Fighting off another strong challenge from visiting Saint Louis, Punahou held on for a 59-53 Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys basketball victory last night before about 700 at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

The Buffanblu, ranked No. 2 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 5-1 in the ILH, setting up another home showdown with No. 1 'Iolani (5-1) Tuesday.

Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

No. 6 Saint Louis fell to 3-3.

Just nine days ago, Punahou had to rally from a 22-point third-period deficit to defeat Saint Louis, 55-52. Last night, the Buffanblu never trailed but had to withstand several runs by the Crusaders before sinking 11 of 15 free throws in the fourth period to seal the victory.

"At the end of every practice, we shoot free throws and if we miss, we have to run," said Punahou junior guard Dalton Hilliard, who finished with 12 points, including two free throws with 1:22 remaining to put the Buffanblu up, 56-48. "Coach (Dan Hale) does a good job putting us in those pressure situations in practice, and we have to step up."

Hilliard did a good job putting pressure on the Crusaders, coming up with four steals in the second half, after Saint Louis had closed it to 31-29. Micah McClinton's 3-pointer cut it to 33-32 with 6:08 left in the third quarter, but Kameron Steinhoff answered with a putback and then Hilliard drained a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 38-32 with 4:25 remaining.

Jamison Miller's layup cut it to 38-34 with 3:38 left, but Hilliard made a steal and layup, and Steinhoff converted a three-point play in the next two minutes to push the lead to 44-35.

Dean Viena sank a 3-pointer with four seconds remaining to close it to 44-38, but Saint Louis could not get any closer in the fourth period as Hilliard made two steals just when the Crusaders appeared ready to make a run.

"We needed those, too," Hale said of the steals. "Dalton did a great job rotating over. Saint Louis is such a good team, we wanted to keep the pressure on them."

Hilliard, who finished with five steals, said it was partly a lack of defensive pressure which allowed the Crusaders to build a 21-point halftime lead in the teams' previous meeting.

"Last time, we weren't pressuring them high enough," said Hilliard, a 5-foot-9 guard. "This time, we used a diamond zone trap, and it's up to the guy on the backside to step in and go for (the interception) if it's there. I was just fortunate."

PUNAHOU (5-1) 15 16 13 15 — 59

SAINT LOUIS (3-3) 11 18 9 15 — 53

PUNAHOU — Dalton Hilliard 12, Robert Toma 5, Matt Feldman 0, Sean McFadden 2, Shane Yoshiyama 0, Henry Cassiday 3, Kimo Makaula 6, Manti Te'o 6, Kameron Steinhoff 17, Trevor Crabb 8, Casey Shibuya 0. Totals 19 19-32 59.

SAINT LOUIS — Lucas Gonsalves 2, Corey Lau 0, Dean Viena 12, Kyle Gonzaga 0, Cole Shidaki 14, Marcus Umu 2, Michael Tuiloma 9, Micah McClinton 7, Jamison Miller 5, Moses Samia 2. Totals 18 14-19 53.

3-point goals: Punahou 2 (Hilliard, Toma). Saint Louis 3 (McClinton, Viena, Shidaki).

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on prep sports at blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.

'IOLANI 54, MID-PACIFIC 41

Taylor Mounts scored 21 points, Bricen McCartney added 10 and the top-ranked Raiders (5-1) rallied from an 18-14 halftime deficit by outscoring the host Owls (0-5) 40-23 in the second half. Kellar Ellsworth scored 15 and Marcus Holyfield added 12 for MPI.

'IOLANI (5-1) 5 9 20 20 — 54

MID-PACIFIC (0-5) 14 4 7 16 — 41

'IOLANI — Andrew Skalman 2, Nick Christman 2, Trevyn Tulonghari 4, Lionel Fujioka 2, Berton Wong 2, Brandon Ball 0, Bricen McCartney 10, Pablo Warner 9, Kainoa Scheer 1, Taylor Mounts 21, Jarrett Arakawa 1. Totals 15 20-27 54.

MID-PACIFIC — Jonathan Taniguchi 0, Shane Kurihara 0, Ryan Kurihara 5, Jaime Rivera 0, Marcus Holyfield 12, Kellar Ellsworth 15, Devon Takenaka 9, Cameron Roberts 0, Sililo Pale 0. Totals 17 4-10 41.

3-point goals: 'Iolani 4 (McCartney 2, Warner 2). Mid-Pacific 3 (R. Kurihara, Holyfield 2).

