Maryknoll's Aloha Akaka (15 points) connects on a 3-pointer against the Kamehameha Warriors in an ILH Division I contest Friday night. CJ Caraang | SL

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_20010432_GBKB_KSK-MS_CJCARAANG-1146.jpg - CJ Caraang | SL

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MAKIKI — After a poor showing the third quarter, Maryknoll answered coach Chico Furtado's challenge to close out the fourth quarter.

The third-ranked Spartans held off the visiting fifth-ranked Warriors, 45-42, in the waning seconds to begin the New Year at the Clarence T. C. Ching Gymnasium Friday.

"I just challenged them. I challenged our kids. We were ahead 10, they (Kamehameha) go 20-6 on us. I showed them the shot chart, I showed them where they got their points from and I showed them the nine turnovers. I said, ‘If you continue to play like this, you will be 1-4 after the night.' I challenged them to go back and do the things, we need shot attempts, we need to be tough with the ball," Furtado said of his team's response.

The win helps keep Maryknoll in pace in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I standings and improve to 2-3 and is tied with Punahou for second place. Kamehameha dropped to 1-4. Both teams returned from California to participate in tournaments to break the monotony of ILH play. 

"We were able to get a big win and every win in this league is huge," Furtado said.

Kamehameha led by four to open the fourth quarter after outscoring Maryknoll, 20-6 in the third quarter. Lilly Koki scored 13 points and accounted for four points all by herself to tie the game at 35. Both teams traded points at the free throw line until Mahalo Akaka's basket gave the Spartans a 39-36 lead.

Malie Marfil, who led the Warriors with 13, sank both foul shots and shot 9 for 15 overall from the charity stripe to tie things up at 39 with 5:25 left in the fourth.

Koki tied the game at 41 off her own miss and Marfil went 1 of 2 for a 42-41 lead.

The Warriors shot 16 for 35 from the free throw line overall, but misses down the stretch haunted Kamehameha as Haley Masaki and Noelle Sua-Godinet each had chances to reclaim the lead, but came up empty.

"We were able to outscore them, 14-7. They helped us, they missed a ton of free throws. I wasn't too happy with the free throw count, 35 to the 19 attempts. Nonetheless we battled through it," Furtado said.

Serenity Moananu put in Aloha Akaka's miss at around the 47.4 mark and Aloha followed up with foul shots to put Maryknoll up three, 45-42 with 34.7 seconds remaining.

After Mahalo Akaka threw the ball out of bounds, with 8.8 seconds, Marfil had an attempt to potentially tie the game with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc, but it caromed off and Mahalo was able to secure the rebound.

"That's how it goes sometimes," Furtado said. "We still play roller coaster. We have to value the basketball and get shot attempts instead of turnovers. We had nine turnovers in that third quarter. The resiliency in the fourth, they battled back and made some stops. I thought Lilly (Koki) was big in the fourth."

Maryknoll started pulling away in the second quarter and built a 10 point cushion going into halftime.

"We hit some shots, we got inside. I thought our defense was tremendous in the first half. I think we lost focus in the third quarter. When we turned the ball over and when we dropped our heads and don't defend, it's a double whammy," Furtado said.

Kamehameha chipped away to open the third quarter on a 8-2 run and crept closer, getting within two following Esther Naum's put back off her own miss and Marfil tied the game at 31 with a layup in transition off Naum's steal. Marfil added a free throw and Camille Feary drained a 3-pointer off an inbounds pass to give the Warriors a slim lead heading into the fourth.

"If you look at the shot chart, they had five buckets from seven to 10 feet. We turned the ball over on our side. It was a nightmare third, but we came out in the fourth, tied it quickly and it was a possession by possession game," Furtado said.

Kamehameha hosts No. 4 Punahou on Jan. 7 while Maryknoll goes to unbeaten and top-ranked Iolani on the same night.