Punahou boys basketball coach Greg Tacon repeatedly used the phrase "compete at a high level" last night when talking about the key to his team.

Perhaps his Buffanblu weren't doing it early in the season, but Tacon had every right to feel they did after a 61-52 victory over visiting Iolani.

Spencer McLachlin scored 15 of his 20 points in the second half and dominated inside as Punahou improved to 5-3 in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu.

The Buffanblu led 38-37 with 3:30 left in the third quarter, but McLachlin and Danny Cho each scored five points during a 10-2 run to end the quarter.

McLachlin, a 6-foot-7 center, ignited the run with a 3-pointer, a block on the other end of the floor and an inside shot.

"I like it more on the perimeter. I grew up as a point guard," McLachlin said. "I like the ball period."

After an inside bucket by Iolani's Barry Kang, Cho hit a tough layup with 45 seconds left and a 3-pointer from the left baseline with six seconds remaining.

"The layup, Kawika (Shoji) was on me. I just went up strong and tried to muscle it up and luckily it went in," Cho said.

"On the 3, I was coming under the basket. When I caught it I knew I wanted to take the shot, there was only like 10 seconds left on the clock. I wanted to cap the run and end the quarter on a high note."

Iolani coach Mark Mugiishi said the Raiders were supposed to hold the ball for the final minute.

"We took a shot we weren't supposed to take because we were playing for the last shot," he said. "It went from a four-point game to a nine-point game. That's a mental lapse."

Iolani (6-2) closed to three points twice in the fourth quarter, the final being after Shoji's 3-point play made it 55-52 with 1:03 remaining.

Four of the Buffanblu's final six points were free throws.

"We lacked the consistent play throughout the game to win," Mugiishi said. "We were too streaky. It's hard to win like that. You have to be able to sustain an effort a little bit better."

Miah Ostrowski added 10 points for Punahou and Cho added nine.

Tacon said it was his team's best performance of the season.

"We've beaten teams by 50 points, a bunch of teams by 30, but we didn't even come close to the intensity level we played with tonight," Tacon said.

He also said the Buffanblu now have momentum.

"Tonight it was evident we absolutely turned the corner in our ability to compete at a high level," he said. "It has nothing to do with playing well. It just means competing and we competed well tonight."

IOLANI (6-2) 17 11 11 13—52

PUNAHOU (5-3) 12 17 19 13—61

IOLANI—Kela Marciel 2, Vinny Nip 9, Barry Kang 4, Ryan Dung 3, Case Miyahira 2, Taylor Mounts 0, Kekai Kealoha 0, Kawika Shoji 18, Jon Takamura 0, Liloa Nobriga 6, Blayne Yama 4, Wally Marciel 4. Totals 21 6-8 52.

PUNAHOU—Trenton Zane 3, Jeremiah Ostrowski 10, Dalton Hilliard 0, Danny Cho 9, Brandon Kapana 4, Kyle Whitford 2, Kimo Makaula 2, Freddie Hart 6, Kameron Steinhoff 3, Ted Hawkins 2, Spencer McLachlin 20, Kealii Frank 0. Totals: 26 6-12 61. 3-point goals—Iolani 4 (Nip 2, Shoji 1, Dung 1). Punahou 3 (McLachlin 2, Cho 1).

KAMEHAMEHA 47, DAMIEN 29

The Warriors took control with a 16-5 third quarter to remain undefeated in the ILH. Damien led 14-12 at halftime.

DAMIEN (0-8) 6 8 5 10—29

KAMEHAMEHA (8-0) 7 5 16 19—47

DAMIEN—Nikko Romuar 0, Sheldon Bailey 6, Winnie Gapuz 3, Tony Cerezo 3, Aminis Thompson 2, Haku Correa 2, Kenneth Rossi 3, Mike Sipili 2, Mana Mikaele 8, Sione Tau 0. Totals not reported.

KAMEHAMEHA—Randy Cummings 8, Jesse Moniz 6, Brandon Ahlo 0, Andrew Godinet 2, Mitchell Kauweloa 5, Jacob Ho 3, Pono Hanson 7, Rykin Enos 3, Conrad Scheidt 2, Jay Kauka 3, Kanoa Mokiao 6, Kea Smith 0, Treston Rego 2. Totals not reported. 3-point goals—Damien 1 (Cerezo). Kamehameha 2 (Cummings, Kauka).

MARYKNOLL 66, MID-PACIFIC 49

Tyler Tsukazaki scored a game-high 21 points for the Spartans. Mid-Pacific's Daniel Gordon scored 20 points, including six 3-pointers.

MARYKNOLL (3-4) 14 18 17 17—66

MID-PACIFIC (1-7) 7 10 10 22—49

MARYKNOLL—Tyler Tsukazaki 21, Chris Hsia 14, Tommy Nguyen 1, Simeon Ke-Paloma 2, Richardson Talavera 1, Rian Huizingh 0, Garrick Chock 2, Travis Liu 2, Zachary Misajon 6, Jordan Ho-Ching 10, Richard Herring 7. Totals 23 17-27 66.

MID-PACIFIC—Sampson Won 3, Josh Mun 1, Marcus Holyfield 13, Jaime Rivera 1, Daniel Gordon 20, Robert Hsu 2, Jarryd Yasui 0, Kellar Ellsworth 7, Josh Grant 0, Reid Fujimoto 0, Sililo Pale 2. Totals 14 13-20 49. 3-point goals—Maryknoll 3 (Tsukazaki 2, Hsia 1). Mid-Pacific 8 (Gordon 6, Holyfield 1, Ellsworth 1).

Reported by Adria Mendoza

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.