KEAAU – It’s been a bumpy ride for Kamehameha and Konawaena, the perennial BIIF Division I l title contenders accustomed to smooth sailing and HHSAA appearances.
The defending BIIF champion Warriors have had difficulty defending dribble-penetration. Kohala’s sensational freshman O’Shen Cazimero dropped in a late layup for a 50-48 win. Keaau slasher Patrick Mears bolted to the rim, drew a foul and sank two free throws for a 60-59 victory.
The Wildcats, who have been the BIIF runner-up the last three years, couldn’t lock down on defense and lost to Division II foes Parker and Ka’u and have a formidable slate of foes left: Keaau, Kohala, Waiakea and Kealakehe.
In what could be classified as a must-win for a playoff spot, Konawaena defeated Konawaena 55-46 on Saturday night at Koaia gym.
The Warriors (2-5) went backward in their fight for the No. 4 seed in the four-team BIIF playoffs. They’ve got unbeaten Hawaii Prep and upset-minded Honokaa, Pahoa, St. Joseph, and Parker left on their schedule.
With the win, the Wildcats (5-3) strengthened their hold on the No. 3 seed in the four-team BIIF playoffs.
Ethan Neru scored 22 points, including three 3-pointers, and Quinten Hanato added eight points for the Wildcats, who shot 47 percent, including 7 of 11 from 3-point range.
Kaupena Yasso scored nine points, hitting three long balls, and Koby Tabuyo-Kahele added eight points for the Warriors, who converted 30 percent, including 6 of 16 from beyond the arc.
Neither team took advantage of free points. Kona made just 11 of 26 free throws while Kamehameha went just 10 of 21 from the line.
Neru caught fire early, knocking down three 3-pointer in the first quarter to stake Konawaena to a 27-24 halftime lead that featured an array of long balls. Aldrin Gadot added two 3-pointers. The Warriors sank four 3-pointers; Yasso had a pair while Izayah Chartrand-Penera, and Micah Low swished one each.
Both teams kept trading runs in the first half. Kamehameha closed the first quarter with a 9-0 spurt, capped by Low’s 3-ball for an 18-11 lead.
In the second quarter, Gadot canned back-to-back 3-pointer during a 14-0 run, capped by a putback by Neru.
Yasso answered with his second long ball to cut Kona’s lead to 25-24. Right before halftime, Elisha Martin sank a pair of free throw to give the Wildcats a three-point lead.
To start the third period, Quinten Hanato drilled a pair of 3-pointers to boost Kona’a lead to 33-27. It was low-scoring eight minutes with both teams scoring just nine points.
But Kona carried a 36-33 lead into the final eight minutes.
In the JV game, it was Konawaena 38, Kamehameha 35.