Maryknoll's Tobias Powell battles for a loose ball between Punahou's Justin Kam and Kanawai Noa. Evan Asato | SL

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Punahou's Nick Velasquez split a pair of Maryknoll defenders on the way to the basket. Evan Asato | SL

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Maryknoll's Hyrum Harris and Tobias Schramm battle for a loose ball against Punahou. Evan Asato | SL

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Wed, Jan 9, 2013 @ Maryknoll

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Punahou

66

Maryknoll

70

Final	1	2	3	4
Punahou (8-4, 22-8)	13	13	16	24	66
Maryknoll (11-1, 25-3)	9	20	19	25	70

K. Gilmore 19 pts  5/8 FTs

N. Velasquez 28 pts  4 3pm  4/4 FTs

Host Maryknoll cashed in at the free throw line and on Punahou's missing post in a 70-66 victory Wednesday night.

Kaleb Gilmore scored 19 points to lead a quartet of Spartans who scored in double digits to help improve Maryknoll to 2-0 in Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I basketball.

The Buffanblu (1-1) were without 6-foot-6 Kupono Fey, who was out with strep throat. Still, Nick Velasquez's game-high 28 points kept the Buffanblu within striking distance toward the end. Daniel Andrew's tied the contest at 64 with one minute, 39 seconds left in the game with a 3-pointer.

But the Spartans made six of their last six free throws in the final minute in part to being in the double-bonus situation. Forty percent of Maryknoll's scoring came on 28-of-44 free-throw shooting.

'We lost twice to them last year," Gilmore said. "We had to get this win. This was crucial for us."

Indeed. In the ILH, the best record in the regular season secures a state tournament berth.

"When I was coaching at Kaimuki, you could lose a couple games and come back at the end," Maryknoll coach Kelly Grant said. "I know getting the first-round berth into the state tournament is super crucial so we have to win as much game as we can so we can get the first berth. We want to try to beat everybody."

Considering the absence of Fey, the Buffanblu still made a run at the Spartans. Velasquez was on fire in the second half, scoring 17 points, including three 3-pointers.

"We had foul trouble and our 6-foot-6 kid missing," Punahou coach Darren Masuda said. "So I'm proud of our kids. We battled. We were under-sized, short-handed and we battled. They gave it everything they got. That's all you can ask. We were in it at the end. The ball just didn't bounce our way."

Grant said he was surprised when he learned of Fey's absence just prior to the game.

"That was big for us," he acknowledged.

Maryknoll had a number of contributors, as 6-5 Hyrum Harris added 11 points with 6-9 Tobias Schramm and 6-4 Joshua Burnett chipping in 10 points each.

Yet, it wasn't Maryknoll's plan to exploit the loss of one of  Punahou's key components.

"I felt it was more important that we not match up with them size-wise so we went with the four-guard rotation for most of the game," Grant said. "Later in the game, when they were a little more tired, we could throw our bigs on the floor. We got some big offensive rebounds. Even though Toby missed some shots point blank, still he was putting a lot of pressure on them under the boards."

Punahou jumped out to an 11-3 lead after scoring on consecutive turnovers that resulted in baskets by Randon Oda and Dayson Watanabe. But Maryknoll chipped away to closed the gap to 13-9 by the end of the first period.

But the Spartans began chipping away, tying the game at 17 with 5:08 left in the half on a short jumper by Gilmore. It was part of an 8-0 run that eventually saw the Spartans take a 21-17 lead. They opened the lead to 27-19, but a seven-point surge by Velasquez just before the half closed the Buffanblu deficit to 29-26 by the break.

Maryknoll got six points off offensive boards in the third period to take a 48-42 lead into the fourth quarter.

Punahou began its comeback in the final two minutes. A 3-pointer by Velasquez pulled Punahou to within 62-61. But Danny Danbara, 8 of 9 in free throws, made two with 1:53 to give Maryknoll a three-point lead.

But Punahou's Andrew's drained a 3-pointer to tie the game at 64 with 1:39 left. But he fouled Gilmore on Maryknoll's ensuing possession and Gimore made the double-bonus shots to put Maryknoll up 66-64.

Velasquez missed a 3-pointer on Punahou's next possession and Danbara came down with the rebound and was fouled with 39 seconds left and converted both his double-bonus free throws to make it 68-64.

Watanabe was fouled with 29 seconds left and made his free throws to pull Punahou to 68-66. But Andrews drew his fifth foul that sent Danbara to the line with 19 seconds left with both his free throws providing the margin of victory.