OLINDA — This one looked like a mismatch by resume: the 10-time Maui Interscholastic League Division II champions from Seabury Hall at home facing a first-year varsity program in Maui Preparatory Academy.

Two minutes into the second half, it was a five-point game.

In the end, the veteran Spartans proved to be too much for the young Na Pueo squad, surviving for a 76-63 win at the Erdman Athletic Center on Friday night in the MIL D-II tournament final.

The result wrapped up the 11th straight league crown for Seabury Hall (12-0) and the only state tournament berth that the MIL receives at this level.

“Yes, very much, these are big games, this is the biggest game we’ve played this far the whole season,” Seabury Hall junior point guard Joaquin Donez said after scoring 25 points. “With momentum like this going into states, it’s really good for our team.”

MPA (8-5) walks away with a memorable first season and plenty of promise for the future. Na Pueo have three seniors in Harrison Cramond, Noah Hill and Tyler Kirby, but the nucleus of their team are sophomores.

“They’re a really great team,” Donez said. “They had to play last night, seeing them play today, they came out on fire. This is their third game in three nights. They said it themselves the whole season, they wanted to come for first place. I give respect to them, they did their best.”

James Falk hit a 3-pointer to bring Maui Prep within 42-37 with 5:55 to go in the third quarter, but the Spartans went on a 17-6 run to open up a 59-43 lead.

MPA would not get closer than 12 the rest of the way.

Na Pueo sophomore guard Drew Triplett had to be helped to the medal stand to receive his silver medal at the end of the night after playing all 32 minutes. He scored 30 points and was physically spent at the end.

“That’s fairly common with our games,” MPA coach Chris Salem said. “I don’t know how many times this year we had only five players who had to play the entire game. So, he’s just an amazing athlete, perseverance, and just a super person.”

Na Pueo earned the respect of the Spartans.

“They just kept getting better and better throughout the year,” Seabury Hall coach Scott Prather said of Maui Prep. “They’re peaking at the right time and they’re going to be a force for a number of years.”

Prather smiled when asked about his team. Masyn Johnson had 21 points for the Spartans and he guarded Triplett for much of the evening.

“You know our guys, we have got guys that want to fight, they’re ready to fight,” Prather said. “They compete at a high level. They compete every day at practice and they were ready for a battle — it was a well-played game both ways.”

With state next week, Prather said, “Oh yeah, we’re ready. We’re going to go over there and make some noise as much as we can and I give ourselves a legitimate puncher’s chance.”

Triplett hit back-to-back layups, the second one off a steal, to bring Na Pueo within 37-34 just before halftime. That was the last time the game was a one-possession margin.

“You could just see their poise because they have so many years in their program,” Salem said of the Spartans. “They just run different systems and they are just very well-coached.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

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MAUI PREP (63)

Bennett Bluh 12, Caleb Chumley 0, James Falk 11, Dylan Falk 6, Drew Triplett 30, Ozzi Doherty 0, Harrison Cramond 1, Noah Hill 3, Tyler Kirby 0.

SEABURY HALL (76)

Kai Preseault 12, Carl Molinaro 3, Caden Granum 13, Cooper Waite 0, Ujaia Cunningham 0, Joaquin Donez 25, Masyn Johnson 21, Max McKuin 2, Pono Birnie 0, Philip Birkholz 0, Carter Phillips 0, Steve Savou 0, Zachariah Burkett 0, Colton Baldwin 0, James Judge 0.

Maui Prep 14 20 12 17–63

Seabury Hall 17 22 22 15–76