Honokaa coach Daphne Honma praises point guard Shayla Ignacio for her improved decision-making.
In Tuesday night’s Big Island Interscholastic Federation basketball opener, Ignacio made the decision to look for her shot.
The senior scored 29 points as the new-look defending Hawaii High School Athletic Association Division II state champion Dragons fought past Kohala 66-51 at Honokaa Armory.
“I’d like to think we could have shared the scoring a little more and not have her carry the load,” Honma said. “But she was the one to step up tonight.
“From game to game, it will depend on who has the hot hand. She was the one tonight.”
While Ignacio returns to her role at point guard, the Dragons welcome back shooting guard Kizzah Maltezo, who scored 15 points. Maltezo tore her knee last season and watched from the bench as Honokaa won the state title behind BIIF Division II player of the year Chancis Fernandez, who graduated.
Chancis’ younger sister, Eliyah Fernandez added eight points for Honokaa, which led 36-27 at halftime.
Freshman CJ Agbayani led the Cowgirls with 21 points.
“You leave a good shooter open, she is going to make shots,” Honma said. “I kind of got on our kids for giving her too many good looks.”
Tezrah Antonio scored 15 points for Kohala, while Naai Solomon-Lewis added 14.
In junior varsity, Honokaa won 46-20.
Kohala 15 12 13 11 —51
Honokaa 20 16 19 11 —66
Hilo 60, Kealakehe 8
Shalyn Guthier scored 15 points and Chailey Cabalis added 13 as the Vikings christened their new gym with an easy victory to open the season.
Ivana Galvez led the Waveriders with four points.
Hilo won the JV game 43-16.
Kealakehe 2 2 40 — 8
Waiakea 22 17 9 12 — 60
Kamehameha 61, Keaau 21
Riana Arima scored 14 points and Saydee Aganus added 12 as the Warriors cruised at home.
Macey Mokuhalii and Ranchell Berinobis led the Cougars with six points apiece.
Keaau 3 7 11 0 —21
Kamehameha 12 18 17 14 — 61
BOYS SOCCER
It’s not that Urs Leuenberger doesn’t miss his former players, it’s just that he thinks Kealakehe’s boys soccer program is fully capable of replacing those of have left.
It was easy to see why Tuesday in Waimea. Laukoa Santos recorded a hat trick and the Waveriders opened their search for a fourth consecutive Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I title with a 9-0 victory against Parker.
Santos is tasked with trying to fill the hole at midfield left by the graduation of Keoni Yates, a two-time league player of the year.
Josh Lopez collected two goals for Kealakehe, while Ari Mench, Tyler Deverse, Gabe Bala and Jonah Palakiko added a goal apiece.
Greyson Moore shut out the Bulls (0-1).
Leuenberger was looking forward to his team’s first true test of the season when its hosts Konawaena at 7 p.m. Friday.
“That should be a real good one,” he said.
Waiakea 8, East-Pac 0
Michael Scott scored twice as the Warriors won their opener at Christian Liberty.
Max Adolf, Gehrig Octavio, Tyrin Amaral-Antonio, Jamal Marshal, Gabe Frazier-Jenkins and Tyler Kerr also found the back of the net.
Chris Wung shut out the rebuilding Firestorm (0-2), who include players from Christian Liberty and St. Joseph.
GIRLS SOCCER
Waiakea 9, East-Pac 0
Starcia-Lee Deponte recorded a hat trick and six other Warriors scored as they rolled in their opener.
Sabrina Scott, Jazmine Early, Summer Cassidy, Kiana Serrao, Kiana Corpuz and Cierra Toledo-Muragin also bagged goals for visiting Waiakea, while goalkeepers Kaira Chang and Jordan Melchor shared in the shut out against the Firestorm (0-2).