This one, perhaps more than any other during Punahou’s water polo championship streak, was earned the hard way.

The Buffanblu mustered poise in a situation they’d rarely encountered — a game that came down to the last possession — and held on to defeat Kamehameha 3-2 for their 10th straight Stanford Carr Development/HHSAA title on Saturday at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.

Kamehameha, the ILH runner-up, got swept by Punahou in the league regular season and playoffs. But the Warriors played increasingly well through the state tournament, went up twice on the Buffanblu in the first half, and had a shot to send it to overtime.

Senior goalkeeper Haley Crabtree, the tournament’s most outstanding player, saved the shot and the streak.

“It was truly an honor,” said Crabtree, a two-year varsity player who inherited goalkeeper duties from departed standout Emalia Eichelberger. “I had never had the opportunity to start, so this year, I’m so grateful for it. I had the year of my life.”

On a day that saw the Punahou boys tennis team’s 26-year title streak come to an end, these Buffanblu had to battle the Warriors to the finish to preserve what’s now the second-longest active state team title run in Hawaii sports, after Punahou girls tennis (15).

Punahou remained unbeaten all-time in state tournament action at 36-0 and is believed to have won over 100 consecutive games over the last decade including ILH play. The Buffanblu own 12 of the 14 state water polo titles.

“Ten in a row. That’s something,” said coach Ken Smith, 70, still dripping wet from a celebratory toss in the pool.

“I felt real strong about our defense the entire game,” he said. “I kept thinking that was going to carry us through, and it really did. … To hold them scoreless in the second half, for a full half, that says a lot about our defense.”

It was the first one-goal title game since Punahou edged Kamehameha 8-7 in 2011.

With Punahou up a goal and in possession in the final minute, the Buffanblu attempted to run out the clock.

Kamehameha coach Randy Bart had other ideas. He deliberately called an illegal timeout with 12 seconds left, which triggered a 5-meter penalty shot for Punahou. It was the only way to get the ball out of their hands.

“I really didn’t (expect it),” Smith said. “It was definitely a good idea.”

Senior Malia Gacutan, who’d already converted a penalty shot for the go-ahead score in the third quarter, prepared to take the shot.

“I got really excited, I was like, ‘It’s the end of the game, we’re going to clinch the state title right here,’ ” Gacutan said.

Not quite yet. Her shot went off the left post, and Kamehameha keeper Mikaila Ng recovered it. Bart called a legitimate timeout with nine seconds left to set up a tying play.

Ng passed it up to top offensive threat Payton Bosque, but Punahou brought a quick double team. Bosque passed to the right to Kaylen Nitahara. Nitahara lined up a decent look and fired, but it went right at Crabtree, who snuffed it out and the horn blared.

“I think mainly our goal was to spread out and press them out as far as we could, and just hold the press and not let it go into set (the interior),” said Crabtree, who will play at Pomona-Pitzer next season.

First-half goals by Lori Char and Keylee Leong roused the Warriors’ fans. Danielle Kauahi and Robbie Bickerton answered for Punahou and it was 2-all at the half.

“In the beginning, it was a little rushed and we were playing a really fast pace,” Gacutan said. “We tried to take our time, put the game in our hands and just play our own game.”

Members of the all-tournament team were Crabtree, Punahou (MOP); Marissa Anne Miller, Punahou; Bosque, Kamehameha; Kaya Lee, Punahou; Gacutan, Punahou; Laakea Dedrick, Kamehameha; Ava Countryman, Kahuku; Taylor Brooks, Roosevelt; and goalkeeper Ng, Kamehameha.