Five-time defending boys basketball state champion 'Iolani scored another impressive victory over a Mainland power last night, this time rallying past Vincent (Milwaukee), 46-45, to take third place in the 23rd Annual 'Iolani Prep Classic.

It is the highest finish by a Hawai'i team in the nationally renown tournament since 1995, when Punahou took second place and 'Iolani third. Vincent is ranked No. 6 in the West Region by USA Today and recently notched victories over St. Joseph, the No. 2-ranked team in Illinois, and perennial national power Fairfax (Los Angeles).

"We're definitely growing as a basketball team," said 'Iolani guard Case Miyahira, a senior who finished with a game-high 23 points, including two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to give the Raiders a 46-45 lead. "We're a young team, and we need to get experience. That's what this tournament does, is give us a chance to see how we can execute against some really good teams."

As they did in Wednesday night's win over Tennessee's No. 6-ranked team, White Station (Memphis), the Raiders (8-3) executed well against Vincent. But they also got an unexpected boost thanks to two crucial technical fouls on the Vikings.

The first came with Vincent up 40-31 with 5:45 left in the game, when Marvin Fitzgerald was whistled for a blocking foul on Liloa Nobriga's baseline drive. The official said Fitzgerald used profanity in complaining about the call, which — by rule — warrants a technical foul.

Nobriga sank both of his free throws, then Miyahira swished two more after the technical foul. Nobriga then drained a 12-foot baseline jumper, which made it 40-37 with 5:27 remaining. Pablo Warner's free throw cut it to 40-38 about 50 seconds later, and Ryan Dung tied it at 40-40 on a baseline drive with 3:54 left.

Later, with the score tied at 42-42 and 1:48 remaining, Vikings coach Tom Diener was assessed a technical foul for repeatedly yelling for a five-second violation on 'Iolani, even after the Raiders called a timeout.

Miyahira sank the second free throw to put the Raiders up, 43-42, and with 'Iolani maintaining possession, Warner sank another free throw to make it 44-42.

"The two technicals were the key to the game," Diener said. "We had a 10-point lead (at 36-26 entering the fourth period) and had this thing in control ... I thought there were some poor calls down the stretch, but we've got to do a better job maintaining our composure, myself included."

Vincent still managed to take the lead back at 45-44 on Daryl Dent's 3-pointer from the right wing with 59 seconds left. But Miyahira was fouled with 14 ticks remaining and sank both free throws.

The Vikings' Bryquis Perine missed a 3-point attempt from the right corner with four seconds remaining, and 'Iolani grabbed the rebound and dribbled out the clock.

Miyahira, a 5-foot-11 wing, scored 14 points in the first half, including three 3-pointers in the first period.

'IOLANI 13 9 4 20 — 46

VINCENT 16 9 11 9 — 45

'IOLANI — Kela Marciel 0, Ryan Dung 5, Case Miyahira 23, Liloa Nobriga 10, Lionel Fujioka 0, Berton Wong 2, Bricen McCartney 0, Pablo Warner 6. Totals 13 15-19 46.

VINCENT — Daryl Dent 7, Diante Garrett 10, Trent Thomas 0, Bryquis Perine 2, Michael Weems 0, Dominque Sharp 15, Yusef Gray 9, Marvin Fitzgerald 2. Totals 19 6-12 45. 3-point goals — 'Iolani 5 (Miyahira 4, Dung). Vincent 1 (Dent).

LEFLORE (ALA.) 59, ROMAN CATHOLIC (PA.) 49

Nick Williams scored a game-high 24 points and Chris Blake added 10 points to lead the Rattlers (13-0) past the Cahillites in the championship game.

LeFlore, ranked No. 11 in USA Today's Top 25, won all four tournament games by at least 10 points each. Roman Catholic closed it to 52-47 with under two minutes remaining, but could not close the gap as the Rattlers sank their free throws down the stretch.

LeFlore returns six players from a state championship team that went 29-6. Rattlers coach Otis Hughley described their pressing, fast-break style of play as "endline-to-endline, (32) minutes of hell."

But he said their road to the title was not easy, and his team benefitted from the competition this week.

