After grinding to the ILH regular-season title, Punahou entered the postseason refreshed and focused.

Coming off a bye in the first round of the league tournament, the top-seeded Buffanblu’s balance propelled them to a 62-35 semifinal win over Kamehameha on Wednesday at Hemmeter Fieldhouse. 

Punahou will next host ‘Iolani, which beat Maryknoll on Wednesday, for the tournament championship at 6:30 p.m. Friday with a chance to secure the ILH’s overall Division I title.

While the Buffanblu had already wrapped up a state tournament berth by winning the regular season, the overall title and the seeded berth in the Division I state tournament remain at stake.

"You want to have good momentum going into the state tournament," Punahou coach Darren Matsuda said. "We’ve been playing pretty well the past few games and we want to keep that momentum going.

"’Iolani’s going to be tough. I know (‘Iolani coach Dean Shimamoto) is going to want to try to get that (state tournament) bye too, so it’s going to be a dogfight. I expect a great game."

After a grueling January in the classroom and on the court, Matsuda said the Buffanblu had a chance to recharge for the postseason, which contributed to sharp execution and even sharper shooting on Wednesday.

Ball movement created open looks and Punahou knocked down eight 3-pointers with seven players connecting from long range.

"I think we’re really playing unselfish and really finding the best shot possible," said Punahou guard Dayson Watanabe, who finished with eight points.

Micah Ma’a led Punahou with 12 points off the bench, guard Jordan Tanuvasa hit two 3-pointers in a 10-point performance and five Punahou players had at least seven points.

"I feel like were really in tune with our system," Tanuvasa said. "Our coach does a good job in practice making sure we have everything down and everyone’s on the same page."

Punahou went inside early to center ‘Akahi Troske and Tanuvasa and Kanawai Noa hit 3-pointers to help the Buffanblu take control in the first quarter. The Buffanblu shot 11-for-20 from the field, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range, in taking a 30-13 lead into halftime.

"That is a senior-laden group with extreme talent that shoots the ball as a group extremely well and they did that tonight right off the bat," Kamehameha coach Greg Tacon said. "We gave them a fight for half a quarter but their firepower’s too much."

The backcourt duo of Watanabe and Tanuvasa kept the Buffanblu rolling and combined for 13 points and three 3-pointers before halftime.

"If we’re both creating, both hitting our shots getting the other one open, which was happening today, then everything’s working," Tanuvasa said.

Kamehameha struggled from the field in a four-point second quarter and was led by Fatu Sua-Godinet and Noah Gelacio, who both finished with seven points.

KAMEHAMEHA–Jayden Zarriello 3, Kamren Victorino-Kato 2, Saint Gelacio 2, Noah Gelacio 7, Kainalu Martin 0, Fatu Sua-Godinet 7, Kaeler Kahana 2, Kapu Mau 6, Kobe Young 2, Peter Hanohano-Hashimoto 0, Kumoku Noa 0, Pono Arias 0, Cade Pedro 4.

PUNAHOU–Randon Oda 0, Jordan Tanuvasa 10, Christopher Kobayashi 7, Micah Ma’a 12, Justin "JB" Kam 8, Dayson Watanabe 8, Kala’i Santos 0, Wil Stanley 3, Hunter Lee 3, Cole Arceneaux 0, Kanawai Noa 3, Ronley Lakalaka 0, Jared Lum 2, Alexander Kidani 0, ‘Akahi Troske 6.

3-point goals–Kamehameha 2 (N. Gelacio, Sua-Godinet). Punahou 8 (Tanuvasa 2, Kam, Kobayashi, Ma’a, Noa, Stanley, Watanabe).