BIIF boys basketball: Konawaena powers past Honokaa 72-64

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Konawaena shrugged off another road test against a BIIF boys contender Saturday night, defeating Division II favorite Honokaa 72-64.

Konawaena shrugged off another road test against a BIIF boys contender Saturday night, defeating Division II favorite Honokaa 72-64.

Austin Aukai scored 23 points for the Wildcats, who continue to show why they’re the Division I favorite, handing the Dragons (4-1) their first loss.

Kamakana Ching added 14 points and Hauoli Akau chipped in with 13 for Konawaena (5-0), which previously won on the road at Hilo and Kamehameha.

Kelvin Falk led the Dragons with 21 points and Kamuela Spencer-Herring had 10. Sheltyn Carvalho and Bong Pancho each had eight. Honokaa cut the deficit to 52-50 heading into the fourth quarter.

Konawaena now can look forward to two home games, Friday against Kealakehe and Jan. 23 vs. Pahoa.

Its showdown against defending D-I champion, Waiakea, on Jan. 30 is also at Kealakekua.

The Wildcats won the junior varsity contest 69-46.

Kona 21 12 19 20 –72

Honokaa 15 12 23 14– 64

Keaau 39, Ka’u 38, OT

Patrick Mears and Tzion Carland 10 each scored 10 points, and the Cougars (4-2) won in overtime at their gym for their third consecutive victory.

Joven Padrigo led the Trojans (1-5) with 10 points. Ka’u took a three-point into the fourth quarter but couldn’t close a secure a rare victory against a Division I team.

Keaau’s JV won 56-23.

Ka’u 12 4 8 10 4 – 38

Keaau 11 1 9 13 5 – 39

Kamehameha 69, Kohala 59

Nalu Kahapea scored 17 points in Kapaau, Isaiah Nakoa-Oness added 12 and Isaiah Ignacio had 10 as the Warriors improved to 4-2.

Tied after the first quarter, Kamehameha steadily increased it lead to remain tied for third in the ultra competitive six-team Division I race.

Mark Francisco scored a game-high 25 for the Cowboys (1-3) and Elijah Antonio had 13.

In JV, Kamehameha won 59-35.

KSH 12 17 19 21 –69

Kohala 12 15 15 17–59

Kealakehe 53, Hawaii Prep 51, OT

Every BIIF Division I team is above .500 after the Waveriders (3-2) won at home, dropping Ka Makani to 2-2.

Waiakea 75, Pahoa 41

Calvin Mattos scored 16 points and William Soares added 10 at the Daggers’ gym to keep the Warriors (4-0) undefeated.

Darian Valdez led the Daggers (1-5) with 11 points.

Waiakea 18 23 18 16 –75

Pahoa 14 9 6 12–41

Girls

Honokaa 49, Pahoa 21

Kawena Kaohimaunu (16 points) and Apreal Ansagay (15) each scored in double figures, hitting two 3-pointers apiece, as the visiting Dragons moved to the cusp of clinching a berth in the BIIF semifinals.

For the Daggers (2-6), Raynah Berinobis 10 points and Alyssa Padilla had nine.

In a JV match, Honokaa beat Christian Liberty 36-14.