HILO — Ka‘u girls basketball had an impressive road performance against the Lady Vikings on Monday night in Hilo town.
The Lady Trojans won 40-26, moving to 7-4 overall and 5-3 in Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) play. Ka‘u played strong defense from the opening tip, allowing less than 10 points in all four quarters.
Jazmyn Navarro, the Lady Trojans’ leading scorer at nearly 15 points per game in BIIF play, finished with a game-high 17 points. She was the only player on the floor to score 10-or-more points. Navarro’s teammates — Sky Pritchard, Caliyah Silva-Kamei and Angelica Bivings — combined for 18 points.
The 4-10 Lady Vikings were led by Carly Akaka, who scored nine. Teammates Anuhea Ferreira and Madysin Galina combined for 12.
Ka‘u is averaging 40.3 points per game this season while allowing 35.3. The Lady Trojans’ next test won’t come until Jan. 15 against Pahoa inside Ka‘u District Gymnasium. Hilo will also next play Jan. 15, but against Waiakea on the road.
JV: Hilo 27, Ka‘u 21
Kohala 49, Kona 47
Defending Division II state champion Kohala boys basketball had its first real BIIF test of the season Monday night inside King Kamehameha Park Gymnasium.
The Cowboys escaped Konawaena 49-47 to earn their fifth straight win and remain unbeaten in the BIIF.
Kohala went into halftime with a 30-22 lead, but the Wildcats found life in the third quarter — out-scoring the Cowboys 18-4 in the period. Nonetheless, the champs righted the ship in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Kohala guard Isaac Salvador-Libron, the team’s leading scorer in island play at 17 points a game, dropped a game-high 19 points. Teammate Jayden Hook scored 16 to round out the winners’ double-digit scorers.
Dylan Nonaka led Kona with 14 points, followed by Michael Flores with 11. Kolt Baptista also added nine.
The Cowboys moved to 7-5 overall and 5-0 in the BIIF — averaging 67.2 points per game in the BIIF while allowing under 43. Their next test will be against Christian Liberty Academy on Monday in Kea‘au.
The Wildcats fell to 7-9 overall and 4-2 in league play. Averaging 64.5 points per game in the BIIF, the green and white’s next matchup will be against Hilo at 5:30 p.m. tonight inside Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium. Junior varsity will tip off first.
Pahoa 80, SJS 28
Pahoa boys basketball earned its second win of the season with an 80-28 rout of St. Joseph on Monday night in Pahoa town.
The victorious Daggers came out swinging, leading 52-14 at the half. The Cardinals couldn’t recover in the closing two quarters.
Kyran Canete, one of the state’s top scorers at over 25 points per game, tallied 33 points. Teammate Cameron Castillo had 10, while Rysaiah Abadilla added nine.
SJS had no double-figure scorers, but Axel Reid led the way with nine points. Teammate Treysyn Cavalho had five.
Averaging over 58 points per game while allowing 51.2 on the season, Pahoa (2-4) will next take on Parker at 4:30 p.m. this afternoon in Waimea.
The Cardinals (2-3) will host Kealakehe at 6 p.m. Friday at home.
Honoka‘a 83, Laupahoehoe 24
Honoka‘a boys basketball, one of the state’s highest-scoring teams, scored 80-or-more points for the fourth time this season on Monday at Laupahoehoe — blasting the hosting Seasiders 83-24.
Kukia Tagabi, Hawai‘i DII’s second-leading scorer at 27 points per game, reached a game-high 22 points. Teammate David Aiona had 19, while Raven Labrador and Reighn Barrios combined for 23.
The Dragons moved to 6-0 in the BIIF, positioning themselves as one of the isle’s top teams (6-4 overall). They are averaging 78 points per game in league play while allowing under 50. Honoka‘a will have a tall task against Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i this evening, slated to play at 5:30 p.m. in Kea‘au. Junior varsity will play first.
Laupahoehoe (0-7) will host Kealakehe at 6 p.m. Thursday on the Hamakua Coast.
HPA 37, Honoka‘a 24
Hawaii Preparatory Academy girls basketball reached .500 in BIIF play after a 37-24 home win Monday in Waimea.
Ka Makani swingman Rosey Wawner finished with a game-high 14 points, while the Lady Dragons’ Goddess Gonsalves led her team with six.
Averaging 24 points per game on the island, HPA (3-4 overall, 3-3 BIIF) will next match up with BIIF DII powerhouse Kohala at 6 p.m. Saturday in Kapa‘au.
Honoka‘a (4-9 overall, 4-7 BIIF) won’t return to the court until Jan. 3 against the Cowgirls at home.