The Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) winter season continued Thursday across the isle and on O‘ahu for regular season and state tournament action for basketball and soccer. See the paper early next week for updates.
See Page 2B for the full schedule of this weekend’s island playoff matchups.
Basketball: Kona 49, Mililani 29
Second-seeded Konawaena girls basketball got off to a strong start to the HHSAA Girls Basketball Division I Tournament on Thursday, routing Mililani 49-29 at Damien High School to advance to the semifinals against Iolani.
The Lady Wildcats played aggressive defense all night, holding the Lady Trojans to under 10 points in three of the four quarters. Kona swiped for 19 steals. It was the 13th time this season the green and white have allowed 30-or-less points, adding to its season average of allowing 27.3 points per game overall (13.1 BIIF).
Lady Wildcats star Haikela Hiraishi scored a team-high 10 points, followed by Caysea Kaupu and Kiilei Leleiwi with eight points each.
Kona averages 64.6 points per game this season.
Mililani had one scorer in double digits, Zennalenn Nelson, who scored 11. Teammate Akemi Kawamata had five. The Lady Trojans were sent to the consolation bracket, where they are slated to take on No. 3 Kahuku. They dropped to 18-8 overall, averaging 52.6 points per game while allowing 42.4.
The Lady Wildcats moved to 22-3 overall, and had an opportunity to get vengeance on the Lady Raiders on Friday, who beat them 65-27 in a non-conference matchup on Nov. 16, 2024.
See the paper early next week to read up on how Kona finished the state tournament.
Kohala 53, Lanai 34
Fourth-seeded Kohala girls basketball beat Lanai 53-34 in the quarterfinal round of the HHSAA DII tournament on Thursday at Kalani High School. The Cowgirls advanced to Friday night’s semifinals against No. 1 Hanalani.
Kohala leaned heavily on its defense once again, logging for 20 steals. Ilima Napoleon led this charge with six of them. The black and gold allow just 28.3 points per game.
Offensively, the 18-3 Cowgirls were sound — led by Kalia Marquez with 15 points and Chawai Dunhour with 13. It was the 11th time Kohala has scored 50-or-more points this season, averaging 51.2 points per game.
The Lady Pine Lasses fell to 18-5 overall this season, moving to the consolation bracket to play the Big Island’s very own Kamehameha Hawai‘i in Friday night’s semifinals. Their 13-game win streak was snapped by the Cowgirls, but Destinee Dupree led the team with a game-high 17 points and seven rebounds. No other Lanai player scored more than five points.
The Lady Pine Lasses average 45.4 points per game while allowing 27.7.
Kohala and Hanalani will match up for the first time this season for a ticket to the state title game. See the paper next week to read on how the Cowgirls finished the tournament.
Hanalani 63, KSH 19
KSH girls basketball was knocked out of the DII state tournament bracket after being routed in the quarterfinals by Hanalani on Thursday at Kalani High School, falling 63-19. It was the Lady Warriors’ biggest loss of the season.
The Lady Royals got off to a blistering start to the night, out-scoring KSH 26-5 in the opening eight minutes — which set the tone for the remainder of the evening. The winners were ruthless defensively, swiping for 16 steals.
Hanalani star Ellana Klemp scored a game-high 26 points to go along with six rebounds and four steals. Teammate Jayda Okuhara added 11 points, while Pihaeu Akiona and Tamilyn Celestino pitched in eight points apiece.
KSH had no players in double-digit scoring, but Kacie Feebo-Santiago led the way with nine points. Melony Urbina added five. The Lady Warriors fell to 15-7 overall, and additionally played Lanai in the consolation semifinals on Friday. See next week’s paper to read up on how KSH finished the tournament.
The Lady Warriors average 41.8 points per game while allowing 34.2.
Hanalani, who improved to 17-1 overall, faced Kohala in Friday’s semifinals.
Pahoa 49, Molokai 35
Pahoa girls basketball beat Molokai in Thursday’s consolation matchup, winning 49-35 to improve to 12-4 overall on the season. The Lady Farmers fell to 12-4.
The paper was unable to locate a box score for this matchup. The Lady Daggers average 44.3 points per game while allowing 32.9. Sophia Moniz leads Pahoa at 16 points per game.
Molokai finishes the season averaging 35.6 points per game while allowing 25.4. Leila Hooper-Phifer led the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game.
The Daggers will face Castle in the 10th place championship game today. See next week’s paper for more.
Kohala 58, Kea‘au 24
Kohala boys basketball ended its regular-season slate winning its sixth straight game — routing Kea‘au 58-24 on Thursday on the road. The Cowboys earned the third seed in the BIIF DII tournament, and will face No. 6 Parker in the quarterfinals tonight.
Jayden Hook led Kohala with 17 points, followed by Layden Kauka with 13. Kauka recently made his return to the Cowboys after spending the majority of his junior season at Utah Prep. Kohala (14-7 overall, 12-2 BIIF) averages nearly 64 points per game in the conference while allowing 39.9.
Jaizaiah Pahinui-Willets led the Cougars with nine points. Kea‘au did not qualify for the island DI playoffs after losing its eighth straight, and ends its season at 5-9 overall. Pahinui-Willets led the group in scoring at 12 points per game. The Cougars averaged nearly 47 points per night in 2024-25.
See the paper next week to read up on how Kohala performed over the weekend in the DII playoffs.
KSH 58, HPA 46
KSH boys basketball won its final game of the regular season against HPA on Thursday at home, winning 58-46 to snap Ka Makani’s 12-game win streak and earn the No. 1 seed in the BIIF DI playoffs. Despite the loss, HPA will be the No. 1 seed in the DII tournament, set to play Monday.
