This past weekend saw the conclusion of two invitational basketball tournaments on the isle’s leeward side, as well as two regular season outings at Ka‘u High.
Also, the KS-Hawai‘i girls team played at an invitational tourney at KS-Kapalama.
Hilo boys tourney
Following two days of action, the Hilo round-robin tournament concluded Saturday with its final four games.
The day began with Kea‘au High versus Kahuku High. The Red Raiders crushed the Cougars 63-28 to finish out 3-0, the best record out of all participating teams.
Next, Hilo’s JV team took on Hawaii Prep’s varsity team — the JV Vikings’ third matchup against a varsity squad during the tournament. Hilo fell 61-16 as HPA picked up its first victory of the tourney.
Next, Kealakehe High and Hanalani School’s varsity squads faced off. The Waveriders fell 46-38, their first loss of the weekend. Hanalani improved to 2-1.
The action concluded with a cross-town rivalry, marquee matchup between Hilo and Waiakea High. The Vikings dominated the Warriors 45-27, improving to 2-1 as WHS fell to 0-3 on the weekend.
Honoka‘a
girls tourney
Up the coast, Honoka‘a High’s tournament also tipped off on Thursday.
In the opening matchup Kohala High routed McKinley High 48-27. The beatdowns kept coming, as Sacred Hearts dominated Hilo 43-15. The night ended with a more competitive bout, in which the homestanding Dragons edged University Lab 33-30.
The next morning, Honoka‘a moved to 2-0, defeating McKinley 44-31. UH Lab also stayed undefeated, keeping Hilo just out of reach to win 32-27. Kohala was unable to walk away lossless, as Sacred Hearts defeated the Cowgirls 35-25.
The tourney ended with two matchups on Saturday. Honoka‘a suffered its first loss, and a close one, 32-29 to Sacred Hearts. Kohala found redemption, ending things with a 46-34 win over UH Lab.
Pahala action
Down in Ka‘u, the Trojans’ boys squad played its home opener as the girls played their second home game.
The Lady Trojans notched their first win, improving to 1-2 with a 43-13 rout of Christian Liberty Academy.
Later in the day, Ka‘u’s boys teams hosted their rivals from over the volcano — Pahoa High.
Though the Trojans’ JV squad came away with a win, 36-19, varsity did not fare as well — falling 54-47 to the Daggers, who improved to 2-0.
Ka‘u’s boys team is 0-2, and will continue searching for its first win at 6 p.m. tonight at CLA for the Canefire’s season opener. The Daggers will also be back in action tonight, and will head up the road to Kea‘au High to take on the Cougars in Kea‘au’s first regular season showing.
The Lady Trojans will be back in action Thursday, also in Puna, at KS-Hawai‘i (2-0 BIIF, 4-4 ovr.).
The Canefire’s girls team is 0-2, but has a chance to get a win at its home opener at 5:30 p.m. tonight against Kealakehe High (0-2).
KSH on O‘ahu
The Warriors had a tough weekend, suffering a trio of losses at their sister school’s I Mua Invitational.
KSH began with a matchup on Thursday against Miami High, of Claypool, Ariz. — a mining town in eastern Arizona just outside of the San Carlos Apache Reservation.
The Vandals defeated the Warriors 57-46.
The following day, KSH suffered another loss, 44-28 at the hands of Kahuku.
The Warriors wrapped things up with a 42-33 loss on Saturday to Lahainaluna High.