Hanisch’s Game-Winning Shot Lifts Seabury to Div. II Title Tilt

Graphic courtesy of SportsHIgh.com.

By MauiNow.com

Seabury Hall’s Cameron Hanisch sank the game-winning 3-pointer with no time remaining to lift the Spartans over top-seeded Saint Francis in overtime 40-37 in Friday’s Division II state championship semifinal at Kaimuki gym.

The Spartans snapped their state tournament drought to become the first Maui Interscholastic League team to make it to the Division II state championship game. Seabury Hall will play University High today at 5 pm at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The game can also be heard live with Barry Helle on Maui’s ESPN Radio, 900AM.

Graphic courtesy of SportsHIgh.com.

The OC16 Hawaii High School Athletic Association game will be televised live on OC16 TV as the early game of a doubleheader championship broadcast. The Division I boys basketball championship final between Iolani and Punahou will be televised at 7 p.m.

Lahainaluna was the last Maui team to play in a small-school championship tournament final in 1982 when it was called the single “A” tournament.

“It feels surreal. We came here many times and things never worked out, but there is some magic about this team when they believe in each other and play together. Sky’s the limit for these guys and it’s working in their favor,” Seabury coach Scott Prather told ScoringLive.com after the game.

Seabury Hall got the ball back with 1:32 left in the overtime period. They worked the ball around on offense until Isaiah Payne threw a skip pass to Hanisch in the right corner where he buried the 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

Hanisch also had a hand in sending the game into overtime when he hit a jumper with 1:40 left in the fourth period, tying the game at 37. His jumper proved to be the final basket in regulation.

Graphic courtesy of SportsHIgh.com.

After trailing 25-14 at halftime, the Spartans rallied back to outscore the Saints 23-12 in the second half to force overtime.

Seabury Hall’s Isaiah Payne had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Supilani Mailei led St. Francis with a double-double of his own, logging game highs of 17 points and 16 boards.

Mailei led the team with 17 points and 16 rebounds—14 were offensive.

Payne’s coast-to-coast layup brought the Spartans to within seven, 27-20, and forced the Saints to call timeout. Josh Acidera followed with a 3-point play to bring Seabury within three, 28-25. The Saints held a 30-25 lead going into the fourth.

In the other semifinal, University High defeated Honokaa 54-39.

University jumped out to a 23-9 lead in the first quarter and didn’t look back.

The Jr. ’Bows had a lead as big as 48-25 with 5:17 remaining after an Anson Canencia 3-pointer with 5:17 remaining.

Ryan Hobus paced University with his double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds. Kevin Falk and Kea Callihan had a team-high eight points apiece for the Dragons.