'Iolani escapes with key road victory over AOP, 39-37

'Iolani's Gabriel Vega puts up a shot in the paint over a trio of AOP defenders. Brien Ing | SL

KAILUA -- 'Iolani jumped out to an 8-0 lead last night and then held off Academy of the Pacific in the final minutes to earn a tense 39-37 victory at Le Jardin in Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys basketball action.

The Raiders improved to 6-3 after the second-round opener, while the Dolphins fell to 7-2 and out of first place and now trail ILH leader Punahou (8-1).

Gabriel Vega came off the bench to score 15 points and fellow post Duke Pauli added 14 more to help 'Iolani avenge a home loss to the Dolphins exactly a week prior.

AOP guard Wilson Macleod, who hit the game-winner at the buzzer to stun 'Iolani in the first-round meeting, had another chance at a last-gasp win last night, but his 3-point attempt from the left wing came up short and Vega secured the rebound as time expired.

The Raiders held on despite making only 3 of 9 free throw attempts in the final period.

"It's a good thing we were able to rely on our 'D' and make the stop, even though we didn't make our free throws," 'Iolani coach Dean Shimamoto said.

The Raiders took early control with an 8-0 run capped by Pauli's layup six minutes into the game and led, 21-13, at halftime.

Vega and Pauli each had eight points by halftime.

"We had a slow start, and Duke and Gabo were really tough for us to guard in the post," AOP coach Walter Marciel said. "Gabo always had the dribble penetration, but now he's finding success in the low post and he got a lot of easy shots on us. We just couldn't stop him."

'Iolani pushed the lead to 28-17 midway through the third quarter on Pauli's bank shot but AOP crept back and closed it to 32-27 entering the fourth after Marshall Gourley's putback with 50 seconds left.

The Raiders led 36-27 after Vega's two free throws with 4:44 remaining, but the Dolphins chipped away and cut it to 38-37 on David Daniel's free throw with 39 seconds left.

Vega then made one of two free throws to put 'Iolani up, 39-37, with 4.8 ticks on the clock, setting up MacLeod's final attempt which came after a timeout.

Daniel and Drew Viena each scored 11 points to lead AOP.