Senior guard Ryan Bautista declared Kohala's 76-72 semifinal win last night over 'Aiea as "pretty much our biggest victory ever."

But Bautista and the third-seeded Cowboys have one more big game to go in the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Boys Division II Basketball State Championships. Kohala (15-3), the Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion, advanced to the championship game to play unseeded McKinley (13-6) tonight at 6 p.m. in the Stan Sheriff Center.

Five players scored in double figures for the Cowboys in last night's semifinal victory at Farrington High gym. Devin Marquez had 20, Ryan Bautista 14, Jacob Roxburgh and Brandon Bautista 13 each and Ikaika Kahoopii 12.

"'Aiea is tough; it was anyone's game," Ryan Bautista said. "We never felt safe with our lead."

A frenzied pace by both teams made for a back-and-forth game.

"Our system is to run, and we knew 'Aiea runs," Kohala coach Don Fernandez said. "After last night, I said, 'Just get on our track shoes.'

"This is what we do. We have small guys, so we have to play fast." (The Cowboys have two players taller than 6 feet: Kahoopii is 6-7 and Alex Vujovich is 6-4.)

But the pace resulted in multiple trips to the free-throw line and even more turnovers.

Three Na Ali'i starters each committed four fouls before the third period was over: Lofa Li'ili'i, Obie Woods and James Buchanan. Kohala made 24 of 40 free throws. Li'ili'i and Buchanan fouled out.

It was the Cowboys who raced ahead to a 5-0 lead to start the game, but it would be the largest lead either team would take during the first half, which ended with Kohala ahead, 33-32.

'Aiea started the second half on a 9-2 run to take a 41-35 lead behind five points by Josh Chung.

"Everyone was kind of getting down," Kahoopii said. "But then everyone stepped up their game again."

Kohala responded with an 11-2 run, taking a 47-45 lead on a basket by Ryan Bautista.

But again Na Ali'i came back, outscoring the Cowboys 7-2 to the end the third quarter with 52-49 lead.

Kohala went up 65-59 on a pair of free throws by Kahoopii with 2:52 left in the fourth, and its lead grew to 71-63 on another free throw by Kahoopii with 1:33 left.

'Aiea's Woods made it interesting with a 3-pointer to close to 71-67 with a minute left and another with seven seconds left to make it 75-72, but Ryan Bautista made 1 of 2 free throws with 4.2 seconds left to seal the win.

"No team was safe," Fernandez said. "We just made some great shots at the end."

For 'Aiea (14-2), the No. 2 seed and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion, Woods had a game-high 24 points, Chung had 14 and James Buchanan contributed 9.

KOHALA (15-3) 14 19 16 27 — 76

'AIEA (14-2) 15 17 20 20 — 72

KOHALA — Ryan Bautista 14, Arvin Campollo 0, Brandon Bautista 13, Devin Marquez 20, Blaise Kise 0, Jacob Roxburgh 13, Alex Vujovich 4, Mana Pasco 0, Ikaika Kahoopii 12. Totals 23 26-40 76.

'AIEA — Lofa Liilii 9, Ryan Mora 4, Jarred McKee 6, Alan Fonoti 4, Obie Woods 24, Josh Chung 14, Eric James 2, James Buchanan 9, Aldodius Colquitt 0. Totals 27 11-21 72. 3-point goals: Kohala 4 (B. Bautista 2, Marquez, Roxburgh). 'Aiea 7 (McKee 2, Woods 2, J. Chung 2, Liilii).

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.