Kaimuki was just trying to buy time when star forward Keone Reyes was on the bench with foul trouble last night against Punahou.

Few expected the Bulldogs to stay in the game, much less pull away from top-seeded Punahou in the second half.

But that's what second-seeded Kaimuki did in a 61-53 victory over Punahou in the final of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Boys Basketball Division I State Championships at the Stan Sheriff Center.

It was Kaimuki's first state title since 1993. Last season, the Bulldogs lost to 'Iolani in the final.

Reyes, a 6-foot, 255-pound senior, dominated while he was in there but played only 19 minutes.

He opened the second half on the bench with three fouls and the score tied 28-28.

A couple of players who hadn't scored sparked Kaimuki, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association champion.

Desmond Tautofi, a 6-2 freshman center, hit a field goal early in the third. Chauncey Nicola, a 6-foot junior center, scored 25 seconds later to put the Bulldogs up 34-30.

"I wasn't worried because my backups, Chauncey Nicola and Desmond Tautofi, were going to step up big," Reyes said.

Kaimuki coach Kelly Grant got more than he expected from Tautofi and Nicola.

"I wasn't expecting them to make baskets," Grant said. "I was just telling them to get rebounds. That was the only thing I was worried about."

By the time Reyes came back with 2:51 remaining in the third, Kaimuki still led 34-33. But Reyes headed to the bench after picking up his fourth foul just two minutes later and Kaimuki up 38-35.

"Every time this whole season when one of our big guys gets into foul trouble we try to slow things down," Grant said. "We try to cut down on the amount of time that the game is being played. We try to shorten the game. That way when Keone or whoever is in foul trouble, we can get them back on the floor and still be in contention for the game."

To his surprise, Kaimuki went on a 6-0 run to start the fourth to take a 44-35 advantage with 4:50 remaining. Reyes came back 40 seconds later and Kaimuki up 10.

Kaimuki's largest lead was 57-44 with 1:02 remaining after two free throws by Reyes.

Tautofi, who was called up after the JV season, finished with six points and three rebounds in five minutes.

"When coach called me I felt surprised," Tautofi said. "I'm a freshman, I stepped up. This was the biggest game I ever had."

Nicola said: "I was kind of nervous at first. Coach told me to play with heart and give it all I got. Keone told me before I went in to step up."

Reyes finished with 21 points and seven rebounds. Beau Albrechtson, a 6-4 junior forward, had 16 points and 16 rebounds. The pair also combined to go 18 of 19 from the free-throw line for Kaimuki (14-5).

"The key was they were getting a lot of rebounds, but they made a ton of free throws at the end," Grant said.

Punahou, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion, went cold in the fourth period, making just 7 of 23 shots, including 0 of 11 from 3-point range. For the game, Punahou (13-2) was 4 of 26 on 3-pointers.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.