It has become apparent this season that if Konawaena wants a challenge, the team will probably have to travel off island, if not out of the state.
It has become apparent this season that if Konawaena wants a challenge, the team will probably have to travel off island, if not out of the state.
The No. 7 national ranked Wildcats got that challenge in the first game of the National Title IX Conference & Classic tournament on Monday in Washington, D.C., falling to Forestville (Maryland) Military Academy 60-54.
The loss was the first of the year for the Konawaena girls despite strong performances from Chanelle and Cherilyn Molina. Chanelle Molina led the Wildcats with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Cherilyn Molina added 15 points.
“We played a very good and well coached team tonight in FMA,” said Konawaena head coach Bobbie Awa. “They pressed us from the beginning and shot the ball at a very high percentage.”
Awa added that fouls got the best of her team in the first half. FMA went 9-of-16 from the line overall, while Konawaena was 1-for-5.
The Wildcats have not had much competition heading into the Title IX tournament.
In two BIIF games this season, Konawaena has outscored its opponents 182-19 — albeit against Division II squads Pahoa and Ka‘u.
But the Wildcats (11-1) already have wins piled up against various Hawaii schools, including Punahou, Iolani and Lahainaluna — the team they knocked off in last year’s Division I state title game. Konawaena also knocked off South Medford (Oregon) and Bishop O’Dowd (California) on the way to a title at the Iolani Classic earlier this month.