KEALAKEKUA — Life is thrice as nice for the Vikings.
Hilo claimed its third straight BIIF Division I title on Saturday with a dominating 4-0 victory over Konawaena at Julian Yates Field.
Alyeemomi Amaral and Hollie Saplan scored for Hilo in the first half, and Miya Clarke and Kalamanamana added the tallies in the second half to secure the comfortable victory.
“This one I was able to enjoy a little more since we had a lead early in the game. It was not as nerve-racking and I was able to breath,” said Amaral, who plays forward for the Vikings. “The win was good for the program but it was very important to me because it is my senior year and I wanted to go out with a win.”
For Hilo head coach Skee Saplan, the win means his team is able to put an infamous coin flip to determine BIIF seeding behind him.
“It is all said and done, and we just have to live with decisions that are made and move forward,” Saplan said. “The girls came out and played their hearts out today. The game was dedicated to the seniors and they were really hungry and showed it.”
It was the first time the Wildcats and the Vikings had met in the league title game since 2014, but the two schools have combined for 11 of the last 12 BIIF D-I championships.
Both Konawaena and Hilo have earned berths in the HHSAA state tournament, which begins Feb. 5 with the first round.
Konawaena is expected to play host for their first-round contest, while Hilo will earn a bye to the quarterfinals on Oahu.
The Vikings are hoping that a third straight league title will lead to a better seeding in the HHSAA tournament. In the last two seasons, Hilo has had the misfortune of earning a No. 3 and No. 4 seed, only to have to face the eventual state champion in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
As a No. 3 seed, the Vikings fell to Pearl City in 2016 and Iolani by the same score last season.
“At least we get to say we made it to the state tournament and lost to the team that wins it,” Saplan said. “But this year, I do hope we can do a lot better. The girls have been working really hard this season. They are a year older, a little wiser and they have a little more experience playing in the big games. I hope we can represent the Big Island well.”
Konawaena will head to the state tournament for the first time since winning the BIIF title in 2014. That squad — which received a No. 4 seed — won a quarterfinal match before losing to eventual state champion Mililani in the semifinals.
