Kahuku overcame a slow start and a 23-point performance by Kapolei forward Christopher Dillard to come away with a 61-56 victory, forcing a winner-take-all final for the OIA Red Divsion title on Saturday.

The Red Raiders quickly fell behind 5-0 in the opening moments of the game and trailed 11-10 after the first period, but seemed to steadily gain composure as the game progressed, finishing off the half with a 9-3 run to take a 26-22 lead into the break.

Kahuku continued to build on that composure in the second half, riding a 14-4 spurt to take a 40-16 lead. The Hurricanes responded with a mini-run of their own, scoring five straight points to close the gap to 9 at the end of the third period.

A see-saw fourth period saw momentum shift back and forth, that started with scoring runs by both teams to start the period and ended with the trading of shots, not all of them makes.

The Red Raiders made just 5-of-13 free throws in the quarter, including just 1 of the final 6 attempts from the stripe, but the Hurricanes were not able to capitalize.

Fiso led Kahuku with 16 points and Lasselle Thompson added 10 more off the bench.

Kapolei got 49 of their 56 points from the trio of Christopher Dillard (23 points), Curtis Tavares (13) and Joshua Wills (13).

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