The veteran teams built with a win-now mentality — with scoring stars and strong post players — had the Big Island’s best runs at the HHSAA state tournament.
That would be Big Island Interscholastic Federation runner-up Kohala and league champion Pahoa, the two Division II teams that didn’t take a two-game exit.
The Cowboys beat ILH champion Hawaii Baptist 69-48 for third place on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center. In the fifth-place game, ILH runner-up Damien edged the Daggers 43-42.
Kohala highlights the “Go for broke” mantra with five senior starters: Kealen Figueroa, Hana Caravalho, Kala Jordan, Justin Agbayani and Shawn Ramos.
Figueroa, a 5-foot-7 point guard, figures to be the hardest to replace. That’s because there is really no one in the BIIF with his ability to break down a defense in transition, slash across the lane, and drop an uncontested layup.
He’s also a sound ball-handler and an instinctive passer, with a long resume of tons of dishes to Caravalho, who can hit shots at the elbow or 3-point arc.
The 6-foot Caravalho and 5-10 Jordan are also valuable glass cleaners. If one doesn’t snag a board and the ball bounces to the other side of the rim, the Cowboy partner will pick it up.
In the 50-47 semifinal loss to Kaiser on Friday, Carvalho had a game-high 10 rebounds while Jordan snagged six, the same number as physical 6-5 Kaiser junior Chance Kalaugher.
The Oahu Interscholastic Association champion and top-seeded Cougars will be a heavy favorite to make another run next year.
Kaiser loses just one starter, and returns all of its top players, including Kalaugher and 6-2 junior Keoua Mahiko, a slashing guard, who scored a game-high 17 points on 5 of 12 shooting against Kohala.
Like Kohala, Pahoa loses its top scoring threat in Tolby Saito and its best two bigs in Kili Oliveira and Torrell Thomas.
Saito was not only a productive scorer, from the field and free-throw line, but he also defended the other team’s top guard.
The biggest contribution from Oliveira and Thomas was their ability to play tough defense without fouling out. They were each other’s help-side partner, when one got beat on dribble-penetration the other covered.
Pahoa will again be perimeter-oriented with the return of Keinan Agonias, a deadly 3-point gunner, and Joel Rosario Jr., often a limited scoring option, but who’ll have more of a green light next year.
The two BIIF semifinal losers, Hawaii Prep and Honokaa, each suffer key losses, but have a chance to be better next season.
No doubt, the height and length of 6-4 Nicky Palleschi and 6-3 Hide Akai will be missed by the suddenly much shorter Ka Makani.
But the ball-movement — especially in HPA’s half-court offense where spacing, sharp cuts and pinpoint passes work in unison — could have smoother flow because of freshman Jonah Hurney, a pass-first point guard.
Also there are a few really promising tall and athletic Ka Makani junior varsity players waiting for a promotion.
As for the Dragons, they lose a main piece in 6-foot forward Shyrome Batin. But the roster is stocked with youth, and coach Jayme Carvalho is already revving up the program’s motto, “Get it done.”
The BIIF’s two Division I teams have potential, especially three-time champion Konawaena, which loses just one senior in Kevin Medeiros.
The one thing all the league’s teams learned at states was the value of two-way ball possession: to protect the ball and take a good shot, and to make defensive stops.
And it always helps to have a point guard who can run an offense and not push the panic button when the defense — on-ball pressure, traps and matchup zones — at states doesn’t resemble anything seen in BIIF play.
It was an encouraging sign for Konawaena that freshman point guard Austin Ewing was the most efficient player in losses to Moanalua 67-45 in the quarterfinals, and to Punahou 83-40 in consolation.
Ewing averaged 7.5 points per game on 50 percent shooting (7 of 14), had three assists to four turnovers, and snagged six steals in getting his feet wet at states.
The BIIF runner-up Warriors will have that win-now mindset with Pukana Vincent, Bayley Manliguis and Kaeo Batacan all as senior starters next season.
Sophomore sharp-shooter Solomon Escalante and 6-0 junior forward Solomon Kia can slide into the starting rotation and provide a veteran lineup.
Kamehameha’s best run at states in school history was 2008, with a runner-up finish to Punahou.
Back then, the Warriors were built the same way: with a lot of tough-nosed seniors who bought into the win-now mentality.
Kohala 69, Hawaii Baptist 48
Kala Jordan had a spectacular game with 18 points on 8 of 12 shooting in just 16 minutes to help the Cowboys bring home the third-place trophy.
His post partner, Hana Caravalho, added 12 points on 5 of 9 shooting in 19 minutes as Kohala spread the minutes around.
Chance Pang added 10 points on 3 of 4 shooting, and Kama Emeliano-Solomon had 10 points on 5 of 7 shooting for Kohala (15-2), which shot 51 percent (29 of 57) from the floor.
Kealen Figueroa finished his Cowboy career with two points, and he added three assists with zero turnovers.
The other Kohala seniors were guard Justin Agbayani, who had seven points, and forward Shawn Ramos, who had two points.
Isaac Liva scored 16 points to lead the Eagles (11-4).
Kohala 17 14 14 24 — 69
Hawaii Baptist 10 14 12 12 — 48
Damien 43, Pahoa 42
The Daggers trailed 39-28 after three quarters, but came up two points short of taking the consolation title.
Tolby Saito scored 14 points on 5 of 16 shooting for Pahoa (14-3), which shot 28 percent (15 of 34), including 3 of 16 on 3-pointers.
Keinan Agonias and Kili Oliveira, who had nine rebounds, each added eight points. Torrell Thomas closed his Dagger career with five points.
Kobe Ikari scored 16 points on 5 of 16 shooting to lead the Monarchs (12-4).
Damien 14 11 14 4 — 43
Pahoa 11 6 9 16 — 42
