Imagine if they start shooting as well as their coach.

Top-ranked Punahou was cold from the arc, but an air-tight defense shackled No. 3 'Iolani in a 46-31 win last night at Hemmeter Fieldhouse.

The win snapped Punahou's three-game losing streak against 'Iolani. A near-capacity crowd saw the Buffanblu improve to 4-0 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu (14-1 overall) despite a 1-for-13 performance from 3-point range.

Punahou broke open a one-point game in the second half with tough man-to-man defense and dominant rebounding. Sophomore DeForest Buckner had 14 points and hustled for 16 rebounds, including six on the offensive end, and Malik Johnson scored a team-high 16 points to go with five caroms.

Buckner's size (6-foot-7) and hustle make him one of the state's best board men. He had 23 rebounds in a win over Kamehameha two weeks ago.

“;It matters to me,”; he said. “;Everybody has a role. My job is to get rebounds.”;

That was enough to make coach Alika Smith, the former University of Hawaii sharpshooter, beam with pride.

“;The greatest thing is they all have worked hard for each other,”; Smith said, noting the work Buckner and Johnson have put in on low-post turnaround shots and finding open teammates on the perimeter when the double team comes.

“;They've done a lot of individual work since last Wednesday,”; Smith added.

The Buffanblu shot 47 percent (21-for-45) and finished with a 35-18 advantage on the boards; 'Iolani had just one offensive rebound.

'Iolani (10-7, 3-2) couldn't get an offensive flow going. Kainoa Chu was limited to four points and the Raiders shot just 28 percent (10-for-36). Jarrett Arakawa had a team-high 10 points.

“;Our zone gave us the best chance. Punahou's really athletic and they make you pay,”; Raiders coach Dean Shimamoto said.

Punahou point guard Matt Feldman was steady, scoring on a couple of key fourth-quarter drives. Defenders Taylor Crabb and Henry Cassiday took turns covering the normally elusive Chu, who finished 2-for-8 from the field.

“;Taylor opened with him and Henry did a good job on him, too,”; Smith said. “;Henry wanted the challenge.”;

'Iolani opened with a 2-3 zone and stuck with it, along with some occasional fullcourt pressure, against the taller Buffanblu.

Johnson electrified the crowd with a two-handed dunk on a baseline drive for an early 10-2 lead. Punahou patiently dissected the zone for a 16-9 lead early in the second quarter.

By halftime, Punahou had a 22-15 lead and already had a major edge on the boards, 23-10.

No. 2 Kamehameha 46, Mid-Pacific 41

Micah Christenson had 10 points as the Warriors held off the Owls.

ILH DIVISION I GIRLS

No. 5 'Iolani 45, Maryknoll 27

Taimane Passi's 11 points led a balanced Raiders attack.