Kamehameha-Hawaii holds off AOP in overtime, 39-37

Kamehameha-Hawaii's Shaun Kagawa puts up a shot against AOP. Greg Yamamoto | SL

Senior guard Lanaki Apele scored the go-ahead basket on an acrobatic reverse layup with 1:45 remaining in overtime last night as Kamehameha-Hawai'i held off Academy of the Pacific, 39-37, in the Hawaiian Airlines/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball State Championship quarterfinals.

The No. 3 seed and Big Island Interscholastic Federation champ Warriors improved to 14-1 in the regular and postseason and will face No. 2 seed and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champ Kahuku (17-1) in tonight's 7 o'clock semifinal at Blaisdell Arena.

Apele drove the baseline from the left side, elevated and dipped under two defenders before putting the perfect spin on a reverse layup to put the Warriors ahead, 37-36, with 1:45 left in OT and then sank a free throw with 12.5 seconds remaining to make it 38-36.

Arkadiy Mkrtychyan made one of two free throws to close it to 38-37 with 11.4 ticks on the clock, but Kekoa Turner made one of two free throws with 0:09.5 showing to give Kamehameha a 39-37 advantage.

The Dolphins (9-5) could only manage a desperation 27-foot attempt on their final possession, and could not secure the rebound.