Mililani and Kailua are set to clash for the OIA Division I boys basketball championship on Wednesday after securing hard-fought semifinal victories.
Mililani (11-2) edged defending champion Leilehua (11-1) in a dramatic 61-60 win, featuring 28 lead changes and 10 ties. Taye Marxen’s clutch free throws with 7.9 seconds left sealed the victory, while a last-second Leilehua attempt rimmed out. Roman Gabriel led the Trojans with 23 points, while LeCedric Brown stepped up in the second half with 11 of his 13 points.
In the earlier semifinal, Kailua (12-0) remained unbeaten with a 67-56 win over Moanalua (9-4). Maddox Pung exploded for a career-high 30 points, dominating in the paint and fueling key scoring runs. The Surfriders controlled second-chance points and turnovers, securing their first OIA final appearance since 2022.
Mililani and Kailua will battle for the championship at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at McKinley, while Leilehua and Moanalua face off in the third-place game at 6 p.m.
Photos: Lori McKeown
