KAILUA-KONA — With just a week and change left in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation’s (BIIF) basketball regular season, teams continued the push to end the year on a high note during Wednesday’s games across the island.
The final slate of regular season games is Saturday, Jan. 27.
KS-HAWAI‘I 61, HONOKA‘A 25
The Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i girls varsity basketball team won its ninth straight game, crushing Honoka‘a High 61-25 in BIIF Div.-II action on Wednesday night in Kea‘au.
The victory also improved KSH’s BIIF record to 11-0 and their overall record to 13-4. The Warriors were ranked No. 10 statewide in this week’s ScoringLive poll, behind No. 4 Konawaena High and No. 5 Waiakea High.
The tone of Wednesday’s game was set from the start, as KSH outscored the Dragons 20-5 during the first quarter — led by Maela Honma with ten points and Keanu Huihui with nine points. Honma went four-for-five at the free throw line during the opening frame.
Honoka‘a found more success on defense during the second quarter, but could not get much going offensively — as the Dragons were outscored 12-6, to enter halftime trailing 32-11. Huihui accounted for eight of KSH’s 12 points during the frame.
After halftime, Ryle Velazquez led Honoka‘a to its closest quarter of the game, scoring nine points — sinking two three-pointers and three of three free throws. KSH outscored HHIS 11-10 as Honma notched three field goals, Huihui went three-for-six at the charity stripe and Aubrey Miyasato scored two points.
Honoka‘a trailed 43-21 at the start of the fourth quarter, and lost its momentum — getting outscored 18-4 in the final frame as Huihui went berzerk, dropping sixteen points (five FG’s, two three’s).
Huihui totalled a season-high 36 points, beating her previous mark of 33 points — scored in mid-December against Hilo High. Honma scored 22 points.
Tha Dragons were led by Velazquez with 17 points.
The loss ended a three-win streak for Honoka‘a, dropping it to 5-4. However, the Dragons still stand within BIIF playoff territority at No.4 in BIIF DII — behind No. 2 Kohala (7-2) and No. 3 Hawaii Prep (5-3).
Honoka‘a will end its season with a two-game home stand, starting with a matchup on Saturday against HPA — an outing that will have great influence on each team’s playoff seeding.
Just two games remain for KSH as well. On Monday, the Warriors will play their senior night game against Pahoa High (3-5). The Warriors will end their season on the road with a critical test — a matchup against Waiakea High (9-1 BIIF, 13-3 ovr.) on Jan. 25 at WHS.
KEA‘AU 46,
PARKER 33
Kea‘au High’s girls varsity basketball team ended its seven-game loss streak with a commanding win, 46-33, over Parker School on Wednesday night in Puna
The Cougars kept just ahead of the Bulls, gradually building their lead by outscoring Parker each quarter — 12-7 in the first, 10-8 in the second, 14-12 in the third and 10-6 in the fourth.
Lenzy Adlawan led the Cougars with 11 points. Parker’s Briley Ballard scored a game-high 16 points.
At 3-8, Kea‘au has had a rough winter — but could sail into the end of regular season play with a couple of wins. For their final regular season outing and senior night on Jan. 25, the Cougars will play against cross-town competitor Christian Liberty Academy (0-8).
Now 3-5, the Bulls are on the bubble of BIIF playoff territory, but have three remaining DII outings. Winning all three would almost certainly get Parker into BIIFs. The Bulls will need to play two postponed/rescheduled matchups, against Pahoa and Honoka‘a — dates TBA. Parker’s latest scheduled outing is Jan. 27 on the road at CLA.
JV boys score: Kea‘au wins 57-29. Top scorers: Ethan Schmitt (Parker) with 13 points and Nyson Cabreros (Kea‘au) with 11.
KONA 81,
KEALAKEHE 2
No. 3 Konawaena girls routed Kealakehe in the Waveriders’ gymnasium, winning 81-2.
The Wildcats continue to roster four double-figure scorers in 2023-24 — Tavina Harris (16.4), Kaitea Galletes (14), Kaanoipua Leilewi (11.3) and Haikela Hiraishi (10.4). The BIIF powerhouse’s well-balanced attack remains one of the primarily reasons Kona is near atop of the state standings.
With just one game remaining in the regular season before the BIIF playoffs begin in less than two weeks, the Wildcats (16-3 overall, 10-1 BIIF) will conclude the year with a home game against Hilo at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium. Kealakehe (1-8) plays Pahoa to conclude regular season play at 6 p.m. Wednesday at home.
