The challenge came at the right time.

After having its way with opponents during the regular season, the 'Aiea High School boys basketball team got tested twice in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White tournament last week.

Both times, Joshua Chung helped unbeaten Na Ali'i pull through and defend their White championship. Chung scored 21 points in a semifinal win over McKinley and 20 in the title game against Farrington.

"I've been trying to tell them the only time I want them to do good is when we have our back against the wall," 'Aiea coach Wyatt Tau said. "We've been playing good all year, but against Farrington, we were forcing shots, taking unnecessary shots, taking 3's."

'Aiea (16-0) trailed midway through the game against Farrington before warming up from the field. Chung scored 14 points in the third quarter to help Na Ali'i outscore the Governors, 20-6.

Chung often plays just 2 1/2 quarters because of the large leads the team builds. That wasn't the case last week.

"You really never get to see his (Chung's) full potential," Tau said. "He stepped up, Obie (Woods) stepped up, James (Buchanan) stepped up.

"It's the only time they have been challenged all year. They showed they can play."

Now the focus shifts to this week's state tournament, where 'Aiea is seeded first in Division II.

"Our focus was just to make it to states," Tau said. "We didn't say we were going to be the No. 1 seed or the last seed. Our goal was to make it and do what we have to do to get to the championship game."

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.