"We had a great time," Hughley said. "We've had great players from Alabama — Charles Barkley, Robert Horry — but this is the first time an Alabama team came here. I know there's been better fields (in the Classic) with lottery picks and stuff, but these were all pure high school teams, not the kind that ship guys in from other places."

LEFLORE 9 17 15 18 — 59

ROMAN CATHOLIC 7 17 12 13 — 49

LEFLORE — Chris Blake 10, Jamrion Leashore 6, Montrez McCants 0, Derrick Young 5, Joshua Wesley 7, Zack Lucas 0, Akeem Seltzer 0, Jeremiah Hughley 0, Jelani Figures 0, Zack Winston 7, Nick Williams 24, Demario James 0, Jeremy Bush 0, Marcus McCants 0, Melvin Payne 0. Totals 19 18-25 59.

ROMAN CATHOLIC — Brian Wanamaker 6, Raheem Brookins 0, Maalik Wayns 9, Nick Daggett 4, Courtney Stanley 7, Will Kirkland 4, Bradley Wanamaker 14, Mark Reeves 0, Brian McBeth 0, Wes Kirkland 5, Rasi Jenkins 0. Totals 19 7-15 49. 3-point goals — LeFlore 3 (Williams 2, Wesley). Roman Catholic 4 (Bri. Wanamaker, Wayns, Stanley, Kirkland).

FAIRFAX (CALIF.) 48, WHITE STATION (TENN.) 41

Chace Stanback scored a game-high 25 points and defending tournament champion Fairfax (Los Angeles) broke a 35-all tie by outscoring White Station (Memphis, Tenn.) 13-6 in the fourth quarter. Ja'Shon Hampton added 14 points for Fairfax. Jordan Miller led White Station with 16 points.

WHITE STATION 11 14 10 6 — 41

FAIRFAX 13 10 12 13 — 48

WHITE STATION — Kyndl Mitchell 1, Preston Laird 0, Jordan Miller 16, Erik Buggs 2, Patrick Coleman 0, Marquette Murrell 4, Kaylon Durham 7, DeAndre Bynum 9, Danny Harris 2. Totals 15 10-19 41.

FAIRFAX — Rod Singleton 5, Sheldon Boykin 0, Lance Bailey 0, Chace Stanback 25, Ja'Shon Hampton 14, Malcolm Campbell 4, Solomon Hill 0. Totals 15 14-16 48. 3-point goals — White Station 1 (Miller). Fairfax 4 (Stanback 2, Singleton, Hampton).

ST. DOMINIC (N.Y.) 61, GEORGETOWN (MD.) 56

Roland Davis hit four 3-pointers and scored a game-high 23 points to lead St. Dominic (Oyster Bay, N.Y.) past Georgetown (Bethesda, Md.) for seven place. Brian Katz added 13 points and Markeys Deans 11 for St. Dominic. Garvey Young led Georgetown with 22 points.

ST. DOMINIC 18 17 13 13 — 61

GEORGETOWN 21 11 15 9 — 56

ST. DOMINIC — TJ Thomas 2, Roland Davis 23, Brian Katz 13, Terrance Leach 3, Andrew Cobian 0, PJ Walters 0, TJ Carey 5, Markeys Deans 11, Paul Bilbo 2, George Beamon 2, Steve Rollino 0. Totals 23 6-9 61.

GEORGETOWN — Connor Hartley 0, Markel Starks 6, Kevin Dyer 0, Julien Williams 2, Aaron Bond 3, Garvey Young 22, Alvin Tucker 5, Chris Harrington 13, Kevin Ridgway 5, Jimmy Crivella 0. Totals 21 11-15 56. 3-point goals — St. Dominic 9 (Davis 4, Katz 3, Leach, Carey). Georgetown 3 (Harrington 2, Tucker).

SAINT LOUIS 59, KAIMUKI 51

Micah McClinton had 17 points and Cole Shidaki 11 to lead the Crusaders past the Bulldogs in the consolation championship. Beau Albrechtson, Daniel Colon and Keone Reyes scored 48 of Kaimuki's 51 points.

KAIMUKI 11 18 15 7 — 51

SAINT LOUIS 12 18 14 15 — 59

KAIMUKI — Daniel Colon 15, Craig Cabudol 0, Brandon Madamba 0, Chauncey Nicola 3, Makalii Nahinu 0, Ryan Kakitani 0, Keone Reyes 15, Beau Albrechtson 18. Totals 17 13-18 51.

