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Despite missing its twin towers from last season, Punahou still managed to squeeze out a 47-43 win against host Academy of the Pacific to win the Noh Foods Hawaii AOP Hoop Classic Saturday night at Farrington's Kitamura Fieldhouse.

Tourney outstanding player Nick Velasquez led the Buffanblu with 13 points and had one of the team's seven 3-pointers. Freshman Dayson Watanabe added 11, including three 3-pointers.

Punahou was without 6-foot-8 Luke Kaumatule, who aggravated a preseason knee injury at the state football title game. He won't play this season. The Buffanblu also was missing 6-7 DeForest Bucker, who was on a football recruiting trip at Oregon.

But the Buffanblu's quickness enabled their players to better position themselves in rebounding in the first half. The Dolphins did a better job defensively in the second half, even overcoming an eight-point half-time deficit by taking a momentary lead, 42-41, with 4:35 left. But it was too little too late, as the Buffanblu outscored the Dolphins, 6-3 in the last 3 1/2 minutes to secure the game.

"We wanted to come out aggressive," Punahou coach Darren Matsuda said. "With Luke out for the year and without DeForest, we're actually a little bit smaller most teams. To compete, we're going to have to really just fight in the trenches for everything.

"(The Dolphins) did a better job in the second half. They matched us. They were actually beating us to loose balls in the second half and I think that was the difference."

Punahou took charge early with its long-range shooting, taking an 18-10 lead after the first quarter with four 3-pointers, two by Watanabe. The Buffanblu got another 3-pointer just before the end of the half to take a 29-21 lead at the break.

The Dolphins pulled to 41-34 at the end of the third quarter and opened the fourth with an 8-0 run to take a 42-41 lead with 4:35 left.

Punahou regained the lead about a minute later when Watanabe converted both ends of a one-and-one and added to its lead on a basket by Velasquez with 2:50 left to make it 45-42.

The Dolphins had an opportunity to close their deficit when David Daniel missed the back-end of a one-and-one. Though AOP came down with the rebound, 6-4 Arkadiy Mkrtychyan, who is from Moscow, missed his shot and 6-6 Malik Johnson came down with the rebound for Punahou with about 55 seconds left. The Buffanblu made two of their last three free throws in the final 28 seconds to preserve their lead.

"We just didn't take care of the ball at the end," AOP coach Walter Marciel said. "We learned something about that. All night, the speed of Punahou, we were worried about that. I think we can match up with their big guys, but the guards, we wanted to see how quick they are. They're quick."


MOANALUA 60, FARRINGTON 51

Na Menehune outscored the Governors by a 15-4 margin in the final rnquarter to claim third place game of the Noh Foods of Hawaii AOP Hoop rnClassic at Kitamura Memorial Fieldhouse on the campus of Farrington Highrn School.

Kahanu Puulei-Auld's halfcourt buzzer-beater at the half gave Moanalua a 34-33 halftime edge over the Govs.


FINAL DAY RESULTS

5th place game
Kamehameha II 50, Mililani 44

7th place game
Kamehameha-Maui 41, Roosevelt 35