Konawaena will take a short break on extending the league’s greatest and longest winning streak, standing at 105-0 on the basketball court, where its dynasty looks as strong as ever.
The Wildcats defeated Hilo 42-34 in a BIIF Division I girls showdown on Tuesday night at the Vikings Gym, which will be busy this week with a hot plate of hoops action.
The Hilo Holiday Prep Classic runs Thursday through Saturday at the Vikings Gym and Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, where a possible BIIF championship preview takes place in the first round.
The BIIF season-opener between Hilo and Konawaena was neatly scheduled ahead of the Holiday Prep Classic, which the Wildcats will enter. (It’s the second year for a girls field.)
The Wildcats, who have won the last nine BIIF titles and the last thee HHSAA championships, take on Waiakea on Thursday in the Holiday Prep Classic at Hilo Civic, and it will be a good measuring stick for both.
The last time Konawaena lost a league game was to Waiakea for the BIIF title in 2008. That Warrior team was powered by sisters Kirsty and Kamie Imai.
The current edition is led their sister, 5-foot-6 sophomore guard Kelsie Imai, a solid ball-handler like Kirsty and athletic like Kamie, who played at Division I Utah State. Their brother, Kirk Imai, was a sharp-shooter at Keaau.
The youngest Imai is part of a deep and promising ballclub, coached by Brandon Kauhi, who has a lot of interchangeable parts among his 12 players.
Hilo and Konawaena are not as deep with nine players each on their rosters. But the Wildcats have survived for years with a short bench. Overcoming a lack of depth is no big deal for co-coaches Bobbie and Dawnyelle Awa.
In 2016, Chanelle Molina’s senior season, Konawaena prevailed over Maryknoll 44-34 for the state championship. All five Wildcat starters played every minute, and no one fouled out. There was a roster of nine players.
Konawaena’s greatest strength — above its ability to play San Antonio Spurs basketball, making an extra pass to turn a good shot into a better one — is the discipline to play tough defense without fouling out.
From there, the Wildcats will maximize each possession and apply their time management strategy once they take a late lead, and that system is fine-tuned come playoff time.
That’s why the Konawaena-Waiakea first round battle at the Holiday Prep Classic is so intriguing. It’s a preseason game and won’t count. But it’ll be a mental edge for the winner.
The BIIF championship baton-passing has been in play for a long time and carries over at states for Konawaena. It started with Nancy Hoist (2004 state title), went to Mana Hopkins (2007), Lia Galdeira (2009), and then Chanelle Molina (2015).
Does it extend one more season with Cherilyn Molina, last year’s BIIF Division I player of the year, or does it get snatched away by Kelsie Imai and the hungry Warriors?
Long ago, Waiakea won consecutive state titles in 1985 and ’86 under former coach Gil Thomas. That was during the school’s BIIF title dynasty run from 1982 to ’86.
All dynasties have an expiration date. On Thursday, the Konawaena-Waiakea outcome will likely be a sign if one is still living strong or a new one is just starting.
For the BIIF regular season, the Wildcats will host the Warriors on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at Ellison Onizuka Gym, where Konawaena’s unbeaten BIIF streak will likely be on the line.
Hilo Holiday Prep Classic
Girls
Thursday
At Vikings Gym
Honokaa vs. Trinity Christian,
At Hilo Civic
Konawaena vs. Waiakea, 6:30 p.
At Vikings Gym
Keaau vs. Hilo, 8 p.m.
Friday
At Vikings Gym
JV, Waiakea vs. Hilo, 3:30 p.
At Hilo Civic
Keaau vs. Honokaa, 5 p.m.
At Vikings Gym
Trinity Christian vs. Kona, 6:
At Hilo Civic
Waiakea vs. Hilo, 8 p.m.
Saturday
At Vikings Gym
JV, Hilo vs. Keaau, 11:30 a.m.
At Vikings Gym
Kona vs. Keaau, 2:30 p.m.
At Hilo Civic
Honokaa vs. Waiakea, 3 p.m.
At Hilo Civic
Hilo vs. Trinity Christian, 6
Boys
Thursday
At Vikings Gym
Honokaa vs. Waiakea, 3:30 p.m.
At Hilo Civic
Parker vs. Kamehameha, 5 p.m.
At Vikings Gym
Trinity Christian vs. Kohala,
At Hilo Civic
St. Joseph vs. Hilo, 8 p.m.
Friday
At Hilo Civic
Consolation, Honokaa-Waiakea l
At Vikings Gym
Consolation, Trinity Christian
At Hilo Civic
Semifinal, Honokaa-Waiakea win
At Vikings Gym
Trinity Christian-Kohala winne
Saturday
Championship, Hilo CIvic
Semifinal winners, 7:30 p.m.
Third place, Hilo Civic
Semifinal losers, 4:30 p.m.
Fifth place, Vikings Gym
Consolation winners, 1 p.m.
Seventh place, Vikings Gym
Consolation loser, 10 a.m.