SAINT LOUIS — Ricksson Pacarro 6, Kuli'a Aiona 6, John Quindara 3, Lucas Gonsalves 4, Scott Smith 9, Kyle Gonzaga 0, Cole Shidaki 11, Solomona Aigamaua 0, Geordon Hanohano 0, Michael Tuiloma 3, Micah McClinton 17, Jacob Barit 0, Jamison Miller 0. Totals 22 12-18 59. 3-point goals — Kaimuki 4 (Reyes 2, Colon, Albrechton). Saint Louis 3 (Pacarro 2, McClinton).

MOANALUA 58, KAMEHAMEHA 42

Stevie Austin scored 17 points and Josh Kure 10 and Na Menehune beat the Warriors in a consolation bracket game. Pono Hanson led Kamehameha with 10 points.

KAMEHAMEHA 6 17 5 14 — 42

MOANALUA 14 15 12 17 — 58

KAMEHAMEHA — Randy Cummings 3, Kawika Lyons 3, Mitchell Kauweloa 2, Andrew Godinet 9, Pono Hanson 10, Rykin Enos 3, Jonathan Hew Len 2, Jay Kauka 0, Levi Goeas 2, Pii Minns 2, Conrad Scheidt 6, Kamakoa Downey-Jovanovich 0. Totals 17 6-15 42.

MOANALUA — Kris Lazarou 4, Jay Yoshizawa 0, Paul Wasada 4, Stevie Austin 17, Rob Munoz 5, Josh Kure 10, Roshawn Terry 0, Ryan Hua 7, Montay Rover 5, Maurice Allen 6. Totals 27 4-6 58. 3-point goals — Kamehameha 2 (Lyons, Godinet). Moanalua none.

RADFORD 53, MILILANI 45

Four players scored in double-figures and the Rams beat the Trojans in a consolation bracket game. Justin Lord led Radford with 11 points and Travis Daniels, Antonio Williams, Soosoo Taulelei added 10 apiece. Donovan Olmos had 11 points for Mililani.

MILILANI 11 13 13 8 — 45

RADFORD 14 10 16 13 — 53

MILILANI — Devon Castellano 1, Aaron Lenchanko 0, Scott Burns 9, Jordan Torres 2, Curtis Murakami 2, Kendrick Clarke 0, Fred Nillo 4, Donovan Olmos 11, Nick Kanno 0, Warren Duke 0, David Otte 6, Brandon Dela Cruz 5, Jonathan Keen 6. Totals 17 8-13 45.

RADFORD — Travis Daniels 10, Joash Pangalinan 2, Justin Lord 11, Matt Alofaituli 2, Aldrin Valdez 2, Soosoo Taulelei 10, Gary Satterwhite 6, Antonio Williams 10. Totals 25 2-13 53. 3-point goals — Mililani 3 (Olmos 2, Burns). Radford 1 (Satterwhite).

MCKINLEY 53, CAMPBELL 43

Earvin Sione and Nainoa Lessary scored 12 points each and the Tigers beat the Sabers in a consolation bracket game. Mike Makinano led Campbell with 15 points. McKinley led 28-21 at halftime.

CAMPBELL 10 11 10 12 — 43

MCKINLEY 14 14 13 12 — 53

CAMPBELL — Demetrius Nealy 1, Danny Mau 0, Mike Makinano 15, Jay Nahial 0, Michael McDonald 6, Jayden DeLizo 2, Patrick Ward 6, Walter Daniels 4, Joseph Atimua 9, Terence Tafai 0, Pita Feleunga 0. Totals 15 10-16 43.

MCKINLEY — Jelani Thabiti 0, Tilton Kaluna 6, Jefferson Pou 2, Julius Borje 0, Earvin Sione 12, Nainoa Lessary 12, Rey Vincent Enanoria 8, Jonathan Lee 7, Ian Paez 0, Isaac Iuta 0, Travis Asing 0, Marshall Miyasaki 0, Oliver Diguc 6. Totals 20 11-14 53. 3-point goals — Campbell 3 (Makinano 2, McDonald). McKinley 2 (Enanoria 2).

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.