The Kamehameha boys basketball team had just finished a brutal stretch with four games in six days, so coach Jesse Nakanishi was not going to be too picky about his team's performance in the 51-40 win over Mid-Pacific Institute at Kekuhaupio Gym yesterday.

Though his team dominated for three quarters, leading by 20 points at halftime, the Warriors (22-6) let up in the fourth quarter as the Owls' last-gasp run made the final score much closer than the game actually was. But it was enough for third-ranked Kamehameha to win the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's playoff tournament and advance to the state tournament's play-in game tomorrow.

“;We were very happy with our energy in the first half,”; Nakanishi said. “;That was exactly what we're looking for. The second half, they hit a lot of shots, but we were in our zone. But that was the half we were looking for. We'll take the win however we can get it.”;

Guards Frank Ho and Dyrbe Enos led Kamehameha with 14 and 12 points.

With the win, Kamehameha will travel to the Big Island to play Honokaa for the final spot in the Division I state tournament.

The Warriors are in the play-in game by virtue of a loss to Punahou on Monday. After losing to 'Iolani, the ILH first-place team, on a last-second 3-pointer on Saturday, Kamehameha fell to the Buffanblu in the second-place game on Monday. In the ILH playoff tournament, the Warriors beat Damien 75-41 on Wednesday and then held off Mid-Pac yesterday.

It has been a taxing schedule that has taken its toll on Kamehameha.

“;We have a lot of depth,”; said junior star Micah Christenson, who finished with nine points and 10 rebounds. “;But we're definitely starting to feel it in the legs and everything.”;

Early on, Kamehameha looked as fresh as ever. The Warriors' incorporated their aggressive halfcourt trap and completely stymied Mid-Pacific. The Owls were scoreless for the first 5 minutes of the game as Kamehameha's defense forced six turnovers.

Mid-Pac mustered just 11 first-half points and committed 15 first-half turnovers as Kamehameha pushed its lead to double-digits the entire second quarter.

“;Their halfcourt trap pressures so much, and they have a lot of discipline,”; said Mid-Pacific coach Nate Hu.

At Kekuhaupio Gym

MID-PACIFIC —Logan Murakami 4, Jordan Doi 0, Patrick Matthews 6, Andrew Swanson 5, Dayton Uchiyama 0, Shaun Dobovan 6, Shane Kurihara 3, Keola Brown 0, Mark Fooks 1, Marcus Doi 2, Matthew Reyes 2, Ty Kono 7, Matthew Carland 4.

KAMEHAMEHA—Shane Matayoshi 0, Frank Ho 14, Micah Christenson 9, Branden Orpillia 3, Brent Auyong 0, Davis Achong 3, Devin Kuhns 2, Charlton Tang 8, Dyrbe Enos 12, Shane Yoshida 0.

3-point goals—Mid Pacific 4 (Dobovan, Kurihara, Matthews, Kono). Kamehameha 6 (Ho 3, Orpillia, Achong, Enos).

ILH Division II Boys

Hawaii Baptist 68, Hanalani 67

Academy of the Pacific 63, Le Jardin 34

Leading scorers—HBA: Christian Morimoto 27. Han: P.J. Minaya 32. AOP: Simon Koch 18, Micah Dunhour 17, David Daniels 15. LJA: Tevin Togami, Sean McWhinnie 8.