It was a twist of fate.

A clutch, last-second 3-point bomb by junior Trevyn Tulonghari not only gave 'Iolani a 50-49 win over Kamehameha 10 days ago to seal the ILH championship.

It also earned the Raiders the Division I top seed in the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships.

Now first-year coach Dean Shimamoto and his team are chasing a state title, which 'Iolani won five years in a row (2001 through '06), but hasn't captured since. The current seniors have not won a state title, but Shimamoto thinks they're ready.

“;Having played must-win ball for over a month and closing things out with two state tournament-like games against Punahou and Kamehameha, I feel pretty comfortable at this point,”; he said.

Meanwhile, defending state champion Kamehameha fell to Punahou two days after the loss to 'Iolani and qualified for states by beating Honokaa on the Big Island on Monday in a play-in game. The Warriors could play five games in six days as a result, but they're in the state tourney — the hard way.

Shimamoto's team had many ups and downs. The Raiders began the season with some key players still busy with postseason football. Guard Kainoa Chu carried the scoring load early, while Tulonghari, Andrew Skalman and Jarrett Arakawa found their basketball legs after leading 'Iolani to the Division II state football championship.

There were injuries, too. Key rebounder Kainoa Scheer is playing with a partially torn meniscus.

As a whole, the field is about parity. 'Iolani will play Mililani or Farrington tomorrow. Mililani, led by streaky shooter Reginald Griffin, has enough size and athleticism to give any team a scare with its run-and-gun style. Farrington, the Division II state champion two years ago, is the sixth and final entry from the OIA. The Governors' Lancelot Williams is one of the top centers in the state.

Moanalua, the No. 2 seed, will face Campbell or Kamehameha. The Sabers, led by play-making guard Kristian Manuel, likes to run and could catch Kamehameha a bit weary tonight.

Third-seeded Hilo is a mystery team. The Vikings are a mesh of returning talent, including Scotty Wong, and transfers like Mitchel Shintani. Hilo will face Kamehameha-Maui or Punahou tomorrow.

The Buffanblu are tall at every position and have one of the best sophomore combinations ever in 6-foot-7 DeForest Buckner and 6-5 Malik Johnson. KS-Maui, led by Terani Richmond and Kekoa Turbeville, has a tall order after barely squeezing into the state tourney.

Fourth-seeded Lahainaluna is hoping to follow the lead of its girls team, which won the state crown two weeks ago. The Lunas are coached by former assistant Casey Brummel, whose father, Dr. John Brummel, is the principal at Mililani. Both teams are in the same bracket.

The Kahuku-Waiakea winner will play Lahainaluna. Kahuku, coming off a string of long bus rides and playoff games, finished second in the OIA. Waiakea, a senior-heavy team, traveled to Oahu for preseason games. The Warriors, with Clayton Morante working hard in the paint, are undersized and physical.

Roosevelt, the No. 1 seed in the Division II state tourney, has a tough matchup in Pahoa. While the Rough Riders have a workhorse in Kaipo Pale (6-5) at center, Pahoa has a high-flying athlete in Isaiah Ekau. The Daggers upset Kohala in the playoffs to reach the state tourney.

Second-seeded Seabury Hall, coached by former Maui and Hawaii-Hilo guard Scott Prather, has height, talent and youth. Michael Palmer, Phelan Pagano and Dylan King are key contributors.

The Spartans will meet Academy of the Pacific, which outlasted Hawaii Baptist on Monday in a play-in game. AOP is led by Micah Dunhour, a 6-3 junior.

St. Joseph, a season-long Star-Bulletin Top 10 team, is the No. 3 seed. Among the Cardinals' wins in December was one over Moanalua at Na Menehune's gym. Streaky shooter Jacob Andrade scored a single-game, state-high 44 points during the regular season. Center Thomas Fairman (6-5) is a scorer and smart passer in the low post, and point guard Will Scanlan-Leite, son of coach Harry Scanlan-Leite, is the glue to their deliberate attack.

St. Joseph has a tough draw in OIA White runner-up Kailua, one of the tallest teams in the OIA. Point guard Corey Lau and center Jordan DeCorte are a tough 1-2 combo.

University High is the fourth seed after winning the ILH D-II crown. Isaiah DeLaura and Makena Suan-Rothenburg are key scorers for the Junior Rainbows, who will face KIF champion Kapaa.

Kapaa got 16 points from Spam Lindsey in the KIF-title clinching win over Kauai two weeks ago.

With just eight teams in the field, the D-II tourney will not start until tomorrow.