It’s the year of the sophomore, at least in ILH tennis.

Top seed Kawika Lam of Punahou outlasted No. 2 Marcel Chan of Kamehameha 6-3, 0-6, 6-1 to win the ILH boys individual title on Friday afternoon at Central Oahu Regional Park.

Lam, son of former Punahou all-state hoopster David Lam, was in the final for the first time. The 5-foot-11 sophomore was up against a steady, taller (6-3) senior in Chan, who was in his second ILH final in as many years.

"I was trying to stay consistent with my neutral shots, trying to outrally him, so that was working for me," Lam said of the opening set.

Then the lanky Chan dominated the second set.

"I thought my drop shot was going pretty good," Chan said.

"I think I had a mental letdown at the beginning of the set. I was too flat and I stopped moving my feet as much," Lam said. "His ground strokes tend to set up the drop shots."

Lam had a good talk with his coach, Rusty Komori, and his dad.

"I needed to pitch my neutral ball and stay consistent," Lam said.

"He came back too solid," Chan said. "He played good. I give him credit because I was playing my best. He upped his level and he deserves it. I consider myself an aggressive baseliner, but he was more aggressive than me."

Their regular-season matchup was 6-3, 7-6 in favor of Lam.

"These things are just a bonus to me. In the long run, it’s about getting better," Lam said.

Like Lam, Ashley Ishimura of Punahou was an ILH doubles champion a year ago. In the girls final, Ishimura downed Skyla Alcon of Mid-Pacific 6-2, 6-2. When they last met in regular-season play, Ishimura pulled out a 7-6, 6-4 win.

"She played really well," Ishimura said of Friday’s battle. "Even though the score wasn’t as close, our points were tough and it was a long game. This time was more prepared and more consistent because she’s consistent, too."

Alyssa Tobita of Mililani is the two-time defending girls state champion. Tobita is Ishimura’s doubles partner in the offseason.

Tobita and Katie Kim teamed up to win the state doubles crown last year.