KANE'OHE — Less than 24 hours after edging Utah's No. 3-ranked team, Punahou held off one of Hawai'i's dark-horse contenders yesterday to advance to the semifinals of the inaugural Merv Lopes Holiday Classic.

The Buffanblu defeated Baldwin, 68-59, at King Armory one day after rallying past Timpview (Provo, Utah) 65-64 in first-round action.

Punahou (10-1) will face Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.), which is No. 14 in USA Today's Super 25, in tonight's 8:30 semifinal. Kalaheo meets El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.) in the other semifinal at 7.

Baldwin's modest 5-8 record may not be impressive, but its play last night was.

"I thought they were undefeated," said Buffanblu senior forward Spencer McLachlin, who was asked to guess the Bears' record after scoring 17 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. "They're one of the best local teams we've played. I know they're going to go far."

Baldwin basically matched Punahou basket-for-basket throughout the first half, which ended with Miah Ostrowski swishing a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Buffanblu a 38-34 lead. The Bears then stayed within striking range early in the second half before an 11-2 run capped by Ostrowski's 3-pointer put Punahou up, 55-42, with 2:17 remaining in the third period.

"We cannot match up with their size," Baldwin coach Wayne Gushiken said.

The 6-foot-7 McLachlin was especially effective in the second half, when he scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Another Buffanblu forward, 6-4 Kameron Steinhoff, finished with 12 points.

The Bears' starting 6-2 post, Jordan Helle, picked up two fouls in the game's first four minutes and was whistled for his third foul 30 seconds into the second half. But Gushiken said Helle's limited playing time did not cost them the game.

"We had other guys who came in and did a good job off the bench," he said.

Baldwin's Chase Nakamura, a 6-3 forward, scored 16 points in the first half and had 22 entering the fourth period, but was shut out in the final seven minutes.

"He has good moves," McLachlin said. "He wasn't scoring just because of our defense, he was making shots for himself."

The Bears cut Punahou's lead to 66-59 on Michael Marrs' layup with 2:01 left. Ostrowski, who finished with 21 points, then led an effective delay game that milked all but the last 21 seconds of clock.

Buffanblu coach Dan Hale said Baldwin gave his team all it could handle.

"They're very well-coached and they don't panic, they stay with what they do," Hale said. "Their defense is scrappy, they always have three guys around the ball. This was a good game for us; it's good for us to play different types of teams."

BALDWIN (5-8) 23 11 14 11 — 59

PUNAHOU (10-1) 22 16 21 9 — 68

BALDWIN — Lincoln Seto 3, Michael Marrs 8, Micah Shibano 4, Kawika Grace 7, John Salmo 10, Chase Nakamura 24, George Firmignac 1, Jordan Helle 2, Sean Tesoro 0. Totals 24 7-12 59.

PUNAHOU — Robbie Toma 1, Miah Ostrowski 21, Kimo Makaula 13, Kyle Whitford 3, Ted Hawkins 1, Trevor Crabb 0, Kameron Steinhoff 12, Spencer McLachlin 17, Casey Shibuya 0. Totals 27 7-10 68.

3-point goals: Baldwin 4 (Marrs 2, Salmo, Seto); Punahou 7 (Ostrowski 4, Makaula, McLachlin, Whitford

MONTROSE CHRISTIAN (MD.) 80, KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 33

Adrian Bowie scored 16 points and Troy Brewer added 13 points to lead the Mustangs past the Warriors in quarterfinal action.

Terrel Vinson contributed 12 points and six rebounds for Montrose Christian, which led 47-18 at the half.

Mea Wong led Kamehameha-Hawai'i with 10 points.

MONTROSE CHRISTIAN 24 23 15 18 — 80

KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I 13 5 4 11 — 33

MONTROSE CHRISTIAN — Adrian Bowie 16, B.J. Blake 2, Troy Brewer 13, Shane Walker 9, Brandon Rascoe 9, Micah Fraction 0, Douglas Bowman 0, Phil Wood 5, Tristan Spurlock 6, Terrel Vinson 12, Isaiah Armwood 8. Totals 33 10-17 80.

KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAI'I — Mea Wong 10, Reece Alnas 2, Isaiah Kekaulua 5, Scott Hamilton 0, Chandler Ka'a'a 0, Cody Waltjen 3, Kealoha Kramer 2, Rannen Tagupa-Kukahiwa 0, Hogan Rosehill 3, Andrew Love 0, Colton Collins 5, Keli'i Kimi 3. Totals 11 4-12 33.

3-point goals: Montrose Christian 4 (Brewer 2, Spurlock 2); Kamehameha-Hawai'i 7 (Wong 3, Collins, Kimi, Kekaulua, Waltjen).

EL TORO (CALIF.) 62, HILO 16

The Chargers, from Lake Forest, Calif., jumped to a 22-2 first-quarter lead and never looked back against the Vikings.

EL TORO 22 14 9 17 — 62

HILO 2 4 9 1 — 16

EL TORO — Matt Ahrens 7, Jonathan Bastos 5, Drew Bruns 7, Carl Chapman 4, Ryan Gahan 2, Tim Hespe 0, Drew Hillman 11, Dimitre Kamarullah 5, Brett Lopez 0, Andre Murillo 6, Brad Parry 2, Sapphire Peters 0, Stephen Tanizaki 4, Matt Verbeck 5, Daman Starring 4. Totals 22 14-22 62.

