Nationally ranked Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) jumped out to a fast start behind hot-shooting Terrence Ross and then held off scrappy host 'Iolani, 71-49, last night in the quarterfinals of the 26th Annual 'Iolani Prep Classic.

Montrose Christian, ranked No. 11 in USA Today's Super 25, will face Philadelphia's top-ranked team, Neumann-Goretti, in tomorrow's 6:30 p.m. semifinal.

Ross, a 6-foot-6 senior guard who has made a commitment to play at the University of Maryland next season, drained three consecutive 3-pointers against 'Iolani's 2-3 zone in the first seven minutes last night to help the Mustangs jump out to a 17-3 lead.

Raiders forward Jarrett Arakawa swished five straight free throws to end the first period, and Kainoa Chu opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer to close it to 17-11. But Montrose Christian answered with Paul Gombwer's three-point play and Tyler Hubbard followed with a 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 23-11.

After two more free throws by Arakawa, Duke-bound Josh Hairston flushed an alley-oop slam dunk and Donnell Diggs followed with a 3-pointer to make it 28-13.

"(The Mustangs) didn't shoot well (Thursday), so we were hoping it would be the same today," said Dean Shimamoto, 'Iolani's first-year coach. "We had a game plan, and our guys executed it well ... we were just hoping they would miss one (3-pointer)."

Montrose Christian coach Stu Vetter said his team did not plan on striking from the outside, despite the Raiders' compact 2-3 defense.

"We still like to work it inside against the zone, I thought we could attack it," Vetter said. "But Terrence is a very good shooter; he and Josh are two of the best players in the country."

Layups by Chu and Josiah Sukumaran helped 'Iolani close it to 32-23, but Hairston nailed a jumper with 56 seconds remaining to put the Mustangs up, 34-23, at the half.

Montrose Christian then limited the Raiders to two layups by Sukumaran and an Arakawa 3-pointer to stretch the lead to 49-30 heading into the fourth. Andrew Skalman's steal and layup cut it to 53-37 with 6:08 remaining in the game, but 'Iolani could not close the gap.

Ross finished with a game-high 24 points and Hairston added 22.

Arakawa and Chu each had 16 points to lead the Raiders.

OTHER QUARTERFINALS

YATES (HOUSTON) 95, ORANGE (CALIF.) LUTHERAN 88

The Lions, ranked No. 6 by USA Today, rallied from a 79-71 deficit with six minutes remaining and then held off the Lancers in the final two minutes.

Alexander Davis scored on a putback and free throw with 2:42 remaining to give Yates the lead for good at 86-83.

Orange Lutheran had led 64-52 late in the third period.

ST. JOHN NEUMANN-MARIA GORETTI SAINTS (PENN.) 75, KINSTON (N.C.) 72

Tony Chennault scored 24 points, Daniel Stewart 15, and Tyreek Duran 13 to lead St. John Neumann-Maria Goretti Saints over Kinston. Reggie Bullock led Kinston with 24 points, Josh Benoit had 20, and Dallas Best 15.

COLUMBIA (GA.) 55, GONZAGA (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 53

Jarmal Reid hit the winning basket with 4.5 seconds left as Columbia edged Gonzaga. Reid finished with 19 points and JerShon Cobb 14. Gonzaga's Cedrick Lindsay led all scorers with 23 points, and teammate Tyler Thornton added 18.

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