Kalani's Matthew Haili puts up the game-winning free-throw as time expired in overtime against Kaiser. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Kalani's Matthew Haili celebrates after sinking the game-winning free throw against Kaiser. Tyler Kanoa | University High

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Kaiser's Chance Kalaugher drives past a Kalani defender on his way to the basket. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Kaiser's Tarius Hill drives to the basket against Kalani. Tyler Kanoa | University High

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Kalani's Cory Mitchell looks to drive to the basket against Kaiser. Kourtney Park | Campbell HS

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Kalani's Brandon Roberts puts up a layup against Kaiser. Sean Nakamura | SL

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Fri, Jan 18, 2013 @ Kalani

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Kaiser

56

Kalani

57

F/OT	1	2	3	4	OT
Kaiser (3-8, 4-9)	10	11	21	12	2	56
Kalani (5-6, 6-9)	11	14	11	18	3	57

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

A. Tungpalan 18 pts  4 3pm

C. Kalaugher 18 pts

M. Haili 5 tot

T. Hill 9 tot

C. Mitchell 4 ast

T. Kahunanui 4 ast

Kalani's hero was highly unlikely, but clutch nonetheless.

Kalani outlasted their rival Kaiser, 57-56 in overtime, as center Matthew Haili, a 45% shooter from the charity stripe, hit the game winning free throw with no time remaining to seal the victory for the Falcons.

Kalani made 10 three-pointers in the contest, with Alexander Tungpalan leading the Falcons with 18 points, 12 of them coming via the long ball. Brandon Roberts added 17 points, hitting 3 three-pointers, one of them to tie the game and sent it into overtime.

Tangpalan said, "I give thanks to my teammates because they get me open. We put a lot of work in shooting at practice."

Kalani head coach Nathan Davis said, "I think we're a well-rounded team. We are lucky to be able to take what the defense gives us. They want to give us shots, in planning for games, we took advantage that."

In the first quarter, Kalani hit 3 three-pointers, two from Roberts and one from Tungpalan to take a 1 point lead, 11-10.

In the second quarter, Kaiser's Melvin Kahunanui rebounded the ball and put it back to make it 13-12.

Tungpalan hit a three-pointer to extend Kalani's lead to 6, 16-10.

Kahunanui answered with a three pointer of his own to bring the Cougars within 3, 16-13.

Kalani's Michael Pimental swished a three-pointer to make it, 21-17.

At halftime, Kaiser led, 25-21.

In the third quarter, Cory Mitchell hit a three pointer to put Kalani up, 28-23.

Kaiser answered back with baskets from freshman forward Chance Kalaugher, who led the Cougars with 18 points and 8 rebounds, to tie the game at 28. The Cougars outscored the Falcons 21-11 in the third quarter and led 42-36 going into the fourth quarter.  

In the fourth quarter, Kaiser went up by 7 after Kalaugher hit one-of-two from the free throw line, but Kalani roared back after Tungpalan hit a three pointer to cut the deficit to 4 at 43-39. He also hit another three pointer to make it, 45-42. Kalani's Cory Mitchell then drove and made a layup to cut the deficit to 1, prompting Kaiser to call time out.

Kalani took the lead, 49-45 after Roberts stole the ball and converted the layup.

Kaiser was able to tie it up at 49 after a basket from Kahunanui.

Kaiser went up 54-51 after Kalaugher hit two free throws and Kalani called a full time out with 12.8 seconds left.

As the time was ticking, Brandon Roberts launched a high arcing three-pointer over the outstretched arm of Kalaugher to tie the game at 54 with 4.4 seconds remaining. Kaiser's Jensen Momoki missed a shot at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime.

Roberts said, "I was just looking to get an open shot, or anything close because were trying to shoot early and get an offensive rebound. I couldn't do anything if Cory (Mitchell) didn't pass me the ball but it was supposed to be Alex's shot, but he hit me and I hit that shot. "

In overtime, Tungpalan found an open Haili under the basket to go up, 56-54.

Kaiser's Tarius Hill stole the ball and went coast-to-coast for the layup to tie the game at 56.

Hill fouled Haili as he was grabbing a rebound. It was a one-and-one free throw situation and with no time remaining, the referees cleared the floor and players from both sides watched apprehensively. Hill's free throw hit the back of the rim, then the front of the rim and rolled in.

Haili said, "Pretty much what was going through my mind was all the practice what I went through. The pressure was huge too. I heard the crowd and felt the crowd roaring and I followed through and shot it."

Kaiser used their size advantage to outrebound Kalani, 28-12.

Head coach Ivan Tamura, "We did a lot better compared to the other games. We played team ball and we took care of the ball a lot better. There are things we need to work on. It was a hard fought match between two rival teams. It came down to the hustle plays, getting on the floor, getting the jump balls. A couple calls could've gone our way and couple went their way. That's how the ball bounces."

A thrilling victory means a lot to his young squad with only four seniors.

Nathan Davis said, "It means a lot to a young team like this. They work really hard in practice and they are the most-together group that I've had. They sacrifice a lot for each other so to be able to these kinds of contests really helps them grow up together."