When Kamehameha takes on Konawaena, it’s usually a clash of title contenders, and that doesn’t change on the bowling alley.
In this case, Saturday’s BIIF season-opener at KBXtreme in Kailua-Kona, the Wildcats had the upper hand, and while coach Clyde Takafuji had to be pleased, he cautioned it was too soon to draw any conclusions.
Konawaena featured more high-level bowlers, but the Warriors’ Brandyn Lee-Lehano was the most consistent performer, rolling four games of 200 or more.
“I honestly think it’s going to come down to Kamehameha and Konawaena,” Warriors coach Ricky Torres said. “Brandyn, he has the potential to win BIIFs if he can keep his emotions in check.”
Lee-Lehano and Konawaena’s Torin Savella tied for high-game on Saturday with 223s, and they also were the high BIIF men at the 2014 HHSAA championships.
“That’s what he’s capable of,” Takafuji said of Savella. “Very teachable and listens well. I’ve been looking at Torin and Tresen Arakaki as contenders to be sure.”
Arakaki was the BIIF runner-up last season, and Konawaena’s depth allowed it to beat Kamehameha on Saturday even without Savella rolling his best game. On the day for the Wildcats, Arakaki, Connor Harrington and Chad Galiza each reached the 190s.
Of the defending champion Wildcats’ eight bowlers, four are returnees, but Torres took heart that Kamehameha was able to win one of three games despite not be able to fill five slots – at least not yet.
He was unsure if defending champion Seth Yamaguchi was going to bowl this season, though Alton Penrose and Kalai Pomroy return to bring experience for Kamehameha.
“Ka’u is going to be the spoiler,” Torres said.
While the Trojans boast depth for the second consecutive season, including Travis Taylor, Kealakehe returns two bowlers. The Waveriders’ Kawika Pierson was solid with a 190 and a 186 on Saturday.
For the second consecutive season league bowling will be held exclusively at KBXreme, and each team will play one another twice to determine the team titles. The individual championships are Oct. 17.
Seeking to win another girls title, freshmen-laden Kealakehe must replace individual champion Desiree Ichishita and will look for leadership from junior Rose Stephenson, who had a 155 on Saturday.
“She inspires the other girls,” first-year coach Loreena Ganeko.
Ganeko’s roster of 10 would make many coaches envious, and Kara Nishida is among the underclassmen to watch.
“If the girls want to win a team title, they’ll have to want it and go out and take it,” Ganeko said. “It won’t be anything the coaches do.”
With the demise of Hilo Lanes, Waiakea isn’t competing again and Hilo’s numbers are depleted for the second year in a row.
The Vikings can’t compete for the team title, but coach Damien Chow sees two contenders in Skyler Crivello and Blake Fukunaga. Crivello’s 159 was the best score on the girls side Saturday, just edging out Konawaena’s Mikki Fujimoto, who rolled a 158 and a 145.
Chow pointed out that it was more expensive for his bowlers to practice at Hilo Lanes two years ago than it is now at KMC Bowling in Volcano.
When the Vikings aren’t making the trip to KMC, they practice either in the gym or the classroom.
“As long as there are kids that want to learn and the school wants me to coach, I’ll be there,” Chow said.
Save for Yamaguchi’s title last season, the West Hawaii schools used their knowledge of KBXtreme to their advantage.
“We had a great turnout from parents and onlookers,” Takafuji said of the opener. “In any athletic sport, that’s going to help the performance.”