With 4.5 seconds left Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo lifted the Governors over the Mustangs to advance to the OIA Championship game. Steve Erler | Special to SL

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Tue, Feb 17, 2015 @ McKinley

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Farrington

60

Kalaheo

58

F/OT	1	2	3	4	OT
Farrington (7-4, 22-10)	13	17	16	11	3	60
Kalaheo (13-1, 31-3)	16	14	7	20	1	58

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

K. Gilmore 23 pts  2 3pm  7/8 FTs

T. Unutoa 17 pts  1/3 FTs

K. Harrison 11 tot  3 off  8 def

T. Unutoa 9 tot  1 off  8 def

K. Gilmore 2 ast

B. Tatupu-Leopoldo 2 ast

In a game that featured nine ties and 10 lead changes, it came down to the last shot.

With a little over 2 seconds remaining in overtime, Bryce Tatupu-Leopoldo's shot in the paint catapulted Farrington past top-ranked Kalaheo, 60-58 in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division semifinals McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium on Tuesday evening.

"I needed to step up and I believed in myself and my team," said Tatupu-Leopoldo. "We sort of eased up in the second half, but we were able to regroup and get that ‘W'."

"It's all guts, they put it on the line tonight and I'm proud of them. Ranan comes up with a great steal and lays it up. It was an amazing game. Our big guy—Bryce, finishes with a game-winner for us which was really nice," said Farrington coach Allan Silva.

The Govs (10-4) advance to play Kahuku for the OIA Red Division championship on Thursday night. The Mustangs (12-1) play Leilehua for third place on the same night. Farrington snapped Kalaheo's 17-game winning streak that dated back to Dec. 22. This was the fourth meeting between both teams this season and Farrington won, 69-62 on Dec. 20. 

"It might be a blessing in disguise. I'm not glad we lost, but if we're going to lose, this is a huge teaching tool for myself and the staff to go after these kids and teach them through this," said Kalaheo coach Alika Smith.

With 1:35 left in overtime, Jake Smith hit 1 of 2 free throws to put Farrington ahead, 58-57. With 31.3 seconds left, Kupaa Harrison poked the ball loose and Kalaheo called a timeout. He was fouled with 20.2 seconds remaining and missed the first free throw attempt, but hit the second to tie the game at 58.

Tatupu-Leopoldo drove and floated a shot that hit the back iron of the rim and dropped into the basket with about 2.6 seconds left on the clock. He scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the game. Kalaheo inbounded the ball and Kekai Smith's heave past half court was no good.

"We didn't attack that press enough and we didn't hit some shots. At the end of the day, it was a great game and no one could buy a bucket it came down to the last shot, unfortunately for us and fortunately for them, he made it," said Smith.

Farrington led 47-37 after Jake Smith hit 1 of 2 free throws early in the fourth quarter. Smith added 14 points and nailed two 3-pointers. Kalaheo turned up the defensive pressure to get back-to-back steals and Alec MacLeod's 3-point play cut the deficit to one, 55-54. The Mustangs were on a 10-0 run to take a 57-55 lead with 43.8 seconds remaining.

Ranan Mamiya's steal and layup tied the game at 57 with about 25 seconds remaining. Gilmore had a 3-point attempt near the top, but it fell short as Tua Unutoa grabbed the rebound sending the game into overtime. Unutoa scored a team-high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting and grabbed nine boards.

"Coach told me to keep working in the post and use the pump fake," said Unutoa.

"We told the guys to look into Tua because if he gets the ball in the paint, he's tough to stop. It was nice Tua and Bryce shared the ball under the basket," said Silva.

Kaleb Gilmore shook off a slow start to score 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. Harrison carried the load offensively to start the game, scoring eight of his 14 points in the first quarter. MacLeod added 10 points and shot 6 of 7 from the free throw line.

The Mustangs shot 4 of 17 (23.5 percent) from the 3-point line for the game and 19 of 45 (42 percent) from the field.

"We knew Kalaheo is a tough team, they like to drive and they're fast so the zone was the way," said Tatupu-Leopoldo.

"We have to come out and be aggressive, we cannot wait to take someone's first punch. We have to go and be aggressive against that defense and make them pay for it. But we didn't do it and settled for some outside shots," said Smith.

Both teams clinched spots in the New City Nissan Boys Division I Basketball State Championships starting on Feb. 25.

"There's always life after the OIA and there's the state tournament and that's what we're looking forward to now. We have to go back to work," said Smith.