KAILUA — Defending boys basketball state champion Kaimuki again proved to be better than its early-season record indicates last night, but Kalaheo held off the Bulldogs, 61-57, to remain unbeaten in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association.

The Mustangs improved to 6-0 in the OIA Red Conference Eastern Division, setting up a big showdown with Kahuku (6-0) tomorrow. Tipoff is set for about 6:30 p.m. at Kalaheo.

Kaimuki fell to 2-4, but twice had a chance to tie the Mustangs or take the lead in the final 15 seconds.

Trailing 58-57, the Bulldogs were whistled for a traveling violation while backing in toward the basket with 13.2 seconds remaining. Cheynne Lishman sank a free throw to put Kalaheo up 59-57 with 11.6 ticks left, but missed his second attempt.

Kaimuki advanced the ball past halfcourt but turned it over trying to dribble between two defenders. Cody vonAppen then came up with the loose ball and converted an uncontested layup as time expired.

"For some reason, Kaimuki always seems to peak at the right time," said Lishman, a fourth-year varsity letterman who watched the Bulldogs win the past two OIA titles despite slow starts to the regular season. "They showed tonight that they're probably going to be one of the top teams again."

The Bulldogs, playing without starting point guard David Taulung (sprained ankle), struggled against the Mustangs' full-court pressure in the first half and were down 32-19 at the break.

Richard Preza-Haynes gave Kalaheo a 37-22 lead on a 3-pointer with 6:07 remaining in the third period, but Kaimuki began to slowly chip away at the lead from that point on.

Junior guard Ryan Takitani's two free throws closed it to 43-36 with 1:12 left, and after Lishman swished a 3-pointer 13 seconds later, Gabriel Stietzel drained a baseline jumper at the buzzer to cut it to 46-38 entering the fourth.

"In the second half, I didn't even talk to them about strategy," Bulldogs coach Kelly Grant said. "I just talked to them about heart."

Takitani, who finished with a game-high 25 points, and sophomore post Desmond Tautofi (22 points, 10 rebounds, two steals, one block) continued Kaimuki's comeback in the fourth period, with Takitani's layup cutting it to 54-51 with 1:40 remaining.

Preza-Haynes sank two free throws to push it back to 56-51 with 1:12 left, but Chezz Ramos-Diaz answered with a 3-pointer 13 seconds later to cut it to 56-54. Lishman (23 points) made two free throws to make it 58-54, but Tautofi made another 3-pointer to close to 58-57 with 44 seconds remaining.

KAIMUKI (2-4) 10 9 19 19 — 57

KALAHEO (6-0) 18 14 14 15 — 61

KAIMUKI — Gabriel Stietzel 4, Chezz Ramos-Dias 6, Preacher Namdrik 0, Duke Okudara 0, Ryan Kakitani 25, Desmond Tautofi 22, Chauncey Nicola 0, Kelly Tobin 0. Totals 19 14-17 57.

KALAHEO — Alika Ka'anapu 0, Cody vonAppen 5, Taylor Jay 5, Richard Preza-Haynes 9, Bruce Andrews 4, Christian Kepa 6, Cheynne Lishman 23, Aaron Fernandez 5, D.J. Chang 4, Matt Gasparine 0. Totals 21 13-18 61. 3-point goals: Kaimuki 5 (Tautofi 3, Ramos-Diaz 2). Kalaheo 6 (Lishman 3, Fernandez, Jay, Preza-Haynes).

JV — Kalaheo 49, Kaimuki 40

Read Wes Nakama's blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.