Iolani bombs Campbell, 68-37

Iolani's Hugh Hogland swats a shot attempt by Campbell's Dakota Le Beau. Hogland had 10 points, eight boards and two blocks in the Raiders' blowout win. CJ Caraang | SL

KAILUA — For the first four minutes of the game, the defending Division I state champions were looking for an answer.

Then they started to play defense.

The Iolani Raiders went on a 33-0 run throughout the span of the first half to handle Campbell, 68-37, in the first round of the fifth annual Surfrider Holiday Classic at Hurry Murai Gymnasium Thursday night.

Iolani missed its first five shots of the game and found itself in an early 9-1 hole as the Sabers made four of their first six shot attempts. The Raiders put in their press after a timeout and the rest was history.

Four different players scored in double figures for Iolani. Bailey Alabanza led the way with 13 points while Hugh Hogland, Noah Bumanglag and Helam Baldomero each had 10 more. Hogland, the reigning ScoringLive All-Hawaii Player of the Year, also used his 6-foot-9 frame to defend the post, adding eight boards and two blocks.

The Raiders totaled 15 steals and forced Campbell into 27 turnovers. Whenever the Sabers broke Iolani's press, Hogland's presence in the paint was enough to force Campbell into bad shots.

After starting the game 4-for-6 from the field, the Sabers missed their next 13 shot attempts and found themselves down 36-11 at halftime. Campbell did not make another field goal until the 4:45 mark of the third period when Mitchell Williams scored in the post.

The Sabers ended up only converting 15 of their 48 shot attempts (31.3 percent) while the Raiders finished with a 54.5 percent clip on 30 of 55 shooting.

Williams had 10 points and Ryan Cabanilla added nine more to lead the Sabers in the loss.

Iolani moves on to face Kailua Friday night in the semifinals of the annual tournament.

Reach Michael Lasquero at [email protected].