Jonathan Lee made a go-ahead layup with 50 seconds left to lift McKinley past Farrington, 33-29, and into the title game of the Hawaiian Airlines Boys Basketball Division II State Championships tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Tigers (12-6) will meet Kohala (15-3) in the 6 p.m. game televised statewide on OC-16.

Farrington (12-6) beat McKinley in two previous meetings during the O'ahu Interscholastic Association White Conference regular season, and the Governors may have been viewed as a slight favorite in last night's semifinal at Kaimuki's gym. However, the Tigers would have had it no other way.

"Revenge," McKinley forward Earvin Sione said. "We're rivals and we were getting this win back. We were ready."

Sione made the back end of two free throws with six seconds left to make it a four-point, two-possession game that sealed the Tigers' win.

Sione, a 6-foot-4 junior, said McKinley head coach Bob Morikuni encouraged him before the game.

"He told me 'I believe in you' and I thought of coach when I missed (the first free throw)."

Lee finished with a game-high 13 points, nine coming in the fourth quarter.

McKinley trailed 23-17 entering the fourth quarter, but got to the free-throw line 17 times in the period, making six of them.

"We did just enough to win," Morikuni said. "I'm proud of them."

The game was a defensive struggle plagued by turnovers and missed free throws. The teams were a combined 15 of 35 from the charity stripe.

With his team down by three at the half, Morikuni knew possessions would be precious down the stretch.

"I told them to make their layups, take care of the ball and be smart," he said.

McKinley endured a five-minute, 46-second scoring drought that allowed Farrington to take its largest lead (six points) on an Elijah Filifili's three-pointer before the end of the third quarter.

However, the Govs faltered in the fourth quarter, turning the ball over six times and scoring just six points. McKinley took the lead on a layup with 3:08 left. Tilton Kaluna found Lee, a 5-foot-9 guard, on a backdoor cut to make it 27-26.

Farrington came right back with a Filifili basket assisted by Glenn Ernest.

Following a Govs turnover, Lee's layup gave the Tigers' the lead, which they never relinquished.

Nainoa Lessary added eight points for McKinley and Sione finished with five points.

"It's been my dream since AC Carter was playing," said Sione of playing in the Stan Sheriff Center.

"It'll be my first time (coaching) in there," said Morikuni who had a stern reminder for his team. "Don't just be happy to be here. Win."

HAWAI'I BAPTIST 47, ST. JOSEPH 40

Jason Liang scored a game-high 13 points and the Eagles rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Cardinals for the consolation title yesterday at Kaimuki.

Hawai'i Baptist trailed 31-27 after three quarters but outscored St. Joseph, 20-9, in the fourth quarter.

Dominic Hart added 12 points for the Eagles. Royden Masulit and Thomas Pegues each scored 10 points for St. Joseph.

HAWAI'I BAPTIST (13-4) 12 9 6 20 — 47

ST. JOSEPH (9-10) 12 8 11 9 — 40

HAWAI'I BAPTIST — Reid Morihara 0, Dayne Kato 3, Daniel Baek 0, Jon China 0, Joshua Thompson 8, Jason Iha 3, Ryan Sakai 0, Joshua Baek 3, Jason Liang 13, Phillip Sarubbi 5, Sean Lum 0, Dominic Hart 12, Kyle Barretta 0. Totals 14 18-29 47.

ST. JOSEPH — Hunter Lee 0, Jake Lee 5, Royden Masulit 10, Sekona Holani 3, Paul Battad 2, Cassius Aiwohi-Kegler 3, Nathan Lee 4, Cruz Martinez 0, Keyin Crudele 0, Jacob Andrade 0, Nick Gomes 0, Devyn Monberg 0, Jess Maiava 3, Thomas Pegues 10, Jacob Carroll 0. Totals 13 8-12 40. 3-point goals: Hawai'i Baptist 1 (J. Baek). St. Joseph 6 (Masulit 2, Pegues 2, J. Lee, J. Maiava).

UNIVERSITY HIGH 50, SEABURY HALL 46

Bryan McGuinness scored a game-high 13 points and the Junior 'Bows fended off the Spartans in a consolation bracket game yesterday at Kaimuki.

University High led 34-26 after three quarters but was tested by Seabury Hall, which outscored them, 20-16, in the fourth quarter. George Bukes added 10 points for University High. Sam Guard and Kasen Dudley each scored 12 points for Seabury Hall.

SEABURY HALL (11-6) 6 12 8 20 — 46

UNIVERSITY HIGH (13-3) 13 10 11 16 — 50

SEABURY HALL — Jonah Osborne 0, Sam Chesick 0, Adam Istvan 2, Alex Pappazian 0, Peter Meyer 0, Holden Awong 6, Sam Guard 12, Chris Sugidono 2, Brian Park 0, Kasen Dudley 12, Michael Palmer 2, Daollas Verhagen 0, Nick Pagel 8, Thomas O'Malley 0, Andrew Pacheco 2. Totals 16 9-11 46.

UNIVERSITY HIGH — Dylan Gomez 9, La'akea Frias 4, Kyle Nitta 0, James Kometani 2, Noah Chong-Viernes 4, George Bukes 10, Bryan McGuinness 13, Matthew Bayan 8, Andrew Bayan 0, James Loui 0. Totals 21 8-15 50. 3-point goals: Seabury Hall 5 (Dudley 4, Guard). University High none.

ACADEMY OF THE PACIFIC 46, MOLOKA'I 29

Keoni Daniel scored a game-high 20 points and the Dolphins pounced on the Farmers in a consolation bracket game yesterday at Farrington.

Academy of the Pacific took control by outscoring Moloka'i, 16-2, in the first quarter. Hoyt Fuller Jr. added 12 points for the Dolphins. Carl Adolpho scored 10 points for the Farmers.

MOLOKA'I (9-6) 2 8 5 14 — 29

ACAD. OF PACIFIC (14-6) 16 8 6 16 — 46

MOLOKA'I — Jacob Adachi 0, Jerome Clemente 0, Herbert Antolin 0, Jacob Esteron 0, Micah Ritte-Manangan 2, Scotties Rapanot Jr. 0, Jorjay Bumatay 3, Eben Napolean 9, Eddie Delos Reyes 2, Jared Sasada 0, Daniel Espaniola Jr. 0, Nohea Pangkee 3, Carl Adolpho 10, Tyler Sullivan 0. Totals 12 3-3 29.

ACADEMY OF THE PACIFIC — Tri Bourne 7, Spencer Lum 0, Hoyt Fuller Jr. 12, Joshua Oreta 1, Brad Foster 4, Keoni Daniel 20, Nick Seaberg 0, Jordan Ching 0, Joshua Chaffin 0, Mina Gould 0, Koa Gomes 2, Astin Aragaki 0. Totals 17 12-19 46. 3-point goals: Moloka'i 2 (Bumatay 1, Napolen 1).