Kohala High’s boys basketball team captured a three-peat BIIF DII title and Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i won a repeat BIIF DI title at the KTA/BIIF championships on Friday at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Cowboys defeated Pahoa High 54-38 to close out a perfect BIIF season at 14-0, and get their shot at a third straight DII state championship.
The Warriors crushed Hilo High 72-51 in theatrical fashion, confirming their season-long dominance of BIIF DI.
Division II
Kohala outlasted the underdog Daggers, breaking away from a halftime tie to bring home yet another plaque to Kapa‘au.
Pahoa put up a good fight, outscoring the Cowboys 12-11 in the first quarter and keeping things close to enter the half tied 21-21.
Kohala’s Kauka brothers, senior Landon and sophomore Layden, are two of the isle’s top scorers. The Daggers managed to hold them both to a combined four points during the first half.
“We couldn’t figure out their defense, and what to do against it,” Landon Kauka said. “It was hard, it was a strange defense.”
Meanwhile, Pahoa made plays in and outside of the arc — led by Kyran Canete and Donivan Lynch with seven points each.
The Cowboys found their footing after making some adjustments in the third quarter — full court pressure and forced turnovers.
“We wanted to get through the first half without foul trouble, then get more agressive in the second half,” Kohala head coach Kihei Kapeiliela said. “That was our plan. We didn’t press too much in the first half, we saved it for the second half.”
“We were getting good looks. We know that coming out with our pressure defense in the second half always causes havoc.”
It did cause havoc.
Kohala outscored Pahoa 33-17 during the second half — 19-8 in the third quarter and 14-8 in the fourth. Layden Kauka went on a rampage during the third frame, scoring ten points.
Kauka led the Cowboys with 18 points on the outing — also going four-for-four from the free throw line and notching six steals and two blocks. As a team, Kohala totalled 14 steals, almost all during the second half.
Jayden Hook scored 13 points for the Cowboys.
Kaumualii Gancinia led Pahoa with 12 points, and did not miss a single shot — except for one free throw.
Next, the Cowboys will shift their focus to the DII state crown.
“Physically, we just need to heal up a bit after the tough game against (Pahoa on Friday),” Kapeiliela said. “The boys are ready, they’re hungry. We’ve got about a week and a half. They’re in tip top condition right now, so it’s all about getting mentally ready.”
“I feel confident that we’re able to take care of business out in O‘ahu,” Layden Kauka added. “And so do my teammates, they all feel confident.”
Friday was Pahoa’s first BIIF boys basketball title matchup appearance in nine years. Despite the loss, the Daggers will also get to go to the state championship on O‘ahu — which begins Feb. 22.
Division I
When Hilo and KSH clashed in regular season action two weeks ago, it was a very close matchup — with the Vikings falling just 49-46.
Friday’s BIIF DI championship game looked nothing like that.
The Warriors were on overdrive — effortlessly sinking three-pointers (eight total on the outing), stifling Hilo’s offense and dropping dozens of points on the Vikings — often without answer.
If the game could be summed up in one moment, it would be in the third quarter when Kiai Yasso ally-ooped to Kawohi Huihui for a two-handed dunk.
The tone was set in the first quarter, which KSH closed out with a 23-8 lead. During the opening frame, Kaleb Guerrero led the way for the Warriors with 14 points — including a whopping four three-pointers.
“Our focus for this game was to apply a lot of pressure,” KSH head coach Mea Wong said, “and hopefully wear them out — and I think a lot of their shots were short in the second half. We wanted to pressure them, and we had stronger legs down the stretch and I think that made the difference.”
“It’s not the score, we just wanted to come out with a lot of energy. Kaleb Guerrero started hot, he’s a senior and has been in these moments before. I was really proud to see him open up the game for us in that way.”
From then on, Hilo could never quite catch up — their smallest deficit being at halftime, 34-28.
By the fourth quarter, the game had long since gotten away from Hilo, and both teams put in their younger players.
Huihui led KSH with 25 points. Peyton Pana led Hilo with 21.
Not far behind Huihui were teammates Guerrero and Yasso with 18 points and ten points, respectively.
“It’s such a privilege and an honor to lead these young men in a role where they trust me,” Wong said. “Especially because they work really, really hard. We’re a really good group, we like each other, we have a lot of fun together — I think that’s what makes it special. Any time you get to lead a group of young men to the (BIIF) championship, it’s special.”
The Warriors are setting their sights high for the upcoming state championship. Last year after winning the BIIF title, KSH lost two straight state matches and fell out of the tourney.
This year, the expectations are much higher.
“At the beginning of the year, we reach for the stars,” Wong said. “So our goal is to win a state championship. We work back from there. That’s what we set in the classroom in the beginning of the year — that’s our goal. We gotta play better, we gotta execute more, we gotta be more disciplined — but we’re not going to Honolulu to play games, we’re going to win a state championship.”
