Kaiser ran the table in Division II boys basketball last year, winning the OIA and state titles. But to win the OIA Division I title Thursday, the Cougars need a complete game that was absent on Tuesday.

Keoua Mahiko scored 30 points to lead top-ranked Kaiser to a 54-47 win over host McKinley in the semifinals of the OIA boys basketball playoffs on Tuesday night. Kaiser (12-1) overcame its big post player sitting on the bench in foul trouble and some emotional outbursts that resulted in a technical and intentional foul.

“We are going to have to play a more a complete game,” Kaiser coach Branden Kawazoe said. “Defensively, offensively, mentally, we have to do a better job keeping our composure. It’s going to be an absolute battle.”

Kaiser advances to face Kalaheo in Thursday’s championship game at McKinley.

“You always want to compete at the highest possible level,” Kawazoe said. “Fortunately we were able to move up to D-I and have a little bit of success in the preseason and carry it on in the regular season. But we have to continue to get better.”

Mahiko hit two big 3-pointers in the third quarter, helping Kaiser build a 40-29 lead. This came after 6-5 center Chance Kalaugher picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench with 4:19 remaining.

“We just wanted to let the game come to him,” Kawazoe said. “If he gets going early, he kind of feeds off his own energy, and he played really well tonight.”

McKinley (10-4) closed to 47-40 after Isaac Lu hit a 3 from the right corner with 2:54 left in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing play, McKinley’s Huthifah Abdel Jawad took a shot to the face. Mahiko was called for an intentional foul and the game was stopped for about 10 minutes as trainers tended to Abdel Jawad. Kawazoe spoke at length with a referee, insisting Mahiko was just clearing space and bringing the ball down.

Gladwyn Balinbin made two free throws for Abdel Jawad to cut the deficit to 47-42 with 2:47 left. But the Tigers missed a 3-pointer on the next play and the Cougars went 7-for-12 from the free-throw line to close out the game.

“We were able to get key stops down the stretch,” Kawazoe said. “Sometimes we got lucky and the ball bounced our way down the stretch. I’m happy the way we hung in there and grounded out the victory.”

McKinley coach Duane Omori isn’t sure if Abdel Jawad will be available for Thursday’s third-place game. Jeremy Coloyan scored 14 points and Abdel Jawad had 13 for McKinley. Abdel Jawad made three of four free throws in the third quarter when a foul and technical foul were assessed on Kaiser’s Michael Miske.

“They are so emotional right now,” Omori said. “We were looking to beat Kaiser. We wanted to give them a run.”

The Tigers rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second quarter, slowly chipping away by forcing six consecutive turnovers. McKinley got into Kaiser’s passing lanes and sent Kalaugher to the bench with his second foul. Dan Villejo’s free throw helped McKinley close to 22-18 with 4:22 remaining, but Mahiko followed with a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 25-18.

Villejo made one of two free throws and Lu came off the bench to hit a 3 with 30 seconds left to help the Tigers close to 27-24 at halftime.

“The energy came in from defense,” Omori said. “We forced some turnovers, our defense became a lot better, we focused a lot more on Keoua on the dribble drive … kind of created some turnovers for us.”

No. 7 Kalaheo 49, No. 4 Leilehua 46

Christian Graham made the go-ahead free throws with 24.5 seconds remaining to lift the seventh-ranked Mustangs over the fourth-ranked Mules in a game that saw fans scuffle after the match.

Graham was fouled after intercepting an inbounds pass and made both foul shots for a 47-46 lead. Leilehua’s Joseph Gouty missed a short jumper in traffic with five seconds remaining and a jump ball was called during a scramble for the ball. Kalaheo got the ball back and Alex Layi made two free throws with 1.2 seconds left for the final margin.

Afterward, police officers had to break up a confrontation in the stands. Athletic trainers tended to a fan after the game.

With 1:21 remaining, a double technical was called after a midcourt collision between Kalaheo’s Kekai Smith and Leilehua’s Nicholas Duran. Smith, who scored 18 points, fouled out on the play. Graham came off the bench and made one of two free throws to give the Mustangs a 45-40 lead.

