and Fiamea Hafoka also picked up her fourth with 46.5 seconds in the third. Fernandez and Hafoka finished with 16 and 14 respectively before fouling out.

Koloi battled foul trouble and tried to pick up the offensive slack, scoring 18 of her 23 in the second half. She also grabbed 13 rebounds.

Lahainaluna extended the lead to 49-41 after a free throw from Hafoka. Maryknoll nailed back-to-back 3's from Lee and Milne to cut it to two. Koloi hit a 3 in the left corner, to go up, 54-49, however, the Lady Spartans tied the game at 56. Lahainaluna scored five-straight points, but Cravens' 3-point play and Omori's free throws tied the game at 61.