BOYS: KSH 68 – PAHOA 45
The Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i boys varsity basketball team defeated Pahoa High 68-45 on Monday night in Kea‘au.
The win kept KSH undefeated at 9-0 — and undefeated in Puna, as Pahoa was the second school in the district to fall to KSH after Christian Liberty.
The Warriors dominated the first three quarters — outscoring Pahoa 13-4, 17-11 and 23-14, respectively.
Kawohi Huihui led KSH with 20 points, sinking six of eight free throw attempts. The Warriors’ Raider Diaz-Varize hit four three-pointers during the third quarter to total 12 points on the outing. Justin Ondo also scored 12 points for KSH, and teammate Kiai Yasso scored ten.
As a team, KSH hit 16 of 19 free throws (84.2%).
Pahoa was led by Kyran Canete with 17 points.
Despite such an excellent record, the Warriors still have not secured the No. 1 seed in BIIF Div.-I. KSH’s most important outing of the season is slated for Saturday in Hilo, against the Vikings (8-1). If Hilo wins, it could nab the No. 1 seed.
The Warriors also have one final DI outing after that, Jan. 30 against Kea‘au High (3-7).
KSH’s senior night and final regular season outing will be Feb. 3 at home against defending DII state champion Kohala High (7-0).
The Daggers (6-4) will get to rest for most of the week, retuning to action Saturday in Puna for a road match at Christian Liberty (1-7).
Pahoa will play its last regular season game on Jan. 30 at Waiakea High. Monday was the Daggers’ second straight loss, dropping them to 6-4 and from No. 2 to No. 3 in the BIIF DII standings. With No. 4 HPA (4-5) creeping up, Pahoa will need to win both games to secure a favorable seed.
BOYS: CLA 53 – SJS 46
Jeziah Mahaulu put up 32 points to lead Christian Liberty Academy’s boys basketball team to its first win of the season, 53-46 over St. Joseph School on Monday night in Kea‘au.
Both teams entered the matchup with zero wins on their record and few outings remaining on the season.
SJS’ Koen De La Cruz had one of his best outings of the season, if not the best, leading the Cardinals with 17 points. CLA’s Jermaine Cline put up 15 points, and SJS point guard Amari Wiedemeier scored 13 points.
The Canefire (1-7) will have a few days to relish the win before returning to business, ending the season with three matchups against robust opponents — starting with Pahoa High on Saturday at home. CLA will end the season on the road at Honoka‘a High (Jan. 30) and Hilo High (Feb. 1).
SJS (0-10) will play away at Waiakea High on Friday, then end its season Feb. 1 in Hilo against Ka‘u High.
BOYS: KEALAKEHE 66 – KA‘U 61 OT
Ka‘u High’s boys basketball team defeated its first DI team of the season, triumphing over Kealakehe High 66-61 in overtime to win its senior night on Saturday in Pahala.
It was a joyous win for the Trojans, who entered the matchup on a six-game losing streak.
Ka‘u (3-7) will wrap things up with a pair of road outings, Saturday at Kohala High and Feb. 1 against St. Joseph in Hilo.
Kealakehe fell to 3-7 in its second loss of the week.
On Thursday, the Waveriders will host their final regular season outing — taking on HPA (4-5).
Standing at No. 5 in BIIF DI behind No. 4 Waiakea High (5-4), the ‘Riders have little chance of receiving a BIIF playoff berth. Even if Kealakehe wins its next matchup, it will have to rely on other DI teams to lose their remaining games in order to pass through the bubble.
GIRLS: HILO 38 – 36 KA‘U
Hilo High’s girls varsity basketball team narrowly overcame Ka‘u High, winning by a slim 38-36 on Saturday afternoon in Pahala.
The Vikings’ record improved to 4-7, keeping them in contention for next Monday’s BIIF DI semifinals. Hilo will cap off its regular season today with a road test at Konawaena High (10-1), BIIF DI’s top team. The Wildcats are also ranked No. 4 statewide in this week’s ScoringLive poll.
The Trojans (2-8) will end their season Thursday on the road at Honoka‘a High (5-5). Standing at No. 7 in BIIF DII, Ka‘u will not be able to qualify for the post season, even if it defeats the Dragons. Honoka‘a will be looking to dominate its senior night and bolster its record, as it is barely in the hunt for BIIFs at No. 4 in DII — trailed closely by Pahoa High (4-6).
BOYS: HPA 38 – KEA‘AU 32
Kea‘au High’s boys varsity basketball teams kept close during all four quarters, but ultimately fell 38-32 to visitor Hawaii Prep on Saturday in Puna.
Ka Makani made its biggest statement in the opening frame, outscoring the Cougars 15-10. Kea‘au would continue to fall just short of catching up — lagging 5-4 in the second quarter and 9-7 in the third.
The Cougars finally outscored HPA in the final frame, 11-9, but were never able to erase their full deficit.
Thayne Nakoa scored a game high 12 points to lead Kea‘au. HPA was led by Ian Caldwell and Cam Root with nine points each.
The Cougars fell to 3-7, unable to exit BIIF DI’s bottom standing. With the playoffs out of reach and two tough tests remaining, Kea‘au will look to make an impact before curtain call.
At 7 p.m. on Friday, the Cougars will host Honoka‘a High for senior night. Kea‘au will end its season across the village with its final DI matchup, Jan. 30 at KS-Hawai‘i (9-0).
Still in the playoff hunt at 4-5, and standing at No. 4 in BIIF DII, HPA will hit the road for its final two games — Thursday at Kealakehe and Feb. 1 at Kohala High.
BOYS: HONOKA‘A 71 – PAHOA 66
Honoka‘a High’s boys varsity basketball team best Pahoa High, winning 71-66 on Saturday in Honoka‘a.
With the win, the Dragons moved to 6-2 and snagged the No. 2 standing in BIIF DII away from the Daggers.
David Aiona and Kukia Tagabi led Honoka‘a with 18 points each. Mauloa Tagai scored 13.
GIRLS: HPA 50 – CLA 13
Hawaii Prep’s girls basketball team made quick work of a road trip, crushing CLA 50-13 on Monday in Kea‘au.
Brooke Samura, the state’s top scorer, led Ka Makani with 25 points.
Now 8-3 and contending for the No. 2 seed in the BIIF DII playoffs, HPA will close out the regular season on Friday with a crucial test — against Kohala High (7-3), which could snatch the No. 2 seed if it beats Ka Makani.
CLA’s record fell to 0-10, and one chance remains for the Canefire to get a win — 6 p.m. Thursday night down the road at Kea‘au High (3-7).
KOHALA 61 – PARKER 26
Kohala girls basketball earned its seventh BIIF win of the season Monday night against Parker — handling the Bulls 61-26 in Kamehameha Park Gymnasium in Kapaau.
The Cowgirls won every quarter of action, including a 26-3 onslaught in the third.
Kohala’s top scorer Mahea Pang tied a game-high 19 points, followed by teammates Camille Fuertes and Kalia Marquez dropping 10 and eight points, respectively.
Adalyn Ballard highlighted Parker with 19, continuing to lead the team at nearly 11 points per game on the season.
Fighting for a top-two spot in the finalized Division II standings, the Cowgirls (9-4 overall, 7-3 BIIF) will next play Hawaii Prep at 6 p.m. Friday in their final regular season game of 2023-24. Tipoff will take place in Ka Makani’s Castle Gym.
Parker (3-7) next plays Christian Liberty at 5 p.m. Saturday on the road.