Konawaena takes its gaudy streak into the new year, but some heavy lifting will be required to keep it going.
Chanelle Molina led three scorers in double-figures with 19 points Monday night as the Wildcats rolled past Waiakea 59-30 in Kealakekua, capping another unbeaten calender year of Big Island Interscholastic Federation girls basketball.
Freshman Celena Molina scored 15 points and Mercedes Victor had 10 for the Wildcats (4-0), who are trying to reel off their sixth straight perfect BIIF season. On Saturday night, Konawaena figures to face one of its toughest tests since the streak began when it visits Hilo (3-0) in a Division I showdown at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Wildcats haven’t suffered a league setback since losing to Waiakea in the 2008 BIIF championship game. Konawaena has rarely been tested on island since, and Monday night wasn’t much different. The Wildcats scored 10 of the game’s first 12 points, and then put the contest away with a 20-8 run in the second quarter before emptying their bench.
Nicole Antonio scored 12 points for the Warriors (1-3).
Waiakea 8 8 9 5 — 30
Konawaena 14 20 15 10—59
HPA 55, Ka’u 37
Tiana Bertelmann-Tabac scored 18 points in Waimea, Ula Brostek added 16 and Anna Juan had 12 as Ka Makani won for the second game in a row.
HPA jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first eight minutes and held the Trojans to nine first-half points to even its record at 2-2.
Denisha Navarro led the Trojans (0-4) with 18 points.
Ka’u 4 5 15 13 —37
HPA 14 13 11 17—55
Kamehameha 59, Kealakehe 19
Casey Poe powered the visiting Warriors (3-1) with 20 points, Makamae Gabriel contributed 12 and RiannaArima had 11.
Sosefina Kalavi led the Waveriders (1-3) with six.
Kealakehe won the junior varsity game 51-39.
Kealakehe 2 6 1 10—19
Kamehameha 24 21 10 4—59
Pahoa at Keaau
The score was not available at press time.
Kohala at Hilo
Honokaa at Laupahoehoe
The games were postponed because of road closures due to flooding. Makeup dates weren’t yet announced.