Konawaena’s boys soccer team picked an opportune time for its best result of the season.
The Wildcats shut out Honokaa 3-0 on Tuesday at the Dragons’ field in the first round of the BIIF Division II playoffs.
Konawaena (5-7), which lost 2-1 at Honokaa during the regular season, now has two chances to reach the HHSAA tournament for the first time since 2013. The preferred route is Thursday’s 3 p.m. semifinal at No. 1 Hawaii Prep, but there also will be a third-place match Feb. 4 for the BIIF’s final berth at the state tournament.
The Dragons (4-7-1) miss the state tournament for the second consecutive season.
Thursday’s other semifinal matches third-seeded Kamehameha and No. 2 Makua Lani in a rematch of last season’s BIIF final, which the Warriors won to earn a repeat.
The Warriors (8-3-1) took care of business Tuesday, ousting Kohala 7-0. Buddy Betts and Poikeao Roback each scored two goals, Logan Waltjen collected a goal and three assists, Ethan Shimabukuro added a goal and an assist and Cuinn Cariaga also scored.
The Lions (8-3) beat Kamehameha 3-1 on the road in the regular season. Makua Lani hasn’t won a BIIF title since 2007.
In Thursday’s Konawaena-HPA match, Ka Makani (8-3) will look to advance to the BIIF final for the seventh consecutive year. They’ve won four consecutive titles, two in D-II and the past two in D-I.
On Jan. 8, HPA beat the Wildcats 5-0 in Waimea.