Reported by Sean Aoyagi

MARYKNOLL 62, DAMIEN 46

The Spartans improved to 3-3 in the ILH, while the Monarchs fell to 0-6 at Damien.

Details and the box score were not available.

ILH BOYS DIVISION II

HANALANI 51, LANAKILA BAPTIST 35

P.J. Minaya scored 18 points, Darin Kamealoha had 15 and the host Royals (4-1) led 27-21 at halftime and pulled away in the second half to beat the Bulldogs (3-3) in an ILH Division II game. Chase Hazlewood scored 13 and Christian Oasay 11 for Hanalani.

LANAKILA BAPTIST (3-3) 7 14 8 6 — 35

HANALANI (4-1) 12 15 11 13 — 51

LANAKILA BAPTIST — Z. Ramos 0, J. Pananganan 4, Marcus Takahashi 0, Armando Cayabyab 2, Micah Miranda 0, Keawe Ochman 3, Chase Hazlewood 13, Christian Oasay 11, Glenn Yri 2. Totals 9 16-18 35.

HANALANI — Andrew Kutaka 0, Darin Kamealoha 15, P.J. Minaya 18, Matt Simbre 2, Matt Guerrero 2, Brysen Honda 2, Andrew Rattanassay 0, Tyler Simao 8, Joshua Thomas 1, John Cunningham 3. Totals 19 8-19 51.

3-point goals: Lanakila Baptist 1 (Hazelwood). Hanalani 5 (Kamealoha 3, Minaya 2).

Reported by Bob Araki

AOP 47, ASSETS 39

Brad Foster scored 37 points, and the Dolphins (1-4) made a 23-18 halftime lead stand up in beating the Admirals (1-5) at Manoa Rec Center gym.

ASSETS (1-5) 10 8 7 14 — 39

AOP (1-4) 12 11 9 15 — 47

ASSETS — Grant Kitagawa 4, Brandon Kushima 8, Rance Kuwata 13, Garrett Kato 0, Logann Molina 4, Jordan Kumasaka 0, Kupu Henderson 3, Cory Kasher 0, George Cambra 7, Fabrrizio Alliata 0. Totals 15 4-12 39.

ACADEMY OF THE PACIFIC — Jordan Ching 0, Kevin Paresa 0, Brad Foster 37, Ikaika Ramos 4, Lopaka Davis 0, Nick Seberg 2, Daniel Stanfield 4. Totals 18 11-19 47.

3-point goals: ASSETS 5 (Kuwata 3, Kushima 2).

Reported by Peter Estomago

WORD OF LIFE 54, LUTHERAN 29

Kahu Mariani scored 19 points and the Firebrands (3-2) raced to a 17-5 lead after one quarter and opened up a 37-7 lead at intermission to beat the Lions (0-7), who got 17 points from Michael Abang.

LUTHERAN (0-7) 5 2 5 17 — 29

WORD OF LIFE (3-2) 17 20 8 9 — 54

LUTHERAN — Joshua Perry-Kruse 0, Ronald Nipp 6, Michael Abang 17, Kyton Keliiaa 2, David Cho 2, Ryson Vander 2, Bronson Hagihara 0, Matthew Nishiyama 0. Totals 10 5-14 29.

WORD OF LIFE — Rafael Torres 0, Ryan Alvarado 0, Kyle Higa 0, Daniel Zerba 6, Jared Shimabukuro 6, Roc Ornog 2, Jacob DeKneef 5, Peter Hanakahi 0, Aaron Tipoti 4, Gabe Miller 8, Christian Silva 0, Phillip Clarke 6, Kahu Mariani 10, Travis Ogami 7. Totals 25 4-10 54.

3-point goals: Lutheran 4 (Nipp 2, Abang 2).

Reported by Peter Estomago

ILH BOYS DIVISION I-AA

PUNAHOU 49, SAINT LOUIS 42

PUNAHOU (2-1) 4 14 16 15 — 49

SAINT LOUIS (1-2) 8 12 7 15 — 42

PUNAHOU — Andrew Kuriyama 1, Micah Marter 1, Galen Arakawa 7, Jeremey Kaimikaua 8, Cale Honda 3, Darryl Cheng 0, Matt Blanco 6, Jacob Brovelli 3, Nicholas Kido 9, Spencer Dung 1, Pono Akina 2, Joshua Bninski 8, Ian Pene 0, Nick Fujita 0. Totals 18 11-32 49.

