When Kamehameha takes on Konawaena, it’s usually a clash of title contenders, and that doesn’t change on the bowling alley.
In this case, Saturday’s BIIF season-opener at KBXtreme in Kailua-Kona, the Wildcats had the upper hand, and while coach Clyde Takafuji had to be pleased, he cautioned it was too soon to draw any conclusions.
Konawaena featured more high-level bowlers, but the Warriors’ Brandyn Lee-Lehano was the most consistent performer, rolling four games of 200 or more.
“I honestly think it’s going to come down to Kamehameha and Konawaena,” Warriors coach Ricky Torres said. “Brandyn, he has the potential to win BIIFs if he can keep his emotions in check.”
Lee-Lehano and Konawaena’s Torin Savella tied for high-game on Saturday with 223s, and they also were the high BIIF men at the 2014 HHSAA championships.
“That’s what he’s capable of,” Takafuji said of Savella. “Very teachable and listens well. I’ve been looking at Torin and Tresen Arakaki as contenders to be sure.”
Arakaki was the BIIF runner-up last season, and Konawaena’s depth allowed it to beat Kamehameha on Saturday even without Savella rolling his best game. On the day for the Wildcats, Arakaki, Connor Harrington and Chad Galiza each reached the 190s.
Of the defending champion Wildcats’ eight bowlers, four are returnees, but Torres took heart that Kamehameha was able to win one of three games despite not be able to fill five slots – at least not yet.
He was unsure if defending champion Seth Yamaguchi was going to bowl this season, though Alton Penrose and Kalai Pomroy return to with bring experience for Kamehameha.
“Ka’u is going to be the spoiler,” Torres said.
While the Trojans boast depth for the second consecutive season, including Travis Taylor, Kealakehe returns two bowlers. The Waveriders’ Kawika Pierson was solid with a 190 and a 186 on Saturday.
For the second consecutive season league bowling will be held exclusively at KBXtreme, and each team will play one another twice to determine the team titles. The individual championships are Oct. 17.
Seeking to win another girls title, freshmen-laden Kealakehe must replace individual champion Desiree Ichishita and will look for leadership from junior Rose Stephenson, who had a 155 on Saturday.
“She inspires the other girls,” first-year coach Loreena Ganeko.
Ganeko’s roster of 10 would make many coaches envious, and Kara Nishida is among the underclassmen to watch.
“If the girls want to win a team title, they’ll have to want it and go out and take it,” Ganeko said. “It won’t be anything the coaches do.”
With the demise of Hilo Lanes, Waiakea isn’t competing again and Hilo’s numbers are depleted for the second year in a row.
Vikings can’t compete for the team title, but coach Damien Chow sees two contenders in Skyler Crivello and Blake Fukunaga. Crivello’s 159 was the best score on the girls side Saturday, just edging out Konawaena’s Mikki Fujimoto, who rolled a 158 and a 145.
Chow pointed out that it was more expensive for his bowlers to practice at Hilo Lanes two years ago than it is now at KMC Bowling in Volcano.
When the Vikings aren’t making the trip to KMC, they practice either in the gym or the classroom.
“As long as there are kids that want to learn and the school wants me to coach, I’ll be there,” Chow said.
Save for Yamaguchi’s title last season, the West Hawaii schools used their knowledge of KBXtreme to their advantage.
“We had a great turnout from parents and onlookers,” Takafuji said of the opener. “In any athletic sport, that’s going to help the performance.”
Sept. 12
At KBXtreme Bowling Center
Morning matches:
Boys
Keaau def. Hilo 3-0
Keaau high games: Eric Arnold 143, Ian Brown 134, 132
Hilo high games: Austin Kumiji-Uyetake: 109
Konawaena def. KS-Hawaii 2-1
Konawaena high games: Connor Harrington 200, Tresen Arakaki 193, Torin Savella 168
Kamehameha high games: Brandyn Lee-Lehano 223, 211, Alton Penrose Jr 186, Kalai Pomroy 157
Kealakehe def. Ka‘u 3-0
Kealakehe high games: Kawika Pierson 186, Trey Tabil 140, Beejay Ramiro 133
Kau high games: Travis Taylor 183, Titan Ault 118, Jay-Rabalos 112
Girls
Hilo def. Keaau 3-0
Hilo high games: Skyler Crivello 151, Healani Macanas 96
Keaau: no bowlers
KS-Hawaii def. Konawaena 3-0
Kamehameha high games: Kanani Cook 146, Jayla Alonzo-Estrada 132, Kaila Ambrosio 130
Konawaena high games: Mikki Fujimoto 158, 131, Kiara Thompson 129, Lily Frazier 98
Kealakehe def. Ka‘u 3-0
Kealakehe high games: Kara Nishida 144, Rose Stephenson 134, Alison Ackerman 124
Kau high games: Maricar Jane Manantan 86, Charisma Felipe 61
Afternoon matches
Girls
Hilo def. Ka‘u 3-0
Hilo high games: Skyler Crivello 159, Healani Macanas 117
Kau high games: Maricar Jane Manantan 84, Charisma Felipe 78
Kealakehe def. KS-Hawaii 2-1
Kealakehe high games: Rose Stephenson 155, Kara Nishida 150, Leilani Friers 129
Kamehameha high games: Jayla Alonzo-Estrada 152, Kanani Cook: 139, Ashley Midel 136 Kaleo Nicholas: 135
Konawaena def. Keaau 3-0
Konawaena high games: Mikki Fujimoto 145, Kiara Thompson 131, Lily Frazier 108
Keaau: no bowlers
Boys
Ka‘u def. Hilo 3-0
Kau high games: Titan Ault 151, Travis Taylor 115, Mark Galacio: 105
Hilo high games: Austin Kumiji-Uyetake 103
Kealakehe ties KS-Hawaii 1.5-1.5
Kealakehe high games: Kawika Pierson 190, Trey Tabil 149, Beejay Ramiro 111
Kamehameha high games: Brandyn Lee-Lehano: 211, 200, Alton Penrose Jr. 189, Kalai Pomroy 143
Konawaena def. Keaau 3-0
Konawaena high games: Torin Savella 223, Chad Galiza 208, Tresen Arakaki 184
Keaau high games: Erik Arnold 176, 172, Ian Bowman 169
