Kealakehe beat Pahoa 70-49 on Tuesday night in Kailua-Kona, setting up a three-team scramble for the final two playoffs spots in the BIIF Division I boys basketball playoffs.
Konawaena is sitting in the clubhouse at 7-5, while the Waveriders and Kamehameha are each 7-4 heading into their regular-season finale Thursday in Kailua-Kona. The winner grabs the third seed in the semifinals, while the loser falls into a play-in game Saturday against the Wildcats.
A Kealakehe-Konawaena matchup would take place at 6 p.m. in Kealakekua – the home team in a play-in game is the one that was the visitor in that matchup previously during the season – while a Wildcats-Warriors encounter would be at 3 p.m. at Kamehameha. The Warriors and Waveriders each beat Konawaena during the regular season.
Waiakea (10-1) locked down the top seed at next week’s BIIF tournament and an automatic berth to HHSAA tournament on Monday night in a 63-37 win against St. Joseph. Hilo (8-3) is the third seed.
In the Division II, the final playoff spot will be determined Friday night when Honokaa (2-9) and Parker (2-9) meet up in Waimea. On Thursday in Waimea, Kohala (10-0) and Hawaii Prep (10-1) will decide the top seed, and each still has a chance at the outright regular season championship. Pahoa (4-7) will be the third seed.
Monday
Hawaii Prep 56, Honokaa 42: KJ Walker scored 18 points at Honokaa Armory and Javan Perez added 10 as Ka Makani rebounded from their first loss, racing away from a 25-21 halftime lead.
Jahsaiah Yoshizumi led the Dragons with 12 points.
Kohala 69, Keaau 51: O’Shen Cazimero scored 27 points as the Cowboys used a big second quarter, outscoring the Cougars 20-9, to pull away on the road to remain the BIIF’s lone unbeaten.
CJ Fung led the Cougars (3-8) with 18 points.
Waiakea 63, St. Joseph 37: Kiai Apele and Keegan Scanlan scored 13 points apiece and Keelen Andres added 12 at UHH gym.
Jayden Villena led all scorers with 16 for the Cardinals (0-11).
Kamehameha 63, Ka’u 41: Izayah Chartrand-Penera scored 13 points as the Warriors eased to a home victory, leading 36-15 at the break.
Kealiikoa Reyes-Nalu scored 10 for the Trojans (2-10), who were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
Konawaena 54, Parker 32: Aldrin Gadot scored 13 points in Kealakekua and Gerald Galiza chipped in nine.
Kai Higgins, Riley Higgins and Riley Reid each had six for the Bulls.
Saturday
Hilo 60, Pahoa 40: Rayson Padilla (12 points) and Kaukahi Alameda (10) helped the host Vikings to a 38-12 halftime lead, which was more than enough to withstand Jaydan Broad-Melander’s big third quarter.
Broad-Melander hit four of his five 3-pointers in the third quarter and finished with 17 points.
Konawaena 70, Honokaa 36: Kainoa Jones led three scorers in double figures with 19 points as the host Wildcats nearly doubled up on the Dragons
Wai’apo Louis had 15 for Konawaena and Kahiau Holzgrove scored 13.
Kuha’o Kane led the Dragons with 13 points and Emery Eberhard collected nine.
Kamehameha 67, Parker 42: Darius Olloway’s 18 points powered the visiting Warriors, who led 41-19 at the half.
Kai Higgins scored 13 for the Bulls.
Keaau 68, St. Joseph 28: Riding Ricardo Blass’ 27-point effort, the Cougars scored 23 in the first quarter and tacked on 26 more in the third at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
Jayden Villena had 11 for the Cardinals.
Friday
Parker 39, Ka’u 32: Behind Kai Higgins (14 points) and Tyler Thomas (10) in Waimea, the Bulls scored the only six points of the first quarter and held for a win that revived their playoff hopes.
Kyson Toriano led the Trojans with 18 points.
Thursday
Honokaa 64, St. Joseph 24: The Dragons used a balanced approach to win at home: Emery Eberhard (14 points), Jahsaiah Yoshizumi (11), Warren Tabucbuc (eight), Chylou Nobriga-Guerpo (eight) and Hans Caronan (seven).
Jayden Villena led all scorers with 15 for the Cardinals.