This time, it wasn’t quite so close.
When they last met, Kalaheo needed a buzzer-beating putback by Alec MacLeod to edge Punahou in the final of the Punahou Invitational two months ago.
On Thursday, Kalaheo left no doubt with a resounding 64-48 victory over the top-seeded Buffanblu in the quarterfinals of the New City Nissan/HHSAA Boys Basketball Division I State Championships.
With the stunning outcome, that meant all four seeded teams were ousted on Wednesday, the first time that has happened since the tournament began in 1957.
Kaleb Gilmore led Kalaheo with 25 points, including 16-for-17 at the foul line. Kupaa Harrison had 12 points (8-for-11 at the line) and nine boards, and Kekai Smith was steady with 14 points while Gilmore (19 minutes played) rode the pine with foul trouble much of the night.
Dayson Watanabe finished with 23 points to lead Punahou, the ILH champion. J.B. Kam added 11 points. Punahou shot just 39 percent from the field, including 5-for-20 from the arc.
A hearty crowd of about 2,000 watched at Moanalua High School gym as Kalaheo, the third-place team from the OIA, took a 32-22 lead into the half.
The Mustangs (29-3, 13-1 OIA) maintained a double-digit lead going into the final quarter. Kalaheo fans held their breath, expecting a massive run by the tourney favorite, but Punahou got no closer than nine points.
After Kam drove left and completed a three-point play, Punahou (23-4, 11-1 ILH) trailed 44-35 with 4:32 remaining. But that’s when Gilmore returned to the floor.
"They were calling it a little tight, but they called it both ways and that’s how it is," Gilmore said. "My team didn’t need me at all today. Every day at practice, we all run the same plays five on five. We get a feel for it and it’s not something new for any of us."
The senior, who transferred from Maryknoll in the offseason, carved up Punahou’s pressure defense and hit all eight of his free-throw attempts in the final 4:14. His fresh legs were a nice bonus, but it was also Kalaheo’s ability to run clock with Harrison as a point forward — while Gilmore was out — that proved to be surprisingly effective against one of the state’s top defensive units.
"Coach talks about we’ve got to have everybody’s backs. Kaleb went down, Jalen (Smith) went down, Cap (Whitlock) went down with foul trouble," Harrison said. "We kind of had a hard time because we wanted to shoot, but coach said to run the clock, and we did a good job most of the time taking care of the ball."
Young role players like Whitlock and Ashton Arnold found themselves in the thick of the battle during the first half.
"We just tried to shorten the game," coach Alika Smith said. "We got off to a great start defensively, but when Kaleb got his third foul, we had to trust our young guys, and they really came through. It’s a tribute to those kids. They didn’t get the minutes all year, but they played great tonight."
Kalaheo’s air-tight man defense, with their length and quickness, was like nothing Punahou had seen in a long time.
"Kalaheo’s defense had a lot to do with it, but a lot of it is on us," Punahou coach Darren Matsuda said. "We didn’t do the things that we did all year, the things that got us to this point. Especially in the first quarter and first half."
Kalaheo, which was ranked No. 1 for most of the season before losing to Farrington in the OIA quarterfinals, will face OIA East rival Kahuku in Friday’s semifinal round. That game tips off at 7 p.m. in Stan Sheriff Center.
"Two good teams. We went to overtime the first time," Smith said, referring to a home win to start the OIA regular season. "We have to take care of the ball. They’re long and big, but we have to be aggressive."
| At Moanalua |
| KALAHEO |
17 |
15 |
10 |
22 |
— |
64 |
| PUNAHOU |
5 |
17 |
10 |
16 |
— |
48 |
KALAHEO–Kekai Smith 14, Captain Whitlock 1, Kaleb Gilmore 25, Jalen Kuhia Smith 2, Kupaa Harrison 12, Zachary Marrotte 3, Alexander Macleod 5, Andrew Kearney 0, Alexander Layi 0, Ashton Arnold 0, Markus Laquihon 2, Harrison Wallace 0.
PUNAHOU–Jordan Tanuvasa 4, JB Kam 11, Dayson Watanabe 23, Kanawai Noa 0, Akahi Troske 0, Randon Oda 5, Chris Kobayashi 2, Micah Maa 3, Kalaianakupu Santos 0, Hunter Lee 0, Cole Arceneaux 0.
3-point goals–Kalaheo 3 (Gilmore, Macleod, Smith). Punahou 5 (Watanabe 4, Tanuvasa).
