For 27 minutes, Kahuku had the kryptonite to destroy Hawaii’s super team.

Using a lethal fullcourt press and constant double teams on DeForest Buckner, the Red Raiders had the top-seeded Punahou Buffanblu on the ropes. But Malik Johnson stepped up with 22 points, and defensive specialist Matthew Taniguchi hit three key free throws in the final 34 seconds as Punahou escaped with a 59-52 win over Kahuku for the Division I crown of the Hawaiian Airlines/ HHSAA Boys Basketball State Championships on Saturday night.

DeForest Buckner, bound for Oregon this fall to play football, chipped in 10 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots. Kahuku still managed to win the battle on the boards, 29-28, to lead until the final 5 minutes.

"My teammates had confidence in me and set me up perfectly," Johnson said. "They were all over DeForest. Everyone was watching him because he’s our go-to guy, and Matthew was clutch."

The irony of Punahou beating Kahuku wasn’t lost on reserve guard Steven Lakalaka, the all-state running back who was on the losing end of a state title football game against Kahuku last fall.

"I know how it feels to lose. I have family there. It’s a humbling experience," he said, referring to Kahuku’s Mason Kuali‘i-Moe, his cousin.

Kahuku (31-10) had Punahou’s enthused crowd rather silent early.

"It’s been a long time since we were down like that early," Buffanblu coach Darren Matsuda said.

Said Kahuku coach Darren Johnson: "Our guys battled, but down the stretch we didn’t get the shots we wanted. Props to Punahou. They stayed right there and played as physical as we did."

A Blaisdell Arena crowd of 3,066 rode along with one of the most frenetic, fast-paced title matchups in recent memory. Malik Johnson, a 6-foot-5 senior who had ups and downs at the foul line during his career, went 10-for-12, including 7-for-8 in the final quarter to help Punahou rally past second-seeded Kahuku.

"We were rattled, but it’s a marathon, not a sprint, like Coach tells us. It’s a long game," Johnson said.

Buckner added: "I’m so glad we got one. Me and Malik have been together since freshman year. Malik should have gotten this," he said after getting the OC 16 Impact Award

The Red Raiders raced to a 6-0 lead on treys by Kuali‘i-Moe and Kawe Johnson. The dynamic backcourt combined for 13 points in the opening quarter, including open 3-pointers in transition.

Kahuku kept the lead through three quarters, bringing a raucous following of about 500 fans to a feverish pitch.

But Punahou locked down defensively in the fourth quarter. With Taniguchi and Ka‘aha McAfee-Torco clamping down on the perimeter, Kawe Johnson (15 points) and Kuali‘i-Moe (13 points) were scoreless in the final quarter.

"My job was to help stop their best player, so I did my best to do what I had to do," Taniguchi said.

Malik Johnson triggered the final run, hitting a bucket on the low post, then another underneath on a pass from Buckner for a 3-point play to tie it at 44 with 5:46 remaining.

Buckner followed up a miss to give Punahou its first lead, 46-44, with 5:10 to go.

Kahuku tied it twice after that on a layup by Benny Fonua and a tough drive by Evan Ramirez, but Nick Velasquez put the Buffanblu ahead for good, 50-48, with 3:31 left on a pair of all-net free throws.

Kahuku went stone cold from there, going scoreless for 3 minutes, 16 seconds. Malik Johnson scored on a halfcourt dish from Jordan Tanuvasa. After another Kahuku miss from long range, Taniguchi stepped to the foul line and sank both ends of a 1-and-1 with 57 seconds to go for a 54-48 lead.

Lasselle Thompson hit a free throw to bring Kahuku within 55-49 with 34 seconds left, but Johnson came up with two big defensive plays and swished home four free throws to put the game out of reach. Punahou had its biggest lead, 59-49, with 16.4 seconds remaining.

THIRD PLACE

Baldwin 53, Kamehameha-Hawaii 49

Gabriel Ross and Tevarua Eldridge scored 11 points each as the Bears defeated the Warriors.

At Blaisdell

KAMEHAMEHA-HAWAII—Keoni Wong 2, Kekoa Turner 0, Lanaki Apele 2, Jacob Kackley 9, Kaeo Alapai 17, Shaun Kagawa 10, Kamana‘o Aiu 5, La‘a Manliguis 2, Rylan Kiko 0, Arden Costales 0, Quenten Anastacio 2. Totals 16 15-20 49.
BALDWIN—Gabriel Ross 11, Nuikane Corpin 0, Pasoni Tasini 7, Tevarua Eldridge 11, Adrian Garces 0, Kody Takushi 8, Jeremiah Badillo 2, Ryan Garces 4, Semisi Malafu 2, Michael Ahn 2, Philip Thomas 0, Randy Wong 0, Bradley Bowlin 6. Totals 21 7-15 53.
3-point goals—KS-Hawaii 2 (Kagawa, Aiu). Baldwin 4 (Takushi 2, Ross, Eldridge).

FIFTH PLACE

AOP 56, LEILEHUA 45

Kamana Keohohou scored 12 points to lead the Dolphins past the Mules.

At Blaisdell

AOP—Mattia Raebel 4, Kamana Keohohou 12, Arkadiy Mkrtychyan 11, Drew Viena 11, Wilson MacLeod 10, Shai Brown 2, Carter Kauwenaole 0, Shanon Akiona 2, David Daniel 2, Marshall Gourley 2, Bret-Maverick Kanoa 0. Totals 19 17-22 56.
LEILEHUA—Russell Siavii 13, Jeremiah Andrade 4, Mikal Peyton 0, Reece Acohido 2, Pentito Melei 8, Kenneth Hill 2, Troy Ross 5, Cody Halvorson 11, Christi Manzo-Lorea 0, Marvin Roldan 0. Totals 19 4-10 45.
3-point goals—AOP 1 (MacLeod). Leilehua 3 (Halvorson 3).