Cougars, Warriors seal wins

KEA‘AU — After falling to Waiakea earlier in the week, Kea‘au boys basketball got back on track with a 63-29 win over St. Joseph’s on Thursday inside the Cougars’ gymnasium. Kea‘au improved to 2-1 in the early season.

The Cougars’s defense made its mark on the game from the opening tip, as it held the Cardinals to just four points. Kea‘au came out with a new sense of energy to start the second half, outscoring SJS 26-7 to essentially seal the victory.

Jaizaiah Pahinui-Willets finished with a game-high 11 points, continuing his strong season of 12.3 points per night. Cardinals’ swingman Amari Wiedemeir pitched in eight.

Hoping to keep building off this newly-found momentum, the Cougars will next take the floor Monday night against Laupahoehoe at home.

SJS is still in search of win No. 1 this season at 0-2. The Cardinals will seek redemption against Christian Liberty Academy on Tuesday at home.

KSH 39, Ka‘u 35

In a back-and-forth affair between two of the island’s top teams, Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i girls basketball outlasted Ka‘u by a score of 39-35 on Thursday inside Ka‘u District Gymnasium in Pahala.

The Lady Trojans won the opening quarter 13-8, and led at halftime 19-16. However, the Lady Warriors put their foot on the gas in the second half, outscoring Ka‘u 15-5 in the third quarter, which ended up being the difference in the four-point victory.

KSH’s Shailan Benevides finished with a team-high 19 points on three 3-pointers made. Benevides has been the team’s top scorer with an 11.5 points-per-game season average. Running mate Kacie Febo-Santiago added eight points, followed by teammate Melony Urbina with five.

On the Lady Trojans’ side, Jazmyn continued her team-leading scoring campaign with a game-high 23 points on three 3-pointers made. Teammate Sky Pritchard added 11.

Now unbeaten in Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) play at 4-0 (6-3 overall), the Lady Warriors will look to keep their conference streak going against Kea‘au on Thursday at home.

Ka‘u (4-2 overall, 2-1 BIIF) will seek redemption against Waiakea on Thursday in Hilo.

JV: KSH 52, Ka‘u 10

NOTE: Upcoming BIIF basketball games are subject to change