Nothing like a little controversy to build up the intensity at the Carlsmith Ball HHSAA State Tennis Championships on the Big Island.

Top-seeded Jared Spiker of Kalani advanced to the finals of the boys singles draw with a 5-7, 6-0, 1-0 (6) victory over No. 5 Chas Okamoto of Kapaa.

Spiker will be going for his second straight state title today, but was one decision away from spending the day on the sidelines.

Spiker was disqualified with Okamoto serving at 1-2 in the first set when it was ruled that his sleeveless shirt was against tournament rules.

Spiker's brother started a push to appeal the decision soon after, and with a good amount of support the decision was reversed after about a half-hour of controversy.

With all the drama, Spiker then dropped his first set of the tournament and found himself in a hole for the first time.

“;I told myself to stay focused, keep fighting and don't give up,”; Spiker said about the controversy and the first set.

“;It means a lot to me. It had been my dream to win a state championship and after I won it last year I just wanted to come back and win again,”; Spiker continued.

Spiker will meet No. 2 Matthew Westmoreland in the final after the Island Pacific Academy student defeated No. 4 Robin Kiyabu of Punahou, 6-0, 6-3.

No. 1 Sayo Tsukamoto of Kealakehe will face No. 2 Sarah Kukino in the girls singles championship match after Tsukamoto defeated No. 4 Karlene Pang of Hawaii Baptist 6-1, 6-1. Kukino beat Kelsey Daguio of Sacred Hearts 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the final.

Brandon Lee and Erik Pang of Punahou came up with an upset of top-seeded Paul Okuda and Travis Yoshimoto of Punahou 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (3) as they advanced to the boys doubles championship along with Kallen Mizuguchi and Kaito Mizutani of Waiakea, who defeated Devin Anderson and Brent Hashiba of Iolani 6-2, 6-1.

In girls doubles action top-seeded Jennifer Laws and Ashley Nakaoka of Punahou advanced along with Bobbi Oshiro and Kristen Poei of 'Iolani after winning their matches in straight sets.

The team standings have Punahou on top in both the boys and girls divisions, followed by 'Iolani and Kalani in the boys standings, while Kealakehe is tied with 'Iolani for second in the girls division.