KEALAKEKUA — Konawaena and Hilo met on the hardcourt Monday evening with much more than a pair of undefeated records and league playoff seedings on the line. The Wildcat girls entered the game with 99 straight wins over BIIF opponents, a streak that started at the beginning of the 2009 season after Konawaena lost to Waiakea in the 2008 league championship game.
As they have done in nearly every game during the streak, the Wildcats (8-0) controlled the contest against the Vikings (8-1) from the beginning, winning 55-30 to pick up win No. 100 in front of a large crowd on Senior Night at Ellison Onizuka Gymnasium.
“I didn’t even think about the streak. We just try to win games every day and get better, but it is pretty cool,” said Konawaena head coach Bobbie Awa. “I have had great girls, great coaches and great parents around me. I cannot take credit for it because there are so many people who help out.”
“Every year we may add something or someone new or take something or someone out, but this is always the same program,” Awa added. “As long as the kids keep believing in the program we will be fine.”
The streak is even more impressive since Konawaena consistently plays with a smaller roster than its opponent. The Wildcats have played several games over the last few years with only five to seven players on the varsity squad. For the past two seasons, Awa has had to cut JV contests late in the year in order to have more players available for the varsity team.
“It was nice to have so many players on the bench tonight,” Awa said. “It was also nice for them to be able to play in front of this crowd, with so many people coming out to support us. I am sure it will be this way against Waiakea on Saturday as well.”
With their small squad, Konawaena has not only had success on the Big Island, but also throughout the state. Since their last league loss, the Wildcats have won five HHSAA Division I championships and finished runner-up twice. They are currently the two-time reigning DI champs.
On Monday, The Wildcats showed why they are still the team to beat this year in the BIIF, despite battling with injuries all season long. Mikayla Tablit, who has stepped up for Konawaena over the past few games, did once again against Hilo, leading the Wildcats with 16 points.
“Mikayla has really been working hard every day and she has taken on a leadership role,” Awa said. “She has really helped push the team.”
Caiyle Kaupu, playing up on varsity, added 11 points for Konawaena. Celena Molina netted eight points, while the other fellow senior, Mahie Kaawa, scored four.
“This was our game of the season,” Molina said.
Molina, who will be joining her sister Chanelle Molina at Washington State next season, added that she hopes her legacy as a Wildcat is that her teammates see how hard she works and that she is a good role model.
As for the game, it was a fundamentally solid one for Konawaena. Behind shut down defense and good ball movement, the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run in the first quarter. Tablit opened the scoring with a 3-pointer, Cherilyn Molina also added a trey and Celena Molina scored on a layup to add to the 8-point run.
By end of the opening frame, the Wildcats were in complete control with a 13-point advantage, with most of the remaining Konawaena points coming off turnovers.
Tablit found her grove midway through the second quarter, hitting three straight shots, a 3-pointer and a pair of layups to put the Wildcats up 31-12. Tablit rolled in one more basket just before the half for her eighth and ninth points of the quarter, putting Konawaena up by 23.
Hilo did not give up in the second half and managed to play the Wildcats pretty evenly for the remaining 16 minutes, but they could not overcome the early deficit.
Leading Hilo in scoring was Sharry Pagan with eight points. Mandi Kawaha followed with seven.
“Hilo is a good team but I thought we played pretty good defense,” Awa said. “This was a big-time team effort.”
Honokaa 61, Keaau 13
Bella Fernandez scored 13 points to lead a balanced attack as the host Dragons clinched the final playoff spot in Division I, eliminating the Cougars from postseason contention.
Ku’i Aikau added 11 points for Honokaa (5-3), Shaleina Bird had 10 and Kawena Kaohimaunu and Azure Tolentino each had nine.
Krya Banasihan led the Cougars (3-6) with seven points.
In JV, Honokaa won 48-16.
Keaau 3 8 0 2 – 13
Honokaa 25 17 14 5–61
Ka’u 37, Hawaii Prep 31
The Trojans (3-6) won at home to clinch a playoff spot.
Boys
Keaau 66, Keaau 50
Patrick Mears put on an scoring exhibition in Kapaau with 37 points – a league-high this season – and the Cougars won their fourth game in a row.
Tzion Carland added 12 points for Keaau (5-2).
Mark Francisco led the Cowboys (1-4) with 13 points and Elijah Antonio had 11.
In JV, Keaau won 52-18.
Keaau 15 23 13 15–66
Kohala 13 18 8 11–50
Honokaa 68, Hilo 40
Kelvin Falk scored 12 points and Koa Callihan chipped in with 10 as the visiting Dragons rebounded from their first loss.
Sheltyn Carvalho and Gene Ansagay each had nine for Division II front-runner Honokaa (5-1), which led 34-20 at the half and allowed only two points in the fourth quarter.
Isaac Liu scored nine points for the Vikings (3-3), who are the only Division I team without a winning record.
Honokaa 17 17 18 16 –68
Hilo 13 7 18 2–40
