Campbell's Gilbert Dayanan battles Kalaheo's Kekai Smith for a loose ball. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Campbell's Jomar Jett Gapusan heads to the basket for a layup against Kalaheo. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Kalaheo's Kupa'a Harrison looks to get off a shot attempt against Campbell. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Kalaheo's Dario Delcastillo puts up a shot against Farrington. Peter Caldwell | SL

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Kalaheo's Kekai Smith soars to the basket against Campbell. Greg Yamamoto | SL

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Campbell's Gilbert Dayanan celebrates after hitting the game-winning shot against Kalaheo. Peter Caldwell | SL

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Tue, Feb 11, 2014 @ McKinley

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Kalaheo

59

Campbell

60

Final	1	2	3	4
Kalaheo (11-3, 26-10)	19	12	15	13	59
Campbell (11-2, 19-12)	4	19	21	16	60

• Points
• Rebounds
• Assists

I. Hurd 15 pts  3 3pm  5/5 FTs

K. Harrison 31 pts  1 3pm  6/8 FTs

G. Dayanan 4 tot  2 off  2 def

K. Harrison 6 tot  2 off  4 def

G. Dayanan 2 ast

K. Harrison 2 ast

HONOLULU – He just keeps coming through in the nick of time.

Gilbert Dayanan tipped in a long jump shot at the buzzer to help Campbell beat Kalaheo in the Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division semifinals, 60-59, at McKinley’s Student Council Gymnasium Tuesday night. This comes five days after Dayanan made a buzzer-beating layup against Leilehua in the quarterfinals, 41-40.

“I feel like I relived a moment; I just give all glory to God,” said Dayanan. “I just had faith in whatever teammate shot the ball – (that) I just had to follow through with it.”

Campbell, ranked No. 9 in the ScoringLive/OC16 Boys Basketball Power Rankings, advances to play Farrington in the OIA Red title game on Thursday. The last time the Sabers were in the title game was in 2005 against Kahuku, where they lost 48-43.

“It’s just truly unbelievable,” Dayanan said. “I’m just glad that we can make it this far because not that many teams have this opportunity.”

What makes Dayanan’s buzzer-beater so remarkable is that it came after Kalaheo took a 59-58 lead with nine seconds remaining in regulation. After getting double-teamed on the wing, Kalaheo’s Kupa’a Harrison found a wide-open Alec Macleod under the basket for an easy lay-in.

On the next possesion, Campbell’s Jomar Jett Gapusan received the ensuing inbounds pass and raced down the court to attempt a fade away shot from the wing. For the first time in the game, Gapusan was off his mark, but Dayanan was in the right place and the right time for the game-winning tip-in.

“We got the shot we wanted, it was a long jump shot. We just didn’t rebound – someone made a good tip and that’s how they won the game,” said Kalaheo coach Alika Smith. “It is what it is; it was a great game.”

“I’m still in shock,” added Campbell coach Wyatt Tau. “I’m still at awe; we almost blew it. You know what, the game is not over unless you see three zeroes on there.

“This is our second time in two weeks, a buzzer-beater. I thought I got used to it the first time – the second is just as sweet.”

Dayanan’s tip-in at the buzzer overshadowed a monster performance from Harrison. The 6-foot-5 junior finished with 31 points - a season-high - on 75 percent shooting (12 of 16), and added six rebounds and three assists.

Another obstacle the Sabers had to overcome was their woeful first quarter performance. Kalaheo came out red hot in the quarter, knocking down 7-of-8 shots in the field to give them 19 points in the opening period. The Mustangs even led 15-0 at one point in the quarter.

“We wanted to come out strong,” said Smith.

It wasn’t till the 0:59 mark in the first quarter when Campbell converted on their first field goal of the game. Kalaheo took a 19-4 lead heading into the second quarter.

That 15-point lead was quickly whittled down with a Campbell 7-0 run to start the second quarter. Lamart Dudley’s three-point play at the 6:28 mark made the score 19-11. This quick start to the period kept the Sabers in the game as the flow of the game remained steady until the end of the first half. The Mustangs led 31-23 heading into the locker rooms.

“After the first quarter, our adjustment was to play smarter in the crunch times whenever we need to. Most importantly, we needed to drive in and get them into foul trouble,” explained Dayanan.

The Sabers were also able to get into the game was in their ability to knock down contested 3-point shots. Campbell converted on 53.8 (7-of-13) percent of their 3-point attempts, some even from beyond the college 3-point arc.

“If we’re open, then (you) take the shot,” said Dayanan.

Campbell continued to battle back in the second half, outscoring the Mustangs by six in the third quarter. Kalaheo led 46-44 heading into the final period of regulation.

The Mustangs still found ways to keep Campbell at bay even through the start of the fourth. Whenever Campbell tied the score, Kalaheo would answer. It wasn’t until the 4:53 mark when Campbell took the lead for the first time, 51-49, on a Melvin Bergado drop-step move in the post against Harrison.

“We just had to keep fighting through no matter what,” said Dayanan. “We faced a lot of adversity throughout the season and we can just keep doing it.”

Kalaheo could never recover to retake the lead as Campbell’s Isaac Hurd scored the Sabers next seven points. Hurd’s two free throws at the 1:58 mark was Campbell’s last points until Dayanan’s buzzer-beater. Hurd led the team in scoring, finishing with 15 points and three triples.

Campbell moves on to play Farrington – which defeated Moanalua, 74-67, in the other semifinal – in the OIA Red Championship game on Thursday. The Sabers are looking for their first overall OIA title while the Governors are seeking their fourth.

“It’s just unbelievable,” said Dayanan. “I still can’t believe that we made it this far – but from day one I knew that my team was special. I know (Farrington) is a tough team, but I have faith in my team. If we got all the way here then we can continue on.”