Robby Mann poured in 22 points, while Hugh Hogland dominated the paint with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks as ‘Iolani outlasted Punahou 56-48 to capture the Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys basketball championship on Saturday night.

A packed house at ‘Iolani’s gym roared all night as the matchup between regular-season winner ‘Iolani (16-9, 9-5 ILH) and playoff tourney victor Punahou (24-8, 9-6) drew large student sections. Both teams had already clinched state-tournament berths out of a rugged ILH season that included a four-way tie for first place that required a special tiebreaker tournament before the playoffs. All six ILH Division I teams were ranked in last week’s Star-Advertiser Top 10.

It was Punahou that eked out success out of a hellacious week coming into the league title game. The Buffanblu got past Kamehameha on Friday night to seal a state berth, but Saturday’s league title game was their fifth in just seven days.

“The past week was just brutal,” Punahou coach Darren Matsuda said.

While Punahou managed to bring a valiant effort on Saturday, ‘Iolani had the benefit of some rest time after losing a playoff game on Wednesday (against Kamehameha).

“That helped us refocus,” coach Dean Shimamoto said. “What’s important for us is that we stay the course, we didn’t get down and we face the challenge.”

Mann was simply at his best, scoring at the rim and hitting pull-up jumpers that Punahou had no answer for.

“When Robby’s hitting those shots, they’re tough to beat,” Matsuda said. “And Hugh’s tough in the paint. Nobody can match up with him in the state.”

Hogland played down the compliment as he looked ahead to next week’s state tourney.

“That’s a bold statement,” the 6-foot-9 junior said. “We have great teams in the state. If we play like this, we have a chance.”

Hogland was 4-for-4 from the field and 8-for-9 at the foul line as the Raiders executed a highly efficient offensive game plan.

“We wanted to focus on more post touches,” said Mann, a 6-2 senior.

He was 2-for-6 from the field in the first half, then went to work inside and out, on the post and at the 3-point line. Mann scored 10 third-quarter points as ‘Iolani went on a 16-8 run that turned a four-point halftime lead into a 41-29 game late in the third quarter.

Mann splashed a 3 from the top on a feed from Hogland, who had five assists, and then scored in the low post on a perfect lob from Hogland. That opened the lead to 48-34 with 5:09 left.

Punahou never relented, though, and as ‘Iolani missed three 1-and-1s in a row, Chris Kobayashi knocked down two 3-pointers and Zayne Chong scored on a dish from Cole Arceneaux. That brought the lead down to 48-42 with 2:40 remaining, but Punahou got no closer.

The Raiders connected on six of their next eight free-throw tries, including five of six by Zach Gelacio, to hang on for the win.

There were no tears to be shed by Punahou, which began league play 1-4. If anything, there were smiles and a sense of relief after one of the most hectic, challenging ILH seasons in league history.

“‘Iolani played awesome. We played pretty good,” Matsuda said.

His team shot 50 percent from the 3-point arc (9-for-18) and forced ‘Iolani into 12 turnovers, but Punahou was just 1-for-2 at the foul line while the Raiders were 19-for-31.

“We played near perfect last night (against Kamehameha) and we gave our best effort (tonight),” he said.

‘Iolani reached the state final last year, losing to Kalaheo 53-45.