One of the biggest questions entering 2019 is the same one that loomed at the beginning of last year.
Will Konawaena’s girls basketball team ever lose on the Big Island again?
The Wildcats’ BIIF streak stands at an absurd 123 games, and 10 seasons, and counting. Konawaena’s streak already survived one scare, at home against Hilo, and the Wildcats are primed to face another test Jan. 10 at Waiakea.
However, before we look ahead too far, let’s look back.
Here are the Tribune-Herald’s top 10 stories from 2018:
1. Big Island basketball title wave.
For the third time since 2007, Konawaena and Kamehameha swept the titles at the HHSAA girls basketball championships.
Been there, done that, but there were many unique attributes to these February title runs.
For one, Wildcats were actually an underdog, but only in theory, as it turned out.
The Molina Dynasty ended with Cherilyn easily leading Konawaena past top-seeded Maryknoll in the Division I title game, giving the Wildcats their fourth consecutive state crown and ninth overall.
In Division II, the Warriors claimed their fifth state crown, their first since 2013.
In a 41-32 victory against Saint Francis, seniors Saydee Aganus, Jordyn Mantz, McKenzie Kalawaia and Taylor Sullivan shrugged off the disappointment of consecutive runner-up finishes.
2. Kamehameha football doesn’t forfeit a championship.
All’s well that ends well, but there were some confusing moments en route to Kamehameha winning its first BIIF Division II football title since 2014.
Adamant that protecting his player’s safety was Job No. 1, Warriors coach Dan Lyons decided to forfeit his team’s regular-season finale against Hilo after Kamehameha had apparently wrapped up home-field advantage against Konawaena in the D-II title game.
One problem, according to the BIIF procedures and bylaws, the forfeit overrode the head-to-head tiebreaker Kamehameha held against the Wildcats. For a few days, it wasn’t clear how the regular season would finish, but in the end the Wildcats beat Kealakehe to claim home-field as the Warriors sat.
After all was said and done, Kamehameha hit the road and beat Konawaena on the road for the second time, 27-22 in October.
The Warriors lost a tight state first-round game at home to Kaimuki.
3. Hilo football reloads … again
The Vikings found a new strategic way to win, spreading the ball through the air and watching their trio of receivers Fiki Aguiar, Guyson Ogata, and Kalae Akui go to work.
Hilo overwhelmed the league again and won its sixth consecutive BIIF Division I championship and reached the HHSAA state title game for the second straight year.
At Aloha Stadium, the Vikings met a Waipahu squad that held a size advantage, ran for 255 yards and racked up 11 sacks en route to a 42-22 romp.
That left a sour taste in their mouths but motivation for next season.
Hilo returns its top players on offense and defense in Aguiar and linebacker Kalen White and a determination to keep their winning tradition going.
4. Waimea soccer town, Hawaii
Hawaii Prep’s soccer teams both win state championships for the second year in a row, and the boys program does more than its share of heaving lifting in its first year in Division I.
Here was one of the oddities of 2018: Yes, there can be co-state champions.
In the boys championship match, Maui’s Baldwin and Ka Makani played through 80-plus minutes of regulation and stoppage time. With the match in a weather delay and with the lightning showing no signs of relenting– both teams had to fly home from Oahu the next day – it’s decided that the HPA and Baldwin will share the honor of becoming the first outer-island soccer programs in the 44-year history of the D-I state tournament to claim a title.
Meanwhile, HPA’s girls make up for a penalty kick loss to Kamehameha in the BIIF title game, beating the Warriors 3-2 in the state Division II final in February for their fifth consecutive title.
Oh yeah, Kamehameha’s boys won their first state Division II title, extending the BIIF’s supremacy in that class.
5. Cashing in
From upstart freshman to unassuming sophomore to dominant upperclassman, there was only one Sophia Cash.
The Honokaa senior became the first four-time champion in BIIF cross-country history – the championships date back to 1972 – pulling away early to end any thoughts of drama.
Afterward, it was a coronation for Cash.
“I guess it shows no matter what the circumstances are, you can achieve your goals if your really, really work at it,” Cash said in October after running personal-best of 21 minutes, 52.33 seconds for 5K course at Hawaii Prep.
6. Kamehameha’s golden girl
After going 6 for 6 at the BIIF track and field championships, Kamehameha’s Chenoa Frederick clearly showed she belonged with the elite at the HHSAA finals in May, collecting three gold medals.
Here’s the mark of a champion: Frederick doesn’t reach her best in the triple jump, but she still finishes 31 inches clear of the rest of the field. She adds gold in the triple jump and blazed to victory in the 100.
There’s decent chance Frederick is on this list next season – she’s just a junior.
Also, a shout-out to Konawaena’s Josiah Vallez, who took gold in the 800.
7. Vulcan revival
Looking back, signs pointed to a resurgence for UHH’s volleyball program in the spring when the Vulcans claimed the women’s AA title at the Haile tournament for the first time.
A few months later, the underclassmen-laden Vuls not only earned their first winning season since 2011, but they also contented for a postseason berth, playing several big home matches as the hint of a big-game atmosphere returned to UHH gym.
The Vuls’ playoff chances ended with a five-set loss at Chaminade on the final day of the regular season in November but best days appear to be ahead for Gene Krieger’s program.
Also, the women’s tennis team reached the NCAA national championships.
8. Puna power
Puna continued its medium-sized club dynasty at the HCRA championships, winning its fourth straight Division AAA (13-20 events) title.
Green Pride has also been the dominant club on the Big Island with four consecutive Aunty Maile Mauhili/Moku o Hawaii crowns.
At states, Puna scored three golds: women novice A (first or second-year paddlers), men novice A, and men 50, which finished the season unbeaten.
9. Bailey and pals
Konawaena’s Kapoina Bailey took home a double-double with state gold for wrestling and judo. Kealakehe’s Roxie Umu and Waiakea’s LiAnn Yamamoto also won state judo gold.
Yamamoto also joined an elite club with four BIIF golds and a state gold in judo.
10. Unexpected titles
The Kealakehe boys volleyball team has captured a BIIF championship before, their last in 2003. But history tagged the Waveriders as long shots because someone from the power trio of Kamehameha, Waiakea, or Hilo usually wins it.
But behind the rocket-powered right arm of Anthony Trevino, Kealakehe beat four-time defending champion Kamehameha to win the BIIF crown.
The Kohala girls were a bigger darkhorse. The Cowgirls have never won a BIIF title, let alone reached the title match.
But Kohala upset four-time defending BIIF champion Konawaena to earn their first title.