By the end of this week, BIIF playoff matchups will be set for Division I and Division II boys basketball.
The playoffs will tip off Monday with semifinal matchups held at each high seed — and reach their apex Wednesday with the championship rounds at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Even during the final days of the regular season, teams continue to collect big wins and shift the standings.
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PAHOA 54 – WAIAKEA 50
Pahoa High’s boys varsity basketball ended its senior night with a big victory, defeating Waiakea High 54-50 on Tuesday night in Pahoa.
The Canete brothers — Kyran and Joefrey Trez — led the Daggers with 18 and 13 points, respectively.
The Warriors’ top scorers were Thayden Sweat with 13 points and Josiah Amuimuia with 11 points.
Waiakea was the fourth Div.-I team that Pahoa — which plays in Div.-II — defeated this season. The Daggers also beat Kealakehe High, Kea‘au High and Konawaena High.
With no games left on the regular season, Pahoa finished out at 7-4 — standing at No. 3 in BIIF DII behind No. 1 Kohala High (10-0) and No. 2 Honoka‘a High (7-4). The Daggers and Dragons would be tied for second, but Honoka‘a beat Pahoa earlier this season. The Daggers will enter the BIIF playoffs in the semifinal round on Monday.
Waiakea fell to 5-6, but is still in the hunt for a BIIF DI playoff berth — standing at No. 4 in the league.
The Warriors will cap off the regular season with a Friday night home game against St. Joseph School (0-10).
JV score: Pahoa won 42-38. Pahoa top scorers were Cameron Castillo (9 pts.) and Riquezen Abadilla (8 pts.), William Hopper (8 pts.) and Rysaiah Abadilla (8 pts.). Waiakea top scorers were Jayzen Haigh (10pts.) and Jeff Strong Jr. (9 pts.).
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HONOKA‘A 68 – CLA 39
Honoka‘a High’s boys basketball team bounced back from a two-game skid, routing Christian Liberty Academy 68-39 on Tuesday in Hamakua.
CLA’s Jermaine Cline scored a game high 21 points, trailed by teammate Jeziah Mahaulu with 16 points.
The brothers Tagabi, Mauloa and Kukia, led the Dragons with 14 points each. Honoka‘a moved to 7-4 to maintain its No. 2 standing in BIIF DII.
The Dragons will be back on their home court at 7 p.m. today (JV plays at 5:30 p.m.) to play their final regular season outing, against Konawaena High.
The Canefire (1-8) will also be back in action tonight, playing away at Hilo High for its season finale.
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KSH 69 – KEA‘AU 46
The Kamehameha Schools – Hawai‘i boys varsity basketball team secured bragging rights as Puna’s top team, defeating Kea‘au High 69-46 on Tuesday at the KSH campus.
Four Warriors put up double-digit points — Kawohi Huihui (15 points), Davedon Cabreros (12 points), Raider Diaz-Varize (11 points) and Kalelo Guerrero (ten points).
Jaizaiah Pahinui-Willets led the Cougars with 13 points, scoring ten during the third quarter.
KSH (11-0) will play its regular season capstone on Saturday night at home against Kohala High. The Warriors and Cowboys truly saved the best for last, as they are the only two remaining undefeated boys squads on the isle.
Kea‘au ended its season with a 4-8 record. The Cougars will not qualify for the postseason.
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KOHALA 65 – KEALAKEHE 35
No. 6 Kohala boys basketball collected another Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) win on Tuesday night in the Waveriders’ gymnasium — beating Kealakehe 65-35.
The two teams traded blows in the opening quarter, with the Waveriders keeping pace with the defending state champions’ fast-paced game plan.
However, after an 18-11 first quarter, the Cowboys went on a run, locking in on both sides of the ball and getting out in transition. After a 19-3 second period, Kohala held a comfortable lead.
While the Waveriders showed life again in the fourth, the Cowboys had created too big of a lead to overcome.
Kohala guard Layden Kauka finished with a game-high 22 points and eight rebounds. His sibling teammate, Landon Kauka, dropped 14 points with three 3-pointers made. Jayden Hook also added 11 points with 12 boards.
Layden Kauka continues to lead the Cowboys at a steady 21.8 points per game on the season.
On Kealakehe’s side, Michael Miller finished with eight, with teammates Colby Gomez and Logan Godbey with seven.
At 15-2 overall and 10-0 in island play, the Cowboys have two matchups remaining in the regular season — Hawaii Prep and No. 13 Kamehameha Schools-Hawai‘i. Kohala will next play Ka Makani at 7 p.m. tonight in Kamehameha Park Gymnasium.
The Waveriders (3-10) have no remaining games on their 2023-24 schedule, and will not qualify for the postseason.
