Kailua's Lydell Romero tries to get past Waiakea's Kiai Apele in the second half. Spencer Honda | SL

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KAKAAKO — This one was a nail-biter.

Kailua outlasted fourth-seeded Waiakea in a thrilling 52-48 quarterfinal win Thursday night at McKinley's Student Council Gymnasium in the Snapple Division I Boys Basketball Championships.

Everett Torres-Kahapea scored a game-high 22 points and Lydell Romero added 10 points with six rebounds and six steals to lead the Surfriders into the semifinals Friday at Stan Sheriff Center. Kailua will take on Maryknoll in the nightcap at 7 p.m.

Turnovers ultimately doomed the Warriors, who committed 17 to the Surfriders' 10. Ten first-half Waiakea turnovers helped Kailua close the opening period with a 9-2 run that led to a 24-16 halftime lead for the Surfriders.

Waiakea cleaned it up in the third quarter and cut the deficit to two, 33-31, but a series of turnovers to start the final period of play pushed Kailua's lead to 42-31 with about six minutes to play in regulation.

The Warriors kept fighting however. William Soares' 3-point shot stopped the bleeding and two triples by Keegan Scanlan off the bench cut Kailua's lead to 46-42 with 1:59 remaining.

The Surfriders' also opened the door for Waiakea at the free throw line. After Scanlan cut the deficit to four, Kailua missed four of its next five free throw attempts before Peter Suiaunoa's putback made it a 47-44 game with 50.8 left.

Kailua's free throws woes continued when Torres-Kahapea uncharacteristically missed two attempts at the line three seconds later. However, Waiakea was unable to secure the rebound and had to foul Isaiah Hopson with 46.3 to play in regulation.

But it was the same story once again. Hopson missed both attempts and the Warriors gave up another offensive rebound. Torres-Kahapea put in the missed free throw to go up by five, but Soares came back on the other end to keep it a one-possession game.

Kaniala Williams was the next Surfrider to go to the line with 24.5 left. He missed the first attempt which prompted a Kailua timeout. After the break in play, Williams sank the second try. Waiakea couldn't score to keep up and Nainoa Peters knocked down two free throws with 9.5 left to seal the deal.

Jerek Prudencio's basket with two seconds left gave the game its final point total.

Prudencio finished with 14 points, Soares had 11 and Scanlan had 10 on three triples to lead the Warriors in the loss.