Kamehameha will have to wait at least another five days to win its first Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys basketball championship since 1992.

Iolani denied the visiting Warriors last night, 43-38, before a raucous capacity crowd of about 1,050 in the regular season finale for both teams. They each finished 10-2 and will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in a winner-take-all title game at Mid-Pacific Institute.

Four-time defending state champion Iolani has won five straight ILH crowns.

"I guess we had added incentive because it was 'Senior Night' and we wanted to go out with a bang," said guard Vinny Nip, a fourth-year varsity player who scored 10 points. "More than the streak, the most important thing is that we come into every game with pride and with purpose. I think we brought a lot of heart and a lot of courage tonight, and that's what made the difference for us at the end."

The Raiders certainly needed every ounce of energy to hold off the Warriors, who started the season 10-0 but now have lost two straight after falling to Punahou, 45-39, on Tuesday.

Iolani used a 19-6 second-period run to lead 27-15 at halftime, and the Raiders were up 35-26 going into the final quarter. But in typical Kamehameha fashion, the Warriors came roaring back and closed it to 37-36 after Randy Cummings swished a 3-pointer from the left wing with 1:26 remaining.

Freshman center Liloa Nobriga then sank two free throws 11 seconds later to make it 39-36, but Mitch Kauweloa sank two free throws with 26 ticks left to cut it to 39-38.

On the ensuing inbounds play, Wally Marciel threw a long pass to Kawika Shoji, who scored an uncontested layup with 22 seconds remaining. Shoji then skied high for a tremendous block on a Kamehameha layup attempt with 12 ticks left and then sank two free throws two seconds later to seal the victory.

"(The Warriors) are so athletic, and they're tough-minded and physically tough," Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said. "They're not going to give up anything easily."

Kamehameha coach Jesse Nakanishi said the first-half deficit was tough to overcome.

"Lately we've been digging ourselves into a hole and we can't quite seem to get out of it," Nakanishi said. "But a lot of that is because of Iolani. They take you out of your game and make it difficult to run your offense. The past three games have gone down to the wire, and our guys know we can't always wait till the end because it's tough to win that way."

For the Raiders, last night's victory combined with Punahou's win on Tuesday helped salvage a chance to win the ILH again.

"We wanted this opportunity," Nip said. "Now we have to capitalize on it."

KAMEHAMEHA (10-2) 7 8 11 12 — 38

IOLANI (10-2) 6 21 8 8 — 43

KAMEHAMEHA—Randy Cummings 7, Jesse Moniz 4, Andrew Godinet 7, Mitch Kauweloa 9, Jacob Ho 2, Pono Hanson 0, Rykin Enos 2, Kanoa Mokiao 5, Kea Smith 2, Jay Kauka 0. Totals 13 8-15 38.

IOLANI—Kela Marciel 0, Vinny Nip 10, Barry Kang 2, Ryan Dung 0, Case Miyahira 3, Taylor Mounts 2, Kekai Kealoha 3, Kawika Shoji 13, Jon Takamura 0, Liloa Nobriga 10, Wally Marciel 0. Totals 16 6-8 43. 3-point goals—Kamehameha 4 (Godinet 2, Cummings 1, Moniz 1). Iolani 5 (Nip 2, Miyahira 1, Kealoha 1, Shoji 1).

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.