KAILUA — Late in the game, Kalaheo got the ball into the hands of its top player. Instead of hitting the game winner, he assisted on it.

Cheynne Lishman fed Bruce Andrews for the game-winning layup with two seconds left as the Kalaheo High School boys basketball team defeated Kahuku, 50-48, last night at Pete Smith Court.

The host Mustangs, ranked No. 3 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, improved to 7-0 in the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red East. Kahuku, No. 8, is 6-1.

"They were double-, triple-teaming me at the end so I knew one guy had to be open," said Lishman, who finished with 19 points. "Bruce happened to come in my vision. I gave him the ball and he's an excellent finisher."

"Everyone has roles and mine is to play defense and shoot when I can," added Andrews, whose layup was his only basket of the game. "I'm just thankful I hit that shot at the end. Cheynne hit me up with a good pass."

Lishman didn't score in the game's final six minutes, but his teammates picked up the slack.

Richard Preza-Haynes hit a key 3-pointer midway through the fourth, Andrews was key on defense and point guard Taylor Jay helped the Mustangs erase a late four-point deficit. His basket with 1:09 remaining cut the deficit to 48-46.

Kahuku's Jray Galeai missed with 38 seconds remaining and Jay, dribbling the ball in traffic, was fouled by Galeai just past the half-court line.

Jay made both free throws with 26.3 seconds left to tie the game at 48. He finished with 13 points.

"Everybody who stepped on the floor gave us something," Mustangs coach Chico Furtado said. "In a two-point game like that, everything counts."

Kahuku broke through the full-court press, and found Willie Ching open under the basket. But the ball was lost out of bounds and Kalaheo regained possession with 15.6 seconds left.

Lishman drove down the court and into the key before passing to an open Andrews.

The Red Raiders couldn't get off a shot before time expired.

"First look is (for Cheynne) to get by somebody and hit a shot," Furtado said. "But being triple-teamed, he had the poise to keep his head up and find Bruce Andrews. He made a great pass and that's what it's about."

Down by 11 midway through the second quarter, Kahuku's Irwin AhHoy scored seven points during the Red Raiders' 10-2 run that cut the deficit to 23-20 at halftime. AhHoy finished with 13 points.

"Defense, that's the bottom line," AhHoy said of his team's run.

Kahuku's momentum carried into the third quarter. The Red Raiders led 33-28 after Patrick Au's basket with 2:11 left. Kalaheo closed the quarter on a 6-1 run that tied it at 34.

KAHUKU (6-1) 8 12 14 14 — 48

KALAHEO (7-0) 11 12 11 16 — 50

KAHUKU — Shiloah Teo 4, Jack Damuni 8, Mikeli Damuni 2, Jray Galeai 8, Irwin AhHoy 13, Justin Afalava 3, Aulola Tonga 6, Willie Ching 2, Pat Au 2. Totals 19 10-20 48.

KALAHEO — Alika Kaanapu 3, Cody vonAppen 0, Keano Bruhn 0, Taylor Jay 13, Richard Preza-Haynes 6, Bruce Andrews 2, Christian Kepa 2, Cheynne Lishman 19, Aaron Fernandez 0, D.J. Chang 2, Matt Gasparine 3. Totals 17 11-19 50. 3-point goals: Kalaheo 5 (Lishman 3, Jay, Haynes). JV — Kahuku 65, Kalaheo 24

Reach Stanley Lee at sktlee@honoluluadvertiser.com.