Gouty then hit a 3-pointer and Trey Boatwright’s 3-point play gave Leilehua a 46-45 lead with 37.4 seconds left.

Kahuku 58, Pearl City 50

Hirkley Latu recorded 12 points and Kieran Spencer added 11 as the Red Raiders edged the Chargers in the fifth-place semifinal playoff.

Gilbert Tapat led Pearl City with 12 points, followed by Ryan Yamamoto’s 10 points.

Kailua 45, Moanalua 42

Everett Torres-Kahapea made four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points and Christian Mejia added 14 points as the Surfriders rallied past Na Menehune.

Caleb Casinas and Rodson Kealohi each scored eight points for Moanalua, which was outscored 13-7 in the final quarter.

OIA DIVISION I BOYS PLAYOFFS

No. 1 Kaiser 54, McKinley 47

MCKINLEY—Josh Kanazawa 0, Kevin Nagasawa 0, Mark Burke 7, Gladwyn Balinbin 2, Isaac Lu 6, Jeremy Coloyan 14, Dan Villejo 5, Treyson Furuta , Huthifa Abdel-Juwad 13, Joey Abe 0, Kyle Moraga 0, Rayjay John 0.
KAISER—Keoua Mahiko 30, Jalen Pinks 7, Kamu Scheer 3, Isaiah Lundell 6, Isaiah Akiona 0, Nic Tom 4, Michael Miske 0, Chance Kalaugher 4.
3-point goals—McKinley 2 (Lu 2). Kaiser 6 (Mahiko 3, Pinks 2, Tom).

No. 7 Kalaheo 49, No. 4 Leilehua 46

KALAHEO—Andrew Kearney 5, Christian Graham 3, Cyrus Fernandez 0, Kekai Smith 18, Kela Thomas 0, Ryan Pardini 2, Abel Kanehe 0, Kekoa Thompson 0, Robert Gribbins 0, Donovan Nelson 0, Harry Wallace 8, Alex Layi 13, Mark Lehrner 0, Cannen Chiu 0.
LEILEHUA—Trey Boatwright 7, Linus Asher 0, Charles Watson 0, Joseph Gouty 9, Keion Anderson 3, Jostin Gampayon 0, Liam Fitzgerald 5, Nicholas Duran 10, Koalii Kauhi 12, Christian Alvarez 0, Anterrio Gainwell Jr. 0.
3-point goals—Kalaheo 3 (Smith 2, Layi). Leilehua 4 (Gouty, Anderson, Fitzgerald, Duran).

Kahuku 58, Pearl City 50

KAHUKU—Codie Sauvao 9, Kieran Spencer 11, Ethan Christensen 0, Hirkley Latu 12, Kawika Akina 5, Aaron Souza 0, Bradlee Anae 8, Taimona Wright 6, Keanu Akina 7.
PEARL CITY—Sape Tupuola Jr. 9, Kavoisee Mason 0, Gilbert Tapat 12, Jayden Parel 0, Pierce McMoore 6, Pono Akiona 7, Ryan Yamamoto 10, Garin Spillner 2, Kamren Estoesta 2, Che Erquiza-Oliveras 0, Christian Punsalan 2.
3-point goals—Kahuku none. Pearl City 4 (Tapat, Tupuola, McMoore, Yamamoto).

Kailua 45, Moanalua 42

KAILUA—Everett Torres-Kahapea 16, Noah Ah Yat 2, Zach Marrotte 7, Paul Keoni Serikawa Jr. 0, Noah Auld 0, Hano Kohatsu 6, Christian Mejia 14, Jonah Kalai 0.
MOANALUA—Jacob Ramelb 0, James Wilkins 6, Elijah Davis 5, Rodson Kealohi 8, RJ Dominguez 2, Caleb Casinas 8, Tyshun Archie 4, Isaiah Jackson 5, Sage Pulu 4.
3-point goals—Kailua 4 (Torres-Kahapea 4). Moanalua 5 (Casinas 2, Davis, Kealohi, Wilkins).