Warriors swingman Kiai Yasso finished with a team-high 19 points with four 3-pointers made. Kaikuakea Kahana-Rowe added 14 points, while teammates Clay Ching and Kawohi Huihui combined for 17.
KSH improved to 18-3 overall and 13-1 in the BIIF. The Warriors score an average of 69.6 points per game while allowing 37.6 in island play.
Ka Makani was led by Vander Eberhard, who scored 19. Teammate Kingdon Simmons logged 10. HPA fell to 18-6 overall and 12-2 in league play. The red and white average 61.1 points per game while allowing 40.8.
KSH will host fourth-seeded Hilo on Monday in the DI semifinals in Kea‘au.
Honoka‘a 99, SJS 57
Honoka‘a boys basketball earned the No. 2 seed in the BIIF DII tournament after a 99-57 rout over St. Joseph’s late Thursday night in Honoka‘a town. The winning Dragons improved to 12-6 overall and 12-2 in the BIIF, while the Cardinals dropped to 2-12 — failing to qualify for the DII tournament.
Honoka‘a star Kukia Tagabi tied his season high of 37 points in the win, followed by David Aiona with 28. Reighn Barrios added 11. In the BIIF, the Dragons average 73.1 points per game while allowing 53.6.
SJS was led by Amari Wiedemeier with 18 points, while teammate Koen De La Cruz logged 16. SJS finished the season averaging 31.4 points per game.
Honoka‘a will host the winner of No. 6 Parker and No. 3 Kohala on Monday in the DII semifinals. The Dragons earned a quarterfinals bye after securing a top-two seed.
Soccer: KSH 2, Kalaheo 0
First-seeded KSH boys soccer got off on the right foot during Thursday’s HHSAA DII quarterfinals against Kalaheo, blanking the Mustangs 2-0 to advance to Friday’s semifinal match against No. 4 Seabury Hall.
The winning Warriors had two different goal scorers — Gabriel Arquitola in the 23rd minute Thurston La‘a in the 53rd. Goalkeeper Jacob Aiona posted his sixth shutout of the season.
KSH still has yet to be beaten in 2024-25, moving to 12-0-0 overall with a 63-8 goal differential. The team has recorded four shutouts in a row, peaking at the right time this season.
Kalaheo dropped to 4-7-3, and played fifth-seeded Kahuku on Friday in the consolation semifinals.
See Monday’s paper to read up on how the Warriors finished the state tournament.
Le Jardin 2, HPA 1
HPA boys soccer lost a close match during Thursday’s HHSAA DII quarterfinals to No. 3 Le Jardin, falling 2-1. Ka Makani also played Waipahu in the fifth-place semifinals on Friday.
The Bulldogs were led by Xelhuan Anderson-Martinez — who scored in the 12th minute — and Sol Sonny Anderson, who scored the second goal in the 49th.
Skye Raymond scored in the 75th minute for Ka Makani, but HPA could not garner any other offense to tie the match up.
Ka Makani moved down to 7-4-1 overall, while Le Jardin improved to 7-3-1. See next week’s paper to read up on how HPA finished the tournament.
KSK 2, Hilo 0
No. 4 Hilo boys soccer fell to No. 1 KS-Kapalama during Thursday’s HHSAA DI quarterfinal — getting shut out 2-0.
Keli Fisher scored in the opening minute for the Warriors, while teammate Duke Scobie added another goal in the 46th. KSK (10-1-1) played Mililani on Friday in the state semifinals.
The Vikings dropped to 8-2-1, and faced King Kaulikehe in Friday’s fifth-place semifinals. See Monday’s paper to read coverage.
All-BIIF girls teams
The following players were honored in the BIIF Girls Soccer DI and DII All-League Teams:
DI
• Hulali Halpern, F, Hilo
• Kalia Franklin, F, Waiakea
• Nai‘a Garana, F, Kealakehe
• Ailani Franklin, MF, Waiakea
• Aneala Sibayan, MF, Hilo
• Charlie Silva, MF, Waiakea
• Lindsey Hiraki, MF, Hilo
• Ava Shoosmith, B, Kona
• Maiya Kepoo-DeConte, B, Hilo
• Megan Nakamura-Nirei, B, Waiakea
• Sadee Tamanaha, B, Waiakea
• Keolakai Maka‘imoku, G, Hilo
• Player of the Year: Charlie Silva, Waiakea
DII
• Inalei Haunga, F, KSH
• Lily Kay-Wong, F, KSH
• Rhacelyn Respicio, F, KSH
• Alyssa Hudman, MF, KSH
• Madie Buczyna, MF, HPA
• Madisyn Meyers, MF, KSH
• Mikaila Aina, MF, KSH
• Alise Nakano, B, Honoka‘a
• Kahalia Huddleston, B, KSH
• Liliana Chandler, B, KSH
• Tae Detwiler, B, HPA
• Player of the Year: Madisyn Meyers, KSH
Honorable mentions
• Hilo: Titahni Ka‘awaloa, Aelani Kuikahi-Keolanui, Lelilian Solomon-Ho‘opai
• Honoka‘a: Samantha Cabrera, Zaylen Miyasaki
• HPA: Kirra Geesey, Kekai Lansdale, Lehia Akau, Adriana Carrion, Reece Lustik
• KSH: Mia Chow, Callie Chong
• Konawaema: Jazmin Fillamore, Tai Ichishita, Nateila Rivera, Kylie Denis, Makena Young
• Waiakea: O’ili Aloy, Daye Yanasaki, Elina Salai, Sayde Pamerang, Lily See, Gabriella Tuson, Taylor Araki