HILO — Leland Alvarez 0, Kelden Lee 0, Ryan Fukunaga 0, Cade Uyetake 3, Zach Tomlinson 2, Dillin Spikes 2, Kahiau Kapsky 1, Nicholas Acosta 6, Jarrin Shigemura 0, Sione Sipinga 2. Totals 5 5-12 16.

3-point goals: El Toro 4 (Hillman 2, Ahrens, Bruns); Hilo 1 (Uyetake).

KALAHEO 58, CASTLE 41

Cheynne Lishman scored 27 points, including five 3-pointers, and Deaux Burns added 12 points to lead the Mustangs past the Knights in a quarterfinal game.

CONSOLATION BRACKET

'IOLANI 68, THOMPSON 47

Ryan Dung scored 15 points and Case Miyahira added 13 points to lead the Raiders, who built a 39-22 halftime lead after being up 16-14 after one period. Liloa Nobriga contributed 11 points and six rebounds for 'Iolani (9-4).

Tristan Sealy led Thompson with 24 points.

LEILEHUA 43, MILILANI 40

Art Laurel scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds and Dustin Pau'u added 10 points and six rebounds to lead the Mules past the Trojans.

Josh Brooks contributed 10 points and four rebounds for Leilehua.

KEA'AU 73, WAIALUA 43

Kekai Cazimero scored 25 points and Micah Young added 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Cougars past the Bulldogs. David Howell contributed 11 points and eight rebounds for Kea'au.

Edwin Rubio scored 11 points and Brian Graziano added 10 points for Waialua.

TIMPVIEW (UTAH) 66, NANAKULI 17

Chris Nash scored 12 points to lead the Thunderbirds, who are from Provo, Utah.

MORE TOURNAMENTS

NA MENEHUNE HOLIDAY CLASSIC

AT MOANALUA

QUARTERFINALS

'Aiea 56, Kailua 49

High scorers—Aiea: Josh Chung 12, James Buchanan 12, Obie Woods 10. Kail: Zachary Akamine 14, Tim Maghinay 13, Billy Oden 10.

Maryknoll 58, Punahou II 45

High scorers—Mary: Travis Liu 16, Jordan Ho-Ching 13, Richard Herring 10. Pun: Matthew Galarneau 13, Riley McKibben 10.

Farrington 41, Campbell 39

High scorers—Farr: Rey Bartian 13, Christian Hernandez 12. Camp: Mike Makinano 14.

McKinley 45, Moanalua 39

High scorers—McK: Nainoa Lessary 21, Earvin Sione 10. Moa: Stevie Austin 13.

CONSOLATION

Kahuku 43, Word of Life 34

High scorers—Kah: Nehoa Akina 11. WOL: Aaron Tipoti 12.

Wai'anae 45, Roosevelt 36

High scorers—Wai: Bryson Kekahuna 12, Jesse Lafua 10. Roos: Jeremy Harvest 14.

Mid-Pacific 58, 'Iolani II 40

High scorers—MPI: Marcus Holyfield 18, Kellar Ellsworth 15. Iol: Troy Lee 12.

Hawai'i Baptist 68, Damien 60

High scorers—HBA: Dominic Hart 18, Phillip Sarubbi 16. Dam: Anthony Tuitele 17, Aminis Thompson 17.

WALTER WONG HOLIDAY CLASSIC

AT MCCABE GYM

SEMIFINALS

SAINTS DIVISION

Monroe (Wash.) 53, Seaquam Secondary (Canada) 49

High scorers—Mon: Marcus Silva 12, Jason Waltman 10. Sea: Derek Poulton 12, Clayton Dendy 11, Jermaine Adeyinka 10.

South Torrance (Calif.) 65, Kamehameha II 39

High scorers—ST: K. Murata 16, G. Mitsuuchi 10. KS: Micah Higa 15, Josiah Horner 13.

CRUSADERS DIVISION

Arlington (Calif.) 73, Kaiser 59

High scorers—Arl: Donnell Hamilton 26, Davey Hopkins 18, John Leggett 11. Kais: Rayce Chun-Ming 17, Andrew Wingert 17.

Saint Louis 93, North Torrance (Calif.) 82 (OT)

High scorers—SL: Lucas Gonsalves 15, Scott Smith 15, Cole Shidaki 14, Micah McClinton 12, Jamison Miller 11, Michael Tuiloma 10. NT: David Vazquez 16, Tau Avei 16, John Gabio 11, Phillip Tonga 10.

CONSOLATION

SAINTS DIVISION

Hamamatsu Nishi (Japan) 60, Lutheran 47

High scorers—HN: Ryuichi Hoda 22. Luth: Michael Abang 17, Derek Alik 11.

Saint Louis II 53, ASSETS 32

High scorers—SL: Brandon McKee 13. ASSETS: Nick Castello 19.

CRUSADERS DIVISION

Lick-Wilmerding (Calif.) 66, Assumption (Canada) 31

High scorers—LW: Nick Miller 19, Frank Panasci 13. As: Sean Keefe 11.

Lake Washington (Wash.) 60, Listowel (Canada) 22

High scorers—LW: Kirby Young 14.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.