Henry Cassiday's best night ruined Kamehameha's best-laid plans.

Cassiday, normally a defensive specialist, poured in 24 points as the Buffanblu outlasted Kamehameha 65-59 to claim second place in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

The win before a raucous near-capacity crowd at Hemmeter Fieldhouse ensured a state-tournament berth for No. 2-ranked Punahou (21-4). Kamehameha (20-6) will enter the Interscholastic League of Honolulu playoff tourney.

Punahou, led by first-year coach Alika Smith, and league champion 'Iolani take a break until the state tourney.

“;Kamehameha played hard to the end, but we played this game knowing we weren't going to lose,”; Cassiday said. “;We held together. We were tired of losing, man. It's just a feeling.”;

To qualify for the state tournament, Kamehameha must win the ILH third-place tourney, then travel to Honokaa on Saturday and win that play-in game for the final berth.

“;We dug a deep hole,”; Warriors coach Jesse Nakanishi said. “;Credit to them. They had their best shooting night of the year. It was the same thing with 'Iolani (on Saturday).”;

Cassiday's precise shooting was a major boost for Punahou, which had struggled lately and lost guard Taylor Crabb for the season with an ankle injury. Cassiday, playing on a bruised knee, was 9-for-14 from the field, mostly on mid-range jumpers, and added six boards. He anchored a backcourt that handled Kamehameha's fullcourt pressure with fairly good success: 18 assists and 17 turnovers.

“;It's really sore, but I couldn't feel it during the game,”; Cassiday said of his knee. “;It's killing me now, though.”;

DeForest Buckner and Malik Johnson, the sophomore twin towers, came up big. Buckner had 11 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks, while Johnson set the tone early in the paint and finished with eight points and six boards. Buckner, Johnson and reserve center Kaiwi Crabb shut down the paint, giving Punahou a 35-23 edge on the boards.

Matt Feldman added 10 points.

Micah Christenson paced third-ranked Kamehameha with 16 points and seven boards. Dyrbe Enos added 15 points and Charlton Tang tallied 10 points and seven rebounds.

In all, the Buffanblu shot 53 percent (27-for-51), but had to stave off the Warriors twice in the second half. Punahou had a 35-24 halftime lead after Kamehameha was ice cold from the perimeter early — 6-for-21 from the field in the first half.

“;They're a shooting team. They can get hot any time,”; Johnson said.

Kamehameha never trailed in the second half, but the visitors chipped away and cut the lead to 39-34 on a 22-foot trey by Enos midway through the third quarter, but Punahou got a 3-pointer from reserve guard James Duncan to regain some momentum.

A technical foul against Kamehameha's Devin Kuhns, who was initially called for a personal foul on a steal try, killed the Warriors' momentum temporarily. Kuhns spiked the ball to the ground and it hit him on the way back up, but it was enough to warrant a tech in the eyes of the officials. After Cassiday swished the two foul shots and Duncan hustled for a tip-in at the buzzer, Punahou led 50-41 at the end of three quarters.

Kamehameha trailed by 12 before going on an 8-0 run. Christenson hustled for a putback after Buckner blocked a shot by Enos, and the Warriors were down 55-49 with 3:15 left. After Enos hit a 6-foot bank shot in traffic, Kamehameha trailed by four with 2:50 to go.

However, Punahou got a dunk from Buckner on a feed from Johnson, and Buckner sank a turnaround bank shot for a 59-51 Punahou lead with 1:57 remaining.

Kamehameha pulled within 62-56 on an NBA-range trey by Enos with 45 seconds left, but got no closer.

It was the fourth meeting between the teams — once in preseason and three times in league play. Kamehameha had won two of the three games before last night.

“;We know we'll see them again,”; Buckner said. “;I know for sure.”;

KAMEHAMEHA — Shane Matayoshi 6, Frank Ho 7, Micah Christenson 16, Branden Orpillia 0, Brent Auyong 5, Davis Achong 0, Devin Kuhns 0, Charlton Tang 10, Dyrbe Enos 15.
PUNAHOU — Patrick O'Neill 0, Bryan Matsukawa 0, Henry Cassiday 24, Sean McFadden 2, Matthew Feldman 10, James Dowsett 3, James Duncan 5, Malik Johnson 8, DeForest Buckner 11, Kaiwi Crabb 2.
3-point goals—Kamehameha 6 (Enos 3, Christenson 2, Ho), Punahou 4 (Feldman 2, Cassiday, Duncan).

BOYS DIVISION II
Lanakila Baptist 64, Lutheran 41
Leading scorers—LBS: Richard Abbley 17, Jordan Kabato 12, Chase Hazelwood 11. LHS: Kyton Keliiaa 10.