The main event at next weekend’s BIIF girls basketball semifinals is an expected matchup between Hilo and Konawaena, both of which have arguments as top 10 teams in the state.
A Division II matchup between Honokaa and Ka’u won’t garner near the attention, but it offers intrigue as well.
The Dragons, under first-year coach Keisha Kanekoa, are trying to reach the state tournament using just six players.
That would be a feat.
The Trojans, meanwhile, are stronger in numbers but not so much in terms of history. Ka’u is out to get to states for the first time, and Thursday night in Pahala they headed to the postseason on a winning note, coming back to beat Keaau 54-53 in overtime.
“Every game matters,” Ka’u coach Cy Lopez said. “I wanted to win this game to get some momentum.”
Not to mention his nine seniors.
“I think that was the biggest crowd that we’ve had in the gym,” he said. “That was a big help.”
The Trojans’ Kianie Medeiros-Dancel scored 26 points to offset an outstanding effort from Keaau’s Anela Gonsalves-Tremaine, and Alyssa Bivings hit the go-ahead free throw in OT.
Gonsalves-Tremaine scored a season-high 32 points, but the Cougars let a nine-point lead after three quarters slip away – and the last of their playoff hopes went with it.
“She was knocking down shots all night,” Lopez said of the Cougars sophomore.
Reishalyn Jara added 17 points for Ka’u (4-6), which outscored the Cougars (4-5) 16-7 in the fourth quarter.
“We stopped taking outside shots and we kept driving the lane,” Lopez said. “Some crucial layups from Reisha, that kind of brought us closer inch by inch late in the game.
Overtime was a low-scoring affair.
Medeiros-Dancel’s two free throws late put the Trojans up by two, but Gonsalves-Tremaine answered with a basket to tie the game.
After a timeout, Ka’u missed its first two shots, but Bivings grabbed the second rebound and made the second of her two free throws with six seconds left. The Trojans’ denied Gonsalves-Tremaine’s last-ditch effort on the other end, and they have a week to prepare for the Dragons (4-5) in the semifinals, which are Jan. 25 at Konawaena.
Honokaa beat Ka’u 49-45 on Jan. 7 at the Dragons’ court, where ball security was an issue, Lopez said.
“I think we have to take care of the ball more, stop throwing away passes,” he said. “Less dribbling, and get rid of the ball, and I think we can do it.”
Keaau has lost twice this week by a combined three points – despite 52 points from Gonsalves-Tremaine – and was eliminated from Division I playoff contention Friday when Kealakehe beat Kohala on Friday at home in a game that ended after the Tribune-Herald’s deadline.
Konawaena 75, Honokaa 13: Kaliana Salazar-Harrell tallied 24 points and Caiyle Kaupu chipped in 20 in Kealakekua as the Wildcats bounced back from their first BIIF loss in almost 10 years.
If Waiakea (8-1) beats Keaau as expected Tuesday to grab the top seed, the Wildcats (9-1) are destined to face Hilo (9-1) in a Division I semifinal.
Kaena Tagabi led the Dragons (4-5) with eight points.
Honokaa’s loss clinched an automatic state berth for Kamehameha (6-4) in D-II.
In the semifinals, the Warriors likely will face Hawaii Prep (2-8), which used a big effort from Kyana Brucelas to get its second win. HPA will be the No. 4 seed unless Kohala (1-8) wins Tuesday at Honokaa to force a play-in game.