OIA Boys Basketball
Leilehua, Mililani to rematch for OIA Division I crown


ScoringLive staff
February 13, 2024, 7:00am

  


Mon, Feb 12, 2024 @ McKinley

Leilehua

73

Kailua

67

F/2OT 1 2 3 4 OT2OT  
Leilehua (12-1, 22-5) 14 201597873
Kailua (10-3, 21-7) 18 19 6 157267
M. Pung 29 pts  2 3pm  5/5 FTs
T. Wilson 31 pts  1 3pm  10/12 FTs
N. Donnelly 10 tot  5 off  5 def
M. Ioane 9 tot  2 off  7 def
M. Pung 4 ast
M. Ioane 4 ast

It's an all OIA West showdown for the Division I title.

In the OIA Division I playoff semifinals at McKinley, Leilehua battled past East top seed Kailua in a double overtime classic, 73-67, setting up a rematch with West top seed Millani, who went wire-to-wire to topple Nanakuli, 60-42.

The Mules are making its first appearance in the title game since 2003, the Trojans are in the final pairing for the third time in a row.

In the first meeting between the two teams this year, the Trojans prevailed in a closely contested game, 52-50.

Trystin Stevens came up huge in the 2nd OT, scoring the go-ahead layup to open the period, then added another basket a possession later to extend the margin for the Mules to 69-65.

Following a pair of free throws made by Kailua's Maddox Pung on the other end, Stevens grabbed a crucial offensive board on the ensuing possession and was fouled, where he made 1 of 2 attempts to keep the margin at three.

From there, Twain Wilson made three of four charity stripe chances down the stretch to seal the win, finishing with a game-high 31 points. 

Wilson's output was also a season best for the Mules' leading scorer, and Leilehua needed every single of those points to fend off a 29 point outing from Pung, who also hit for a season-high mark in the game.

Stevens, who came off the bench to score 16 points, also added five rebounds and two steals. Cobe Wyatt had nine points and Matteus Ioane chipped in six points and nine boards for Leilehua.

Kailua refused to go out without a fight, tying the score with 15 seconds to play in regulation on a driving layup by Dylan Kunz, capping off a six point spurt after being down 58-52 with under three to play in the fourth.

Then in a back and forth first OT, a huge three from Pung with 17 seconds left in the first overtime forced another four minutes of basketball.

The Surfriders' front line of Kunz and Donnelly combined for 28 points, but shot just 12-of-30 from the field. Kunz hit a pair of threes early, but missed his nine other attempts in the final three quarters.

Donnelly pulled down 10 rebounds and added five blocks, both game-highs.

Skyler Unten had a solid contest, racking up eight points, seven rebounds and two steals, but went down early in the overtime period with an apparent leg injury and did not return.

Greg Yamamoto | SL    Purchase image

In contrast to the first semifinal of the night, the rematch between Mililani and Nanakuli resulted in a wire-to-wire win for the West top seed, 60-42.

Four Mililani players hit double-figures, led by LeCedric Brown's 16. The Trojans' front line of Lauvai Pine and Timothy Dorn had 16 and 13 points, respectively, and Roman Gabriel had 12.

The Trojans jumped out to an early 11-0 lead, but saw that lead eventually dwindle to just four by the end of the quarter as the Golden Hawks settled in.

Mililani eventually built the margin back to double figures, pullng away for good in the third quarter, where it led by as many as 17.

Defense was the difference for the Trojans, who doubled up in steals (14-7) and held a 6 to 2 advantage in the block department as well.

Zion Donnell had 13 points and five rebounds to lead the way for the Golden Hawks.

All four teams will represent the OIA in the upcoming Division I state tournament.




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