Saint Louis' Chris Sykes puts up a shot over two Mid-Pacific defenders. John Lujan | SL

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Wed, Jan 18, 2017 @ Saint Louis

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Mid-Pacific

42

Saint Louis

58

Final	1	2	3	4
Mid-Pacific (2-9, 7-12)	12	7	7	16	42
Saint Louis (2-10, 11-16)	11	14	9	24	58

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

C. Sykes 24 pts  6/6 FTs

Z. Shepherd 15 pts  3/7 FTs

J. Nunuha 9 tot  2 off  7 def

Z. Shepherd 11 tot  4 off  7 def

J. Nunuha 1 ast

N. Coito 1 ast

KALAEPOHAKU — In the ultra-competitive Interscholastic League of Honolulu, every win matters. 

Chris Sykes poured in 24 points to lead Saint Louis over No. 9 Mid-Pacific, 58-42 to snap a four-game losing streak at McCabe Gymnasium on Wednesday night.  

"We were 0-4 and tonight we played hard and gave it our all. We knew we had to get a win because it's a tough league," said Sykes. 

Saint Louis coach Allan Silva, echoed those same sentiments. 

"We needed it," he said, on the win. 

Three of Saint Louis' four losses were by an average of five points, but tonight the Crusaders (1-4) finally put it together to break into the win column. 

"The beginning of the season was close. We hope that from here we can go up and not dwell on the past," said Sykes. 

"Saint Louis is really good team. That record does not indicate how good of a team they are. They are physical, big, and they can run. You have to give them credit and they played well tonight. One or two bounces and that could be 4-1," said Mid-Pacific coach Hirata. 

"We didn't play well against Maryknoll and lose by five we had Iolani the whole game except the last two minutes and lose by four. I told the guys you are this close to being a good team. When you put it together, I would never want be on the other side playing this team," said Silva. 

Since stealing a win at Kamehameha, the Owls dropped their second-straight game to fall to 1-4. 

Sykes battered Mid-Pacific with his lethal mid-range jumper and putbacks to score 14 of his 24 points in the second half. He also finished 6-for-6 from the free throw line. 

"He's been perfecting it all summer," said Silva, on Sykes' jumper. "He got some putbacks and he's learning how to finish inside." 

"I'm glad my teammates got me when was open. Coach told me when I got that mid-range jumper, take it because it was falling tonight," said Sykes. 

Mid-Pacific jumped out to a 8-2 off of 3-pointers, however, the Crusaders came back to trail by one, 12-11 after the first stanza. 

Junior Wily's drive tied the game at 13. Four-straight points by Sykes gave Saint Louis their first lead of the game, 17-15 with 2:55 left. A 3-pointer by Robert Thompson brought it within two, 21-19, but Saint Louis led 25-19 at halftime and never trailed since. 

Zion Shepherd scored six of the Owls' seven third quarter points and finished with 15 points and 11 boards. Aside from the opening minutes of the game, Mid-Pacific looked flat from the second half onward much to the displeasure of coach Hirata. 

"For the first time in three years, I was disappointed with the effort and will on the court. But we play Friday again so we have to get back to work on Thursday to prepare for Friday," said Hirata. 

The momentum starting swinging toward Saint Louis late in the third quarter and into the fourth as Sykes extended the lead to 10, 36-26, after a jumper despite Jaymason Nunuha committing the offensive foul. 

"They wanted it more than us tonight. They played really well and you have to credit them for the way they played," said Hirata. 

Mid-Pacific brought the deficit to eight, 38-30, after a quick four-point spurt, but the Crusaders erupted to push it back to double digits and never relented and extended the lead to as much as 20 points. Nunuha and Wily were finishing in transition as they ended with 10 points apiece. 

Saint Louis did not make a 3-pointer all game, but shot a modest 20-for-27 (74 percent) from the foul line—10 free throws came in the fourth quarter to help the Crusaders put it away. The Owls had looks from behind the arc, but finished 4 of 19 for the game. 

The Crusaders hope this win can jumpstart the team as they head into the second half of the ILH regular season. Up next, Saint Louis hosts Kamehameha (1-4) on Saturday, Jan. 21. The Owls have a short window to turn it around before they go to Maryknoll (4-1) on Friday, Jan. 20, who just toppled Iolani (4-1), 37-35.