Saint Francis' Matthew Nuumanaia drives to the basket against Kailua. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Saint Francis' Keoni Tom-Millare puts up a jump shot against Kailua. Eugene Tanner | SL

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Saint Francis' Kalani Akana dribbles past the defense of Kailua's Mason Youart. Evan Asato | SL

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Kailua's Matthew Bishop and Noah Auld battle for a rebound. Evan Asato | SL

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Kailua's Kekoa Ford puts up a shot attempt over Saint Francis Blane Won. Evan Asato | SL

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Saint Francis players react at the buzzer after winning the Division II state title over Kailua. Eugene Tanner | SL

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Brien Ing | SL

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Sat, Feb 23, 2013 @ Blaisdell

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Kailua

34

Saint Francis

39

Final	1	2	3	4
Kailua (6-5, 17-9)	3	8	10	14	34
Saint Francis (9-0, 25-5)	2	8	15	14	39

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

M. Nuumanaia 10 pts  2/2 FTs

K. Ford 8 pts  2/6 FTs

B. Won 6 tot

K. Ronolo Jr. 8 tot

M. Nuumanaia 2 ast

C. Kalei 2 ast

Saint Francis capped off an undefeated season with their first ever HHSAA Division II state title in boys basketball. This was a special night for the seniors as they were the first ever senior class that had boys. Saint Francis was previously an all-girl school until four years ago.

"This is our first senior class," said Saint Francis Head Coach Solomon Batoon. "We only had boys for a few years. It's a great feeling because they work so hard and they dedicate so much of their time."

Matthew Nuumanaia led the way for the Saints with 10 points. Nuumanaia also finished with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two block shots.

"This is a big win for us," exclaimed Nuumanaia. "Coming into the school year with only four years; we always had a basketball program but we just never made it. This year we just took care of business and we got it."

It was a messy first quarter for both teams combined to shoot 0 for 12 from the field. Despite committing 10 turnovers in the first, Kailua would take a slim 3-2 lead heading into the second.

"We struggled at the beginning," explained Batoon. "We wasn't able to drop a basket; seems like there was a lid on that. We had to get the jitters out; playing inside an arena like this was very difficult for the kids."

Kailua would get the first bucket of the game on William Kailimai's reverse scoop shot in the lane to go up 5-2. The Surfriders appeared to run away with it until Mason Youart picked up his 3rd personal foul with 3:30 to go in the first half.

Once Youart was on the bench, the Saints went on a 5-0 run to take the lead at 10-7. The Surfriders would not hit a field goal the rest of the quarter, but they were able to reclaim the lead at the half with free throws.

Kailua had an 11-10 lead at halftime.

Both teams would trade blows throughout the 3rd quarter until the 2:24 mark. Senior reserve Keoni Tom-Millare completed a three-point play opportunity after he sank his fade away shot near the top of the key through contact. Tom-Millare's three-point play gave Saint Francis a 21-19 lead, a lead they would not give up. Seven of Tom-Millare's eight points were scored in the 3rd.

One thing that really hurt Kailua in the second half was when Kirk Ronolo Jr. picked up his 4th personal foul with 1:51 remaining in the 3rd. In the Surfriders semifinal victory over Seabury Hall, Ronolo led all scorers with 23 points. Ronolo was called for a technical foul after Nuumanaia was awarded possession on a rebound that Ronolo battled for.

"In the second half we got into foul trouble," said Kailua Head Coach Wally Marciel. "Some of our guys couldn't play to the ability that they can play, and that hurt us a bit."

Kalani Akana's hop step and lay-up in the lane in the closing seconds of the 3rd put Saint Francis up 25-20 heading into the final period of regulation.

The Saints would not be able to pull away from the Surfriders until the final three minutes of the game. After being double teamed in the paint, Blayne Won found a wide open Akana for the dagger three to put Saint Francis up, 32-26.

"All of us have roles," explained Akana. "Tonight my role was to play good defense. Coach always told me good defense leads to offense. I just tried to play my hardest on defense, and my offense came to me and I was able to knock down that big shot."

Unfortunately for Kailua, they would turn it over on the next possession and the Surfriders had to burn a timeout.

Saint Francis would eventually hold on to beat Kailua for their first ever DII boys basketball state title.

"We tried our best," said Marciel. "Unfortunately we didn't win the state championship, but we got here; we worked hard all season and I'm very proud of our boys."