Kahuku held off Kaimuki, 39-36, last night for its second O'ahu Interscholastic Association boys basketball championship in five years before a raucous near-capacity crowd of about 1,500 at Radford's James Alegre Gym.

The Red Raiders improved to 17-1 in the regular and postseason and will receive the OIA's top seed and first-round bye in this week's state tournament. Kaimuki fell to 12-5 and will begin state tournament play in Wednesday's first round.

Kahuku took a circuitous route to last night's title game, having to win three straight games under the OIA tournament's new modified double-elimination tournament after losing to Kaimuki in a fourth-round game on Feb. 21.

"It was a humbling experience, but I think it made us a better team," said Kahuku senior guard Irwin Ah-Hoy, who hit a 17-foot jumper with 1:03 remaining to give the Red Raiders their first lead, 35-33, since the first period. "It made us stay focused and think about basketball all the time."

Kahuku trailed 33-30 after Bulldogs center Desmond Tautofi's putback with 4:11 remaining, but Nehoa Akina tied it at 33-33 on a 3-pointer with 3:12 left. Ah-Hoy then put the Red Raiders ahead, 35-33, with 1:03 remaining on his jumper from the right corner — his first points of the game.

"They weren't picking me up, so I felt I had to shoot it," Ah-Hoy said.

Ah-Hoy had hit a similar shot late in regulation in an overtime victory over Kaimuki in the regular season.

"Irwin is full of confidence now," Kahuku coach Hiram Akina said. "His game is at the maximum of where we want it to be."

Kona Schwenke made it 37-33 on two free throws with 33 seconds left, and Ah-Hoy stretched the lead to 39-33 on two free throws 13 seconds later.

David Taulung cut it to 39-36 on a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 13 seconds remaining, and the Bulldogs gained possession again with 6.3 seconds left after the Red Raiders missed two free throws.

But a potential game-tying 3-pointer from about 25 feet out on the left wing glanced off the rim as time expired.

Kaimuki went nearly four minutes between field goals, until Taulung's 3-pointer with 13 seconds remaining.

"Coach said defense is going to win this game for us," Ah-Hoy said. "We stuck together on defense."

The last two Kahuku-Kaimuki games were decided by five points, following the overtime game on Jan. 30.

"We've had all close games, so I knew this would be come down to the end again," Akina said. "We just expected a tight game, and the kids played great down the stretch."

After the Red Raiders took a 12-10 lead on Jray Galeai's spinning layup with two seconds left in the first quarter, Jason Nutter began the second period with two free throws to start the Bulldogs on a 12-0 run.

Shairone Thompson finally broke the string on two free throws with 2:41 remaining in the half, then Schwenke sank two more free throws with 56 seconds left and hit a layup with 18 seconds remaining to cut it to 22-18 at halftime.

Kaimuki kept the lead until late in the third quarter, which Kahuku finished with a 5-0 run to lead 30-29 heading into the fourth.

But Nutter scored on a layup with 5:21 left to get the lead back for the Bulldogs, and Tautofi put them up 33-30 on his putback with 4:11 remaining.

KAIMUKI (12-5) 10 12 7 7 — 36

KAHUKU (17-1) 12 6 12 9 — 39

KAIMUKI — Tevin Nishiyama 0, Ekolu Vares 0, David Taulung 9, Gabre Stietzel 1, Jason Nutter 12, Ryan Kakitani 7, Clay Montiho 0, Chad Ka'aihue 0, Desmond Tautofi 7, Kelly Tobin 0. Totals 11 9-18 36.

KAHUKU — Mikeli Damuni 0, Jray Galeai 9, Irwin Ah-Hoy 4, Sage Kaka 0, Nehoa Akina 9, Jackson Kaka 0, Shairone Thompson 4, Kona Schwenke 9, Christian Feagai 4. Totals 12 14-23 39.

3-point goals: Kaimuki 5 (Nutter 2, Taulung 2, Kakitani), Kahuku 1 (Akina).

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456. Read his blog on high school sports at www.preptalk.honadvblogs.com

PUNAHOU EARNS FINAL STATE TOURNEY BERTH

Punahou defeated Kamehameha-Hawai'i last night in Kea'au in a play-in game to earn the final state tournament berth.

The final score and statistics were not available.

Punahou finished third in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, and Kamehameha-Hawai'i finished third in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation.