Ahu's last gasp bucket sends University Lab to states

Greg Yamamoto | SL

In a back-and-forth game that seemed almost destined for extra time, Alika Ahu had other plans.

Ahu's drive got him just inside the painted area, where his circus shot danced around the the cylinder briefly before tumbling in with 0.5 seconds left on the clock in University Lab's heart-stopping 51-49 win over Kamehameha, a contest who's victor punched the ILH's final berth into the Division I state tournament.

"I saw the time on the clock, so I just decided to take it myself," said Ahu of the play. "If they fouled me before I'd be shooting free throws."

"I hit one (game-winner) against Punahou, so I wasn't shying from the moment," he added.

Kamehameha's last lead came at the 1:19 mark, on a drive and dish by Makai Barr to a waiting Cyrus Tasi, who was fouled on the play but missed the and-one for a 49-47 lead.

On the ensuing possession, Trey Ambrozich hit a tough jumper to tie the contest once again with 49 ticks in regulation.

With the score now tied again, the Warriors' shot near the end of the shot clock was contested by Ambrozich and glanced off the rim, where a scramble ensued and the loose ball was scooped up by Ahu, who raced to about half court before a time out was called with about 9.5 left on the clock, setting up the final heroics.

Kamehameha led by as many as three early in the contest, but trailed 12-7 at the end of the first. The Warriors rallied in the second to make it 22-20 at the break, as Nahiku Nahale-a's shot at the buzzer was a lift heading into the intermission.

The Jr. Bows built a margin as large as six in the third, but saw the Warriors slowly but surely claw their way back in the fourth, regaining the lead at the 3:23 mark of the fourth on clutch three by Blake Nakatsukasa to make it 46-45 Kamehameha.

As they have all season, the Jr. Bows' front court trio of Ahu, Ambrozich and Laboy all hit for double figures, led by 16 each for Ahu and Laboy. Ambrozich finished with 12, and 10 of those came in the second half.

Though not as evident in the scorebook, the play of Kenna Quitan and Todd McKinney, as well as reserve Aaron Hamada, was crucial, and Laboy had nothing but praise for the work they put in.

"These guys are more valuable than us I would say," said Laboy. "Aaron defensively hustles the whole game, he guards the best players, does all the little things. Kenna's there the whole game handling pressure and guarding Nahiku, and Todd runs our whole offense."

McKinney had seven points and three boards in the contest, and his ability to get to the rim in the latter stages, was key in keeping the Warriors from cheating back defensively on the Jr. Bows' bigs.

The Warriors may have been the hottest team as of late in ILH play, with a win over Punahou in the regular season and two do-or-die victories over Iolani and Maryknoll in the league's postseason. Their two losses came both against University Lab, and by a combined three points.

Nahale-a put up a team-high 13 points to lead the way for the Warriors, and fellow seniors Barr (12 points, 2 threes, 2 assists) and Nakatsukasa (8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 threes, 2 steals) also stepped up big in an effort to extend Kamehameha's season.

University Lab, who moved up from Division II this past season, will travel to face off with Kamehameha-Maui, who defeated King Kekaulike for the second time in as many days, in the opening round of the tournament on Monday.

"We're ecstatic to compete with all these bigger schools its just amazing," said Laboy. "We've worked so hard for this and I'm so glad we get the chance to go to states and show everyone what we got.