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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 9:18 p.m., Saturday, March 7, 2009

Kamehameha tops Kahuku for state boys basketball Division I crown

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kamehameha won its first Hawaiian Airlines/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball Championship since 1992 tonight, rallying past Kahuku, 47-45, before a rock-concert-like crowd of 5,208 at Blaisdell Arena.

The Warriors finished the regular and postseason with a record of 14-1.

Kahuku led, 39-36, after Kona Schwenke's free throw with 5:15 remaining, but Pi'i Minns eventually tied it at 40-40 on a jumper with 2:44 left, and the Warriors took the lead 42 seconds later on a layup by Chaz Bajet.

Shairone Thompson tied it again at 42-42 on a layup with 1:42 remaining, but Minns put Kamehameha ahead for good on a layup 20 seconds later.

After free throws by Bajet and Micah Christenson stretched the lead to 46-42 with 15 seconds left, Irwin Ah-Hoy sank a 3-pointer that danced around the rim and fell in to make it 46-45 with 0:05.2 showing on the clock.

Auwae DeRego was fouled after the ensuing inbounds pass, he made the second of two free throws with 3.8 ticks remaining.

After an inbounds pass and timeout, the Red Raiders could only manage a desperation heave from about 35 feet that fell short and off the mark.

Kamehameha jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first four-plus minutes, but Kahuku closed it to 12-9 by the end of the first period and tied it on Kohl Nauahi's 3-pointer to start the second.

Kahuku (19-2) suffered through woeful shooting in the first half, making just 3 of 23 field goals (13 percent), including 1 for 11 from 3-point range.

The Red Raiders managed to stay within reach, though, thanks to 8 of 10 accuracy from the free throw line.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.