Kahuku 67, Konawaena 45
Denhym Brooke had 16 points and 10 rebound, and Hyrum Harris tallied 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals as the Red Raiders overpowered the young Wildcats.
Keanu Akina added 12 points for Kahuku, the OIA runner-up. Kahuku will meet the Punahou-Kalaheo winner in Friday’s 7 p.m. semifinal at Stan Sheriff Center.
Cameron Howes led Konawaena with 21 points and four steals.
The Wildcats forced Kahuku into 26 turnovers, but committed 21 giveaways of their own and shot just 29 percent (15-for-52) from the field.
| At Moanalua |
| KAHUKU |
14 |
11 |
15 |
27 |
— |
67 |
| KONAWAENA |
9 |
10 |
9 |
17 |
— |
45 |
KAHUKU–Tamamoko Green 0, Keanu Akina 12, Samuta Avea 5, Denhym Brooke 16, Hyrum Harris 13, Kesi Ah-Hoy 0, Kieran Spencer 2, Alohi Gilman 1, Hirkley Latu 0, Kenneth Spencer 5, Mhelvic John Juan 0, Tamanui Nagy 8, Bradlee Anae 5.
KONAWAENA–Austin Ewing 9, Maitland Akau 2, Kevin Medeiros 5, Cameron Howes 21, Ryan Malone 4, Naea-Kaya Leleiwi 2, Torin Savella 2, Kupono Kane 0, Seau Amor 0, Austin Aukai 0, Jordan Kikugawa 0, Kelsan Cacoulidis 0, Reyson Ching 0, K. Rivera-Kelekolio 0.
3-point goals–Kahuku 1 (Akina). Konawaena 2 (Howes 2).
DIV. I CONSOLATION
Moanalua 75, Maui 66
| At Moanalua |
| MOANALUA |
14 |
17 |
21 |
23 |
— |
75 |
| MAUI |
19 |
13 |
19 |
15 |
— |
66 |
MOANALUA–Christian Casinas 0, Jacob Matayoshi 2, Darren Fontanilla 8, Karson Kruz 9, Kyrie McRaven 25, Eric Miyauchi 16, Dom Bailey 6, Jacob Ramelb 0, Rodson Kealohi 4, Sean Musrasrik 0, Isaiah Jackson 2, James Wilkins 2, RJ Dominguez 0, Mataio Fatuesi 1.
MAUI–Ginel Mateo 12, Jake Frazee 13, Jaromir Guzman 2, Tristan Nichols 17, Daniel da Fonseca 7, Austin Jay Baguyo 9, Bryce Mason 2, Micha Petterson Jr. 0, Dustan Suzuki 0, Marques Baclig 4, Feleti Afemui 0.
3-point goals–Moanalua 2 (Kruz, Miyauchi). Maui 3 (da Fonseca, Frazee, Mateo).
DIVISION I
Thursday
At Moanalua, McKinley gyms
Quarterfinals
Kahuku 67, Konawaena 45
Campbell 51, Farrington 45
Kalaheo 64, Punahou 48
‘Iolani 44, Lahainaluna 34
Consolation
Moanalua 75, Maui 66
Leilehua 39, Kamehameha-Hawaii 35
Friday
At Stan Sheriff Center
Semifinals
Campbell vs. ‘Iolani, 5 p.m.
Kalaheo vs. Kahuku, 7 p.m.
Consolation
Leilehua vs. Moanalua, 11 a.m.
Fifth-place semifinals
Punahou vs. Konawaena, 1 p.m.
Farrington vs. Lahainaluna, 3 p.m.
Saturday
At Stan Sheriff Center
Fifth place, 11 a.m.
Third place, 3 p.m.
Championship, 7 p.m.
DIVISION II
Thursday
At Kalani, Farrington gyms
Quarterfinals
Kalani 57, Pahoa 52
Kohala 76, Seabury Hall 51
Hawaii Baptist 57, Kauai 45
Kaiser vs. Damien
Friday
Semifinals at Farrington
Kalani vs. Hawaii Baptist, 5 p.m.
Kohala vs. Kaiser, 7 p.m.
Consolation at Kalani
Pahoa vs. Kauai, 5 p.m.
Seabury Hall vs. Damien 7 p.m.
Saturday
At Stan Sheriff Center
Fifth place, 9 a.m.
Third place, 1 p.m.
Championship, 5 p.m.
