Punahou boys win ILH title in OT
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
VIDEO: Punahou wins ILH boys water polo
Punahou boys water polo coach Ken Smith's victorious destination into the pool may have capped off the season in the same way, but the journey the Buffanblu took to get there was a bit different.
In an acknowledged rebuilding year, the Buffanblu outlasted Kamehameha, 6-5, in overtime to capture the Interscholastic League of Honolulu championship. Last night's game at Kamehameha was for the tournament title, but because Punahou also won the regular season, it was declared the league champion.
Punahou lost "some real key players last year, so a lot of these guys were untested," said Smith, whom players pushed into the pool to celebrate the championship. "A lot of them came from our varsity II team. They hadn't played at this level. I think that was a big challenge for us."
For example, Kai Rounds, who scored the eventual game-winner in overtime for the Buffanblu, had "never played varsity I ever. This is his first time, ever. But he really stepped up for us," Smith said.
Although trailing for much of the game, Punahou outscored the Warriors, 2-1, in overtime, which consisted of two three-minute periods. The teams were tied 4-4 after regulation.
"We had to weather the storm, as our coach says," said Punahou's Robbie Kiessling, who scored twice. "With all the crowd and the band, it was exciting in the beginning, we had to just relax and play our game."
While the Buffanblu took the early lead on a Kiessling goal in the first quarter, Kamehameha scored twice on goals by Kumu Logan-Blomfield and Lohiao Pauoa within a minute of each other in the second quarter to take the lead. Kiessling scored again to tie it with 1:36 left in the first half.
"All of our team really stepped up our game; we had to because Kamehameha really improved a lot," Kiessling said. "I don't shoot that much really, but as a team we had to step up our game and start shooting some more."
Kamehameha's Kale Ai scored the only goal in the third quarter, and the Warriors took a 4-2 lead 41 seconds into the fourth quarter on a goal by Pauoa.
"It was nice to see everything we worked on coming together," said Kamehameha coach Curt Ai, who believes it was the first time Kamehameha was playing for the title. "We were there, right at the end. I'm really proud of the boys.
"We thought all along that the program has been moving in this direction and I think tonight was evidence of that."
Punahou's Griffin Bolan closed it to 4-3 with 4:11 left in the game, and Brett Carter scored with 2:49 left to eventually send it into overtime.
Kamehameha's Kale Ai scored first with 2:04 left in the first overtime period, but Jay Smart tied it for the Buffanblu with 1:45 and Rounds scored with 6 seconds left in the period. Both teams failed to score in the final three-minute period.
"I don't know what happened, I just sprung open all of a sudden," Rounds said. "I was just trying to put a point on the board."