SAINT LOUIS — Danny Higa 5, Joseph O'Conner 6, Joey Bryant 2, Christian Balthazar-Chang 6, Josh Saio 0, Chris Kamaka 11, Brandon McKee 7,

Danny Perry 0, Marcus Gonzalez 3, Steven Donohue 2. Totals 16 7-14 42.

3-point goals: Punahou 2 (Kaimikaua, Honda). Saint Louis 3 (Higa, Kamaka, McKee).

Reported by Scott Metclaf

ILH GIRLS DIVISION I

'IOLANI 54, KAMEHAMEHA 28

Jamie Smith poured in 27 points and the top-ranked Raiders (7-1) led 15-7 after one quarter and 25-14 at intermission in cruising past the host and seventh-ranked Warriors (4-5) in an ILH Division I game.

'IOLANI (7-1) 15 10 15 14 — 54

KAMEHAMEHA (4-5) 7 7 8 6 — 28

'IOLANI — Tami Konishi 5, Kylie Ahlo 2, Lahela Usui 0, Lori Yamashita 6, Chanel Hirata 7, Dayna Jandoc 3, Jamie Smith 27, Raechele Takara 2, Georgette Lopes-Liutolo 2, Shauni Watanabe 0, Hailey Maeda 0. Totals 22 6-7 54.

KAMEHAMEHA — Pualei Furtado 8, Zayne Apiki 0, Pomaikai Kalakau 4, Shaleese Javillo 6, Lindsey Wong 0, Tiana Abbley 0, Piikea Kalakau 0, Rhani Kaneaiakala 4, Mara Mukai 0, Kylle Roy 4, Casey Lum 2. Totals 9 9-12 28.

3-point goals: 'Iolani 4 (Hirata 2, Jandoc, Konishi). Kamehameha 1 (Furtado).

PUNAHOU 65, SACRED HEARTS 34

Shaena-Lyn Kuehu scored 22 points and the second-ranked Buffanblu (8-1) raced to a 14-6 first-quarter lead and extended it to 31-16 at halftime in beating the host Lancers (0-8), who got 11 points from Raecha-Ann Kauahikaua.

PUNAHOU (8-1) 14 17 16 18 — 65

SACRED HEARTS (0-8) 6 10 13 5 — 34

PUNAHOU — Rebecca Lau 4, Brittnie Lau 0, Julianne Nomura 3, Dara Tompkison 8, Anna Merrifield 5, Ashley Satterwhite 6, Shaena-Lyn Kuehu

22, Janet Li 3, Jennifer Ching 2, Julia Brand 3, Kysa Ludviksen 0, Tressa Torres 4, Tiera Jenson 5. Totals 24 17-25 65.

SACRED HEARTS — Rayna Munos 4, Ronalyn Timbreza 0, Kamri Lin 6, Morgan Donohue 0, Ashley Ordenstein 6, Maya Clark 0, Lindsey Bareng 3, Raecha-Ann Kauahikaua 11, Charnelle Pires 0, Laura Abellanida 0, Kuhina Luis 4, Naihe Paikai 0. Totals 9 15-26 34.

3-point goals: Sacred Hearts 1 (Ordenstein).

Reported by Scott Metcalf

ILH GIRLS DIVISION I-AA

KAMEHAMEHA 61, PUNAHOU 39

KAMEHAMEHA (2-2) 10 15 19 17 — 61

PUNAHOU (3-1) 5 11 15 8 — 39

KAMEHAMEHA — Sanoe Keliinoi 3, Briauna Bissen 11, Kimberly Ubilas 6, Kyndall Moi-Simeona 6, Cheyane Kamai 3, Kelly Opedal 2, Kerilyn Gallagher 0, Kapua Chandler 9, Megan Lum 8, Rotisha Hose 4, Naomi Kamakau 9. Totals 21 16-26 61.

PUNAHOU — Farrah Madanay 0, Jennie Li 0, Ashley Galacgac 4, Kailee Kealoha 8, Sara Nishikawa 0, Samantha Howell 10, Megan Wong 1, Taylor Maruyama 0, Kira Kubota 0, Julia Ayabe 4, Cherie Ng 0, Chelsea Oda 8, Jessica Lin 2, Charney Heimuli 2. Totals 12 14-19 39.

3-point goals: Kamehameha 3 (Howell 3). Punahou 1 (Kamakau).

Reported by Scott Metcalf

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.