Punahou’s offense was late to the party at Kapalama Heights. Not a recommended ingredient in brewing in a recipe of success against seven-time defending state champion Kamehameha.

But the patient Buffanblu served up their own winning formula and the state’s top-ranked team triumphed 25-19, 25-23 on Friday afternoon at Kekuhaupio Gym, clinching the Interscholastic League of Honolulu’s first of two state berths.

No one player had more than six kills for Punahou (7-0), which wore down mistake-prone Kamehameha (4-2) through attrition. Long rallies usually fell the way of the Buffanblu.