Only four players scored and foul trouble mounted, but Honokaa’s defense did enough to keep it out of harms way against Ka’u.
Kristen Ragasa scored 17 points and Rylee Velazquez added 13 as the host Dragons beat Ka’u to advance the BIIF Division II girls basketball semifinals.
Tyra Wong Yuen led the Trojans (2-8) with eight points – 12 fewer than she scored Friday in a loss at Honokaa. Wong Yuen followed that up with a 25-point effort Saturday against Christian Liberty to get Ka’u to the quarterfinal.
“We did a pretty good job on Tyra,” Honokaa coach Domanic Tagabi said, “but it was a battle to keep her down.”
Tawnee Carvalho added seven points and Goddess Gonsalves added six for Honokaa(4-3) , which otherwise got by with defense.
“We went with a lot of high traps and we forced some turnovers,” said Tagabi, whose team also overcame foul trouble.
The Dragons will visit Kamehameha (5-3) on Tuesday for a spot in Wednesday’s final at Hilo Civic. On Feb. 1, Kamehameha beat Honokaa 60-22 at Koai’a Gym.
“We’ve got to stay together,” Tagabi said.
Pahoa 33, Kohala 18: Florie Mei Tagabi scored 14 points and Jaylynn Kaawaloa-Alidon added eight as the host Daggers (3-6) moved to the semifinals.
They will take on top-seeded Hawaii Prep (5-1) on Tuesday in Waimea. The teams did not play during the regular season.
Freshman Mahea Pang led the Cowgirls (2-7) with nine points.
Tagabi, who hit two 3-pointers, scored seven points in the fourth quarter and Kaawaloa-Alidon added four as Pahoa stretched its 22-13 lead after three. It was 16-8 at half.
Camille Fuertes his Kohala’s only 3-pointer, finishing with five points.
