Iolani's Justin Genovia drives to the basket for a layup attempt against Maryknoll. Genovia scored seven points, all of them coming in the second half, in the Raiders' win over the Spartans. Peter Caldwell | SL

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Sat, Feb 4, 2017 @ Iolani

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Maryknoll

41

Iolani

43

Final	1	2	3	4
Maryknoll (8-4, 21-6)	10	13	4	14	41
Iolani (11-4, 22-11)	8	8	15	12	43

H. Hogland 16 pts  6/9 FTs

J. Cain 13 pts  1 3pm  8/9 FTs

For those who can't get enough Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division I basketball, this coming week will be a treat.

No. 4 Iolani rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to turn back No. 2 Maryknoll, 43-41, Saturday at Raiders lower gym on senior night to force a three-way tie for first to end the regular season.

No. 3 Punahou, Iolani and Maryknoll are knotted at 8-2.

The Raiders not only denied the Spartans from clinching the regular-season title and state berth that comes with it, but made a three-position swing in the standings. If Iolani lost, it would have fell to third place and would have to reach the second-round final for chance to play the league's second berth.

A draw was held earlier to determine scheduling for the playoffs. Punahou won the draw and earned the bye, so Iolani will visit Maryknoll 6 p.m. Monday in the first tier of possibly three to determine the regular-season champ and runner-up. The winner plays at Punahou on Tuesday.

Of course, there is the second-round to follow.

However, it could get even busier for some teams.

Should the winner of Iolani-Maryknoll also beat Punahou, two teams would be 8-3 overall. That playoff would be held Wednesday, moving the second-round season start to Thursday.  If there are different champions or runners-up from either round, another playoff would be scheduled for Sunday, ILH basketball coordinator Peter Estomago confirmed.

The Division I state tournament starts Monday, Feb. 13, because of the regional format.

Hugh Hogland led the Raiders with 16 points. Justin Genovia aided in the rally scoring all of his seven points in the second half.

Jaylen Cain led Maryknoll with 13 points.

"In the first half I thought we were playing hard, but we were playing on our heels," Iolani coach Dean Shimamoto said. "So we kind of challenged our guys to come out with more effort. It was a ‘we need this game' kind of moment. We kept the talk short and left them in the locker room by themselves. I don't what they said to themselves, but whatever that was, I probably have to do that more."

Hogland admitted the team felt flat before the game.

"Actually, it was kind of dead in warmups," he said. "It didn't feel like a high-pressure game. I think that's too much experience for us, but we woke up in the second half. Coach Dean got on us, so credit to our coaches for waking us up."

At the half, Maryknoll coach Kelly Grant warned his players to get better looks at the basket in the second half.

‘"But we didn't do it," Grant said. "Give Iolani credit, they played real solid defense. They took us out of our rhythm in the third quarter."

It got hairy when Iolani's Hogland and Bailey Alabanza committed each committed his fourth foul early in the fourth. Their approximately three-minute absence helped the Spartans tie the game at 27, only to be negated by Alabanza's putback at the buzzer.

"A couple weeks ago, we played Saint Louis at Saint Louis without Hugh and Cole (Hogland) because they were on a volleyball trip," Shimamoto said. "We came out with a big win there so I don't think our guys felt that was too unfamiliar. They felt confident enough that they could be successful without (Hugh). That game with Saint Louis definitely helped us in that three, four-minute stretch today."

The Raiders trailed 23-16 at the half then exploded on the Spartans to start the third. Iolani scored six of its first 10 third-quarter points off of turnovers. The Raiders took the lead with 2:15 in the third when Cole Hogland made an easy 1-foot banker after taking a pass from brother, Hugh. Cole made the ensuing free throw to put Iolani ahead, 27-25.

But Hugh Hogland was later called for a player-control foul, turning the ball over to Maryknoll, which capitalized with free throws from Makoto Kamata that tied the game at 27 with 59 seconds in the third.

"Credit this guy right here," Hugh Hogland said while grabbing hold of Cole," and the rest of my teammates for holding down court."

The Raiders worked patiently for the final shot of the period and converted when Bailey Alabanza scored on a putback at the buzzer to give Iolani a 29-27 lead entering the fourth.

But 30 seconds into the fourth, Hugh Hogland and Alabanza suffered their fourth fouls of the game. The Spartans took advantage of their absence and took a 35-34 lead with 5:10 on Kamata's dribble drive layup.

Both players returned with four minutes left and Helam Baldemero's 3-pointer with 3:25 left put Iolani ahead, 37-35. Iolani then scored its last six points from the free-throw line to keep Maryknoll trailing.

With seven seconds left, Kawika Lee missed both double-bonus free throws and Kaulana Schmidt came down with the rebound. The Spartans got the ball down court, but Noah Gelacio missed his baseline jumper at the buzzer.