A remarkable run ended just short of the promised land for the Seabury Hall boys basketball team Saturday night at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.

In their quest for the first state basketball title in school history, the Spartans fell to Kohala 49-45 in overtime in the Heide & Cook/HHSAA Division II state final.

Seabury Hall led 29-19 with less than 3 minutes to play in the third quarter in a game where both teams struggled to shoot the ball. The Spartans shot 16 for 53 from the floor, including 5 for 18 from 3-point range, while the Cowboys were 16 for 49 and 6 for 22.

“They didn’t give up, we knew they wouldn’t give up,” Seabury Hall coach Scott Prather said Sunday morning. “It was a great game, like you said, definitely back and forth. Guys were making big shots on both sides, making plays and just playing really high-quality basketball all the way around.

“You know, it was right there for the taking and they made one more play than we did and that was basically the difference at the end of the day.”

Four of the seven Spartans (14-1) who played in the state final are seniors and the team will wave goodbye to six total seniors. Prather pointed to the grit and determination of his team, too.

“Heck no, we never give up,” he said. “Yeah, they made a great run. This team, from where they were at the beginning of the year — we had high hopes — but you never know where how it’s all kind of come together,” Prather said. “But the seniors on this team were such great leaders and they all worked so hard for me, not just this year but the last three, four years. They wouldn’t let the guys not bring it every day. Their leadership really carried the group throughout the year.”

Among the seniors, Kobe Garcia scored 11 points and had two steals, Leo McKuin scored two points and had three of the Spartans’ seven assists, Zack Devane scored four points on 2-for-3 shooting, and Dylan Stolley contributed 10 minutes off the bench. Jeaneau Dugied and Granite Nordblom, who was in his first season of organized basketball, did not play in the game.

“I’m going to miss those guys tremendously, tremendously,” Prather said. “Leo and Dylan and Kobe and Zack and Jeaneau, they were not only huge contributors, but just fun guys to be around. Always just positive energy and just a joy to coach in so many ways.”

The Spartans still led the game 36-29 after a pair of free throws by Bromo Dorn with 6:18 to go. Dorn finished with 18 points, on 6-for-21 shooting, and added eight rebounds, a blocked shot and two steals in 36 minutes.

In three state tournament games, Dorn piled up some impressive numbers — 64 points, 24 rebounds, seven blocks and seven steals. He was named to the state D-II all-tournament team.

“Bromo’s going to be back, I’m sure senior year he’s going to have a pretty big year; and (sophomore) Sebastian (Peterson), he really elevated his game this year to a whole new level; (junior) Keahi (Sjostrand) is going to be a huge contributor next year, he really grew a lot this year,” Prather said. “Other guys, too, you know. Carson (Hollifield) is just a sophomore this year. Soren (Moog), he’s new out here, but he’s going to be a big contributor next year. And Nobu, my little freshman point guard, he’s going to have a bigger role.

“So, yeah, there’s definitely a lot of bright future for these guys and as much as I want to focus on that, I want to make sure I give these seniors all the due that they deserve.”

The Cowboys (17-0) won for the second season in a row and just refused to go away in the fourth quarter. Kohala outscored Seabury Hall 16-8 on points off turnovers.

The game was tied six times and there were three lead changes.

Kohala’s Layden Kauka, who finished with 24 points and seven rebounds, made all three free throws with 7.7 seconds to go to tie the score after he was fouled on a 3-point shot. He scored the first three of the Cowboys’ four points in overtime, including a midrange jumper under pressure with 41 seconds to go to make it 48-45.

The appearance was Seabury Hall’s second Division II state championship game ever — the Spartans lost the 2016 final 46-31 to University Lab.

The MIL’s only boys basketball state titles belong to Maui Prep (2022, Division II), Lahainaluna (1982, A Division) and St. Anthony (1977, A Division).

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

SEABURY HALL (14-1)

Bromo Dorn 18, Kobe Garcia 11, Sebastian Peterson 7, Zack Devane 4, Keahi Sjostrand 3, Leo McKuin 2, Dylan Stolley 0.

KOHALA (17-0)

Layden Kauka 24, Jayden Hook 13, Landon Kauka 5, Isaac Salvador-Libron 4, Hezekiah Wilson 3, Dillon Oandasan 0.

Seabury Hall 9 10 13 13 0–45

Kohala 9 5 13 18 4–49

HEIDE & COOK/HHSAA BOYS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

DIVISION I

Saturday’s Results

At Blaisdell Arena

Fifth-place game

Kahuku 55, Nanakuli 39

Third-place game

Leilehua 56, Kalaheo 44

Championship

Saint Louis 48, Punahou 39

DIVISION II

Saturday’s Results

At Blaisdell Arena

Fifth-place game

Le Jardin 62, Aiea 51

Third-place game

University 53, Kaimuki 38

Championship

Kohala 49, Seabury Hall 45, OT