KEALAKEKUA — Layup, after layup, after layup.
This was the main story of No. 3 Konawaena girls basketball’s 96-4 thrashing over Ka‘u on Wednesday in Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium. The Wildcats were firing on a cylinders, especially through forcing turnovers on the defensive end.
Kona’s quick hands led to an array of steals, often giving the green and white open layups lanes time after time. Star players such as Kaylie Yamasaki, Ki‘ilei Leleiwi and Mikela Salazar-Harrell led this charge.
Thus far this season, the Wildcats are 14-2 overall and unbeaten (8-0) in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF). Ranked No. 3 in the state on MaxPreps, only ‘Iolani (15-3) and Kamehameha-Kapalama (17-4) from O‘ahu are listed ahead of Kona.
Averaging nearly 80 points per game in island play, the Wildcats have four players averaging double figures — Tavina Harris, Kaitea Galletes, Leleiwi and Salazar-Harrell.
Konawaena will next be tested against fellow island powerhouse KS-Hawai‘i — who rosters two 20-plus points-per-game scorers in Keanu Huihui and Maela Honma — at 7 p.m. Monday in Kea‘au. Ka‘u (2-4) next plays Hawaii Prep at 6 p.m. Tuesday at home.
KSH 65, CLA 29
The Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i boys basketball team took care of business across town in Kea‘au, crushing Christian Liberty Academy 65-29 on Wednesday night at CLA.
The Warriors took flight immediately, dropping 26 points in the first quarter as the Canefire eked out eight. Kiai Yasso and Kawohi Huihui combined for 23 of those points — and each sank two three pointers.
CLA outscored KSH 9-8 in the second half, scoring on nothing but three’s — two by Jermaine Cline and another by Gilbert Hauanio.
The Canefire’s run didn’t outlive halftime, as the Warriors returned in the third frame to put up 20 more points while holding CLA to four. KSH closed it out with an 11-8 fourth quarter.
Huihui led the Warriors with sixteen points, 11 of which he scored in the first quarter — Yasso trailed with 12 points, all scored during the opening frame. Ten of KSH’s 11 players were able to score points during Wednesday’s outing.
CLA was led by Cline with 13 points, Jezieh Mahaulu with ten points and Hauanio with eight points. The three of them were the only Canefire players to score points.
Now on a 5-0 BIIF-play roll and sitting atop the BIIF DI standings, KSH’s next outing will be its third (and third-to-last) BIIF DI test. Today, the Warriors will travel to Kealakekua to play against Konawaena High (3-3 BIIF, 4-6 ovr.). JV tipoff will be at 5:30 p.m., varsity will follow.
Now 0-3, the Canefire will look to notch its first win before too far into the season — facing off against Hawai‘i Prep (1-2 BIIF, 1-1 BIIF DII, 1-4 ovr.) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday at home.
KOHALA 57, HILO 21
Kohala High’s girls varsity basketball team breezed past host Hilo High in a 57-21 rout on Wednesday at the Hilo HS gymnasium.
The game got off to a slow start as Kohala established a small, 8-3 lead by the end of the first quarter. By halftime, the Cowgirls’ lead increased to 18-10.
The real action got going during the second half of the game, when Kohala exploded with 21 points in the third quarter and 18 in the fourth — all while holding Hilo to single digits in each frame.
The Cowgirls’ scoring was evenly distributed between their starters. Kalia Marquez led with 11 points — as Mahea Pang, Jayline Salvador and Adriana Soriano each scored ten.
The Vikings were led by Anuhea Ferreira with five points.
Kohala advanced to a 5-2 BIIF play record and and 3-1 BIIF Div.-II record. The Cowgirls’ only DII play loss was dealt by KS-Hawai‘i (6-0), which leads the division. Kohala will next face Kealakehe (1-6) on Monday night in Kapa‘au.
Now 2-5 in BIIF play, 1-1 in BIIF Div.-1 and entering the latter third of their season, the Vikings will also next play the Waveriders. Hilo will travel to Kealakehe on Jan. 12, looking to add another DI win for a better chance reaching the postseason.
JV Score: Kohala wins 52-5. Top scorer was Loryn-Rose Carvalho (Kohala) with 19 points.
KEALAKEHE 39, KEA‘AU 36
Spearheaded by star Demarion Ollaway’s game-high 17 points, Kealakehe boys basketball collected its second BIIF win of the season Wednesday at home in 39-36 fashion, improving to 2-4 on the year.
Landon Cabatbat (six points), Kyle Sales (five points), Estevon Morales (four points), Michael Miller (four points) and Isaac Cho (three points) additionally scored for the Waveriders.
Next up, Kealakehe will have a quick turnaround before playing Honoka‘a at 7 p.m. on the road. Kea‘au (2-4) next plays Kohala at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in King Kamehameha Park Gymnasium.