Kahuku held off Kaimuki, 39-36, tonight for its second O'ahu Interscholastic Association boys basketball championship in five years before a raucous near-capacity crowd of about 1,500 at Radford's James Alegre Gym.

The Red Raiders improved to 17-1 in the regular and postseason and will receive the OIA's top seed and first-round bye in next week's Division I state tournament. Kaimuki fell to 14-3 and will begin state tournament play in Wednesday's first round.

Kahuku trailed 33-30 after Bulldogs center Desmond Tautofi's putback with 4:11 remaining, but Nehoa Akina tied it at 33-33 on a 3-pointer with 3:12 left. Irwin Ah-Hoy then put the Red Raiders ahead, 35-33, with 1:03 remaining on a 17-foot jumper.

Kona Schwenke made it 37-33 on two free throws with 33 seconds left, and Ah-Hoy stretched the lead to 39-33 on two free throws 13 seconds later.

Akina, Schwenke and Jray Galeai each scored nine points to lead the Red Raiders.

Jason Nutter led Kaimuki with 12 points.