A crowd of about 600 at McKinley's Student Council Gym watched Red Raiders center Latoya Wily overpower the host Tigers for a game-high 24 points, eight rebounds and three blocks to lead Kahuku (13-1).

Wily, a 6-foot senior, had won an OIA title playing for Kalaheo two years ago but returned home to the North Shore last season.

"I wouldn't trade anything for it — these are my girls right here," said Wily, pointing to her teammates. "Kahuku hadn't won the OIA in about 10 years, so this was our goal from the beginning."

The Red Raiders wasted little time last night, racing out to a 12-1 lead as McKinley (10-4) seemed content to get into a transition game with the big but agile Kahuku lineup.

The Tigers closed to 16-11 early in the second period, but that was as close as they would get as the Red Raiders pounded it into Wily and built a 34-17 lead by halftime.

Wily finished the first half with 16 points.

"She was able to focus, and she came out strong," Kahuku coach Wendy Anae said of Wily. "When she's performing well, good things usually happen for us."

The second half was much of the same, as the closest McKinley would get was 14 points.

Point guard Karla Tailele keyed Kahuku's running game by scoring 18 points, mostly on layups.

Kahuku, the 2003 state runner-up, returned most of its key players from last season but injuries limited its roster to eight healthy players when the OIA season opened. Then the Red Raiders were stunned by a road loss to Roosevelt, but they regrouped in time to win the championship.

"This is sweet, but we're not done yet," Wily said. "We have to go back home and work even harder for states."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.

• KAHUKU (13-1) 16 20 7 23—66
• MCKINLEY (10-4) 9 12 8 19—48

KAHUKU —Camilla Ah Hoy 7, Delicia Wilson 0, Ane Vea 2, Mona Ale 4, Tina Soliai 9, Amy Soliai 0, Karla Tailele 18, Aisha Ale 2, Luseanae Kauvaka 0, Latoya Wily 24. Totals 2514-19 66.

MCKINLEY—Bre Carson 17, Chantal Yadao 4, Janine Corpuz 0, Chelsie Sato 7, Moldy Ababa 9, Meagan Miyasaka 5, Linda Fowler 6. Totals 13 15-23 48.

3-point goals—Kahuku 2 (Ah Hoy, Soliai). McKinley 7 (Ababa 3, Carson 2, Yadao 1, Sato 1).

• Kaiser 44, Kalaheo 43: Sharde Pratt made a pair of free throws with 15 seconds left to give the Cougars a 44-41 lead.

A basket by junior Randi Farstad with six seconds remaining brought the Mustangs within one, but the Cougars held on to the ball as time expired.

Kehau Bangay led the Cougars with 14 points, and Shaina Siliga scored 13 for the Mustangs.

• Kaiser (11-3) 11 14 9 10—44
• Kalaheo (10-4) 11 12 11 9—43

KAISER—Shera Yamamoto 8, Jamie Nerona 4, Chelsea Kapuniai 0, Sharde Pratt 9, Jolie Yoshino 0, Natasha Aloisio 5, Kelsey Beck 0, Kehau Bangay 14, Kilioe Aliifua 4, Kuhia Arakaki 0, Aja Yamamoto 0, Renee Shitanishi 0. Totals 19 4-9 44.

KALAHEO—Hoku Kaiu-Denning 2, Shaina Siliga 13, Kandice Kinney 0, Randi Farstad 7, Wesley Whitman 0, Shantel Marumoto 2, Kaila Samson 2, Maila Samson 0, Shanadee Canon 10, Kaiena Huihui 2, Kaliko Kepa 3, Kamala Kau 2. Totals 16 8-14 43.

3-point goals—Kaiser 2 (S. Yamamoto 2). Kalaheo 3 (Siliga 2, Canon 1).