Nick Demusis has helped lead a young basketball squad to the brink of a title.

The Mililani senior led the Trojans (9-2) to two key wins last week, scoring 16 points in a 67-60 win at Campbell and had 17 in a 69-62 win over Radford.

The Trojans are one game ahead of Campbell and Radford (both are 8-2) in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red West standings. Mililani can clinch a share of the division title with a win over Waipahu (1-9) tonight.

"We knew those games were going to be tough," Mililani coach Ed Gonzales said. "They were huge wins for us, for our confidence, to get into the playoffs.

"Nick led us. He's a senior, he's played basketball for four years, I count on him to lead my young squad."

Demusis is one of four seniors for Mililani.

"The seniors have to understand that sometimes we're learning this year and as we go away, it's a little different," Gonzales said. "You're not going to get calls on the floor, the crowd is different and hostile. That's why I count on Nick to get everybody focused."

Demusis plays the '3' position, a versatile role where he's able to create opportunities for the Trojans. Gonzales said his role complements the team's other guards, Reginald Griffin and Hassan Richardson.

"For his size (6-foot-3), he's got an unbelievable first step, he can shoot the jumper," Gonzales said. "He's got great penetration moves, and he's got great hops."

Against Radford last Thursday, Mililani used a 24-9 third-quarter run to pull away from Radford, avenging a Jan. 14 loss to the Rams.

Mililani held Campbell scoreless in the game's final three minutes to rally for the win.

"(Demusis) started slow against Campbell but finished strong," Gonzales said. "He does all the stuff we count on him for. He scores, gets rebounds, plays defense, makes good passes inside. He runs our offensive and defensive schemes. We try to go through Nick."

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2451.

BASKETBALL

ILH DIVISION II GIRLS

punahou 56, hawaiian Mission 51: Kayla Murata scored 12 points and Michelle Tam added nine as the visiting Buffanblu pulled away from the Knights. Raquel Gonzalez scored 24 points to lead HMA.

PUNAHOU (4-6) 17 8 13 18 — 56

HAWAIIAN MISSION (2-10) 8 13 16 14 — 51

PUNAHOU — Olivia Manayan 0, Brittany Pacarro 2, Ashley Choy 7, Sara Nishikawa 7, Courtney Lelepali 0, Kira Bayley 4, Demi Suzuki 7, Natalie Portwood 0, Kayla Murata 12, Julia Ayabe 0, Jessica Lin 8, Michelle Tam 9, Hilary Nakaya 0. Totals 19 17-34 56.

HAWAIIAN MISSION — Rachel Reyes 0, Alana Muller 3, Melissa Mishima 8, Samantha Ramos 10, Tiffany Pinontoan 0, Caroline Kim 6, Colleen Uechi 0, Erika Tsubokura 0, Raquel Gonzalez 24, Hope Leao 0, Ana Bechard 0. Totals 13 22-39 51.

3-point goals: Punahou 1 (Nishikawa). Hawaiian Mission 3 (Ramos 2, Kim 1).

Reported by Lei Kinimaka

ST. FRANCIS 49, LA PIETRA 33: Jasmine Teal scored 13 points and the visiting Troubadours outscored the Lady Panthers 16-0 in the first period en route to the victory. Cody Koa scored 16 points for La Pietra.

ST. FRANCIS (7-4) 16 11 10 12 — 49

LA PIETRA (2-8) 0 8 4 21 — 33

ST. FRANCIS — Breanne Suyeyoshi 0, Ashley Kawamata 2, Ululani Reyes 2, Roblyn Silva 6, Kristen Enomoto 6, Aja Gample 2, Kealakai Bento 0, Cierra Gauvin 2, Nicole Yuen 0, Jasmine Soon 2, Ashley Kupau 2, Chardonnay Pao 6, Justine Silva 6, Jasmine Teal 13. Totals 23 3-4 49.

LA PIETRA — Kendra Akase 0, Alexandra Del Favero Campbell 3, Jennifer Moody 2, Cody Koa 16, Rachel Wegenman 0, Adrian Huang 0, Shannon Waltz 3, Marissa Freeman 0, Emily Schlieman 2, Monique Smith 4, Mckenzie Hoover 3. Totals 8 17-31 33.

3-point goals: St. Francis none. La Pietra none.

Reported by Uilani Pangelinan