Punahou, Kailua go to overtime to decide Fujino Invitational winner

Brian Bautista | SL

In a slugfest between two Division I state title contenders, the defending champion showed its mettle.

Punahou found a way to force overtime, then got two huge shots from Koen Makinano in the extra period in a barn buring 72-70 win over Kailua in the title game of the Raymond Fujino Invitational at Kaimuki High School.

Makinano, who scored all five points for the Buffanblu in the two minute OT, hit a huge three pointer to open up the scoring, then hit a game clinching turn-around jumper as time expired to end it.

"It was like a last second decision because I saw the clock, I looked at him (Scanlan) and then I just decided to reject it and try and get that shot off," said Makinano of the play.

The senior guard finished the game with 14 points, equalling his career high mark.

"I knew that somebody had to step up I'm just glad I was able to get an open look," Makinano continued. "I knew that I had to be more aggressive with it since we were missing our number one scorer."

With just nine seconds left regulation, Ethan Chung stepped up and calmly knocked down three free throws after being fouled on a shot attempt from distance, making it a one-point game at 65-64, then promptly gets subbed out, grabbed his backpack ahd headed to the exit.

"Ethan had to go to his orchestra concert," said forward Tanoa Scanlan. "So Koen had to step up big."

And Scanlan had to step up big himself, as a catch-and-shoot corner three he knocked down as the fourth quarter buzzer sounded was one that almost certainly would have been drawn up for Chung.

"The initial look is for Ryan (McAlister) to come off as a decoy and then for me to come off a double pick and they guarded it well," explained Scanlan. "But you know, that's a shot that I practiced a lot."

That three, by the way, was the first make from the field for Scanlan since the opening quarter.

"Shots weren't falling for myself and I could have been pessimistic about it but I just told myself to keep sharing the ball and things will come," added Scanlan.

What looked like a Punahou victory going away after the first half with the Buffanblu leading 41-30, saw the Surfriders methodically chip away in the third quarter behind Maddox Pung, who scored nine in the quarter alone.

That double digit margin for the defending state champs eventually flipped to become as large as nine, as Pung knocked down a shot with 3:16 to go to make it 62-53 in favor of Kailua. Punahou, however, kept its composure through much of Kailua's comeback, and it really showed in the final minutes.

Hunter Bond's shot on the next possession cut the lead to seven, and Makinano's huge triple on the next trimmed it to four, which left the door open.

Pung had a game-high 27 in the loss, and Chung added 24 for the Buffanblu.

Seven players reached double figures.