The Hawaii Preparatory Academy girls basketball team is sort of rebuilding again with a bunch of rookie players.
Ka Makani snuck up on everyone last season. They started with a seven-game losing streak and were the last team to qualify for the BIIF Division II playoffs. They beat No. 1 seed Kamehameha 35-24 in the semifinal and Ka’u 38-32 in the title game.
HPA’s title repeat began with a 61-11 loss to Division I Waiakea on Tuesday at the Warriors Gym in the season opener for both teams.
Destynee Williams scored 14 points, and Jazelle Dorser added eight points to lead the Warriors (1-0), who shot 61 percent and had just six turnovers. They emptied their bench, and 12 of the 14 players scored.
Mariah Borce scored five points while Maja Burdova and Ali Wawner had three points each for Ka Makani (0-1), who shot 14 percent from the field and committed 20 turnovers.
Ka Makani went 4 of 29 from the field; they got opportunities but the shots didn’t fall. Waiakea got a ton of extra possessions and buried 25 of 41 from the floor.
Waiakea’s ball pressure stifled HPA and led to easy layups off turnovers in the first half. The Warriors banked in seven layups off giveaways to take a commanding 34-6 halftime lead.
Kyana Brucelas was the BIIF player of the year and fellow sophomore Burdova joined her on the first team. Borce was also named to the first team. Brucelas transferred to Lahainaluna, the longtime MIL powerhouse.
HPA made its first state appearance since 2012 and placed sixth, losing to Waimea 53-14 in the quarterfinals, beating Farrington 47-38 in consolation and falling to University 37-29 for fifth.
Despite the absence of Brucelas, HPA will still be a strong contender for the BIIF title. Kamehameha still has senior guard Nique Pacheco, an All-BIIF first team pick while runner-up Ka’u graduated most of its roster.
“We’ve got a lot of brand new faces who have never played basketball before,” Ka Makani coach Lacey Hester said. “It’s like we’re starting all over again. When we practice against ourselves, we look good. We’ll see what happens.”
Borce, HPA’s senior point guard, had the unpleasant task of running the offense against Waiakea’s Kelsie Imai and a rotation of other pesky defenders. She maintained her poise and didn’t get her pocket picked while dribbling.
“She’s a beast and holds the team up,” Hester said. “Everybody look up at her. She’s a great leader and never gives up.”
At 5 feet 8, Burdova provides a bit of height and length in the post. The sophomore forward will also be an inside scoring presence.
“She’s doing well,” Hester said. “It’s a little bit of a transition playing with a lot of new girls. But it’s been fun. They’ve got great attitudes, and every day they’re making progress.”
There’s also a familiar name on the roster in Wawner, whose dad is Fred Wawner, the HPA boys coach. Her brother Bear Wawner is a sophomore guard on the team.
Next up for Ka Makani is their Tip-off Classic, which runs Thursday through Saturday at Castle Gym and features defending state champion Hawaii Baptist Academy.
HPA plays the Eagles at 2 p.m. Saturday to close the tourney. The ILH squad returns three starters, including leading scorer Alex Dang, who scored 12 points in the 43-39 win over Seabury Hall for the state title.
“We’re excited to play them,” Hester said. “It’ll be a gauge and tell us where we are.”
Also Tuesday, Kohala’s girls beat Christian Liberty 34-30, and in a boys game Pahoa powered past Parker 56-16.
Tip-off Classic
Castle Gym
Thursday
McKinley vs. Keaau, 4:30 p.m.
Hawaii Baptist vs. Kohala, 6 p.m.
Mid-Pacific vs. HPA, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
Kohala vs. Mid-Pacific, 4:30 p.m.
Keaau vs. Hawaii Baptist, 6 p.m.
HPA vs. McKinley, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Mid-Pacific vs. Keaau, 11 a.m.
McKinley vs. Kohala, 12:30 p.m.
Hawaii Baptist vs. HPA, 2 p.m.
