One month ago, the Pahoa boys basketball team couldn't win a game. Mired in a losing skid that would turn into seven defeats in eight games to end the Big Island Interscholastic Federation regular season, the Daggers were reeling.

But they did well enough to earn a trip to the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Boys Basketball Division II State Championship.

And now that they're in the state tournament, they can't lose.

By virtue of a 52-36 win over Kapaa in the semifinals in Farrington's Richard Kitamura Memorial Fieldhouse last night, Pahoa is headed to the state championship game for the first time.

“;I thought coming in that we'd be competitive,”; Pahoa coach Eric Yoshimura said. “;But I didn't expect to be where we are today. I'm thankful things have worked out the way it has for us. It's just nice to see the growth of each individual as well as the team throughout the season.”;

Pahoa has never finished better than fifth place at states (last year). The Big Island's best Division II finish was Kohala's second-place effort in the first year of two divisions in 2007.

But now Pahoa will face Kailua for the Division II title, to be played today at the Stan Sheriff Center. Tip-off is 5 p.m. and precedes the Division I championship game. In the three-year history of Division II basketball, the Oahu Interscholastic Association has won the crown every year.

This has been a unique Division II state tournament. It was pared down from 12 teams to eight due to budget cuts, and saw all four seeded teams upset in Thursday's quarterfinal games.

Pahoa wasn't expected to do much in this year's state tournament. Essentially seeded last (it played top-seeded Roosevelt in the first round), the Daggers were a mere 6-9 in the BIIF.

But behind a patient, ball-control offense, led by senior forward Isaiah Ekau's steady play, the Big Island's underdogs have managed to win two games in the tournament.

“;They're a great team,”; Kapaa coach Phillip Baclayon said. “;They're disciplined, and they move the ball well. Their three big guys can play anywhere on the court.”;

With Ekau's game-high 18 points, coupled with senior John Byrd's 12 points (including three 3-pointers) and freshman Nick Fisher's 11 points, the Daggers had too many weapons for the Kapaa defense.

Pahoa came out firing, hitting four of its first five shots and sprinting out to a 9-2 lead. The Daggers looked comfortable as they pushed the cushion to 21-10—the largest of the half—with 5 minutes left in the first half.

But Kapaa used its considerable size advantage in the paint, pounded the offensive glass and closed to a 23-21 deficit thanks to an 11-2 run over the next 5 minutes. The Warriors seemed poised to enter the second half with the momentum until Fisher arced in a 30-foot prayer as the halftime horn sounded, snatching the momentum from Kapaa's comeback and leaving the small crowd at Farrington abuzz.

After that shot, Pahoa's 13-2 run in the third quarter pushed the lead again to double figures, and a 7-1 run to start the fourth quarter ended Kapaa's hopes of a comeback.

After the win, as their cheerleaders and a few dozen fans greeted them, the Daggers were all smiles as they looked ahead to their first state championship appearance.

“;I'm just happy for the boys,”; Yoshimura said. “;That's what it's all about. They worked hard all season. This is just icing on the cake for them.”;