BY BILL O’REAR | STEPHENS MEDIA ADVERTISING All season long, Kamehameha-Hawaii and Pahoa have had targets on their backs as the defending Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I and II champions, respectively. And both played well enough to earn first-round
BY BILL O’REAR | STEPHENS MEDIA
All season long, Kamehameha-Hawaii and Pahoa have had targets on their backs as the defending Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I and II champions, respectively. And both played well enough to earn first-round byes in the league tournaments.
But that’s all both teams have accomplished, and for the Warriors and Daggers, this year’s BIIF tournaments could be more wide open than ever before. Any of the six teams in each division has a legitimate shot at pulling off a stunner and claiming one of the league’s state-tournament berths.
The BIIF will send two teams to both the Hawaii High School Athletic Association Divisions I and II state boys basketball tournaments Feb. 22-25 on Oahu.
“In both D-I and D-II, it’s going to be interesting this week,” Pahoa coach Marc Saito said. “In girls, you had your clear-cut favorites. But with the boys, you can’t count anyone out. It’s wide open.”
The BIIF’s single-elimination playoffs start Wednesday — and it could be a wild ride with 2,500-plus fans filling Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium for the semifinals and finals on Friday and Saturday nights.
In Division II at 6 p.m. Wednesday, it’s West No. 3 Honokaa (3-7) at East No. 2 St. Joseph (6-6) and East No. 3 Ka’u (2-10) at West No. 2 Kohala 6-4). East No. 1 Pahoa (9-3) and West No. 1 Hawaii Prep (7-3) draw first-round byes.
In Division I at 6 p.m. Wednesday, it’s East No. 3 Waiakea (5-7) at West No. 2 Kealakehe (6-4). At 7:30 p.m. at the Civic following the Honokaa-St. Joseph contest, East No. 4 Keaau (1-11) will battle East No. 2 Hilo (8-4). East No. 1 Kamehameha (11-1) and West No. 1 Konawaena (8-2) draw first-round byes.
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