Tourney notes: The BIIF Girls D-I and II basketball tournaments are sponsored by KTA Super Stores. … Ka’u High hosted the girls D-I and II tournaments. Hilo High will host the boys D-I and II tournaments this week, with the
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
Sophomore Casey Poe scored 16 points and senior Chelsea Poe 11 to lead Kamehameha to a thrilling come-from-behind 45-40 win over fired-up Honokaa as the Warriors claimed the Big Island Interscholastic Federation girls Division II basketball championship on Saturday night.
In fighting past the hustling Dragons before 1,400 fans at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, the Garrett Arima-coached Warriors (10-2) pocketed their fifth straight overall BIIF crown. They will be the league’s top seed in this week’s state D-II tournament on Oahu and joined by runner-up Honokaa (8-4) and third-place Hawaii Prep (9-4).
The 12-team state D-II tournament runs Tuesday through Friday.
In the BIIF’s third-place game Saturday, Hawaii Prep defeated Ka’u 56-32.
Kamehameha trailed throughout much of the game before outscoring Honokaa 16-8 in the fourth quarter to pull out the tough victory.
The Dragons, under coach James Lukzen, turned in a terrific first half, dominating the game through the first period, leading 16-11 at the buzzer. They then took a 19-11 advantage on Jasmine Castro’s 3-pointer early in the second quarter. But Kamehameha finally settled down and outscored Honokaa 13-7 in the period and led 24-23 at the intermission.
The Dragons then outscored the Warriors 9-5 in the third quarter and led 32-29 heading into the final eight minutes.
But in the fourth quarter, Kamehameha took the lead on junior Keana Kaohimaunu’s long 3-pointer at the 4:10 mark. The Dragons tied it at 39-39 on junior Yvonne Daniels’ layup before the Warriors grabbed the lead for good on two Chelsea Poe free throws with 1:28 left.
Kamehameha was then able to outpoint Honokaa 4-1 the rest of the way.
Daniels led the Dragons with 17 points and senior Precious Chong had 10 points and nine rebounds. The visitors also got a standout defensive effort from senior Kasia Wilson and sophomore center Hunter Liftee.
“Honokaa played a great game,” Arima said. “They fought hard to the end. Hats off to Honokaa.
“But our girls have faced adversity all season long and they’ve fought hard to overcome it each time. We trailed almost the whole game tonight and in the fourth quarter, our girls refocused and got us back on track.”
The second-year Kamehameha coach praised his team’s “senior leadership” for making a big difference with the game on the line.
“In the fourth quarter we hit some big shots, kept our composure and took care of the ball,” Arima said. “All of those things were big for us and we’re really proud of our girls’ effort. They played hard all the way.”
Lukzen felt the same way about his team.
“Our girls played a helluva of game,” he said. “They never quit.
“Now, we hope to go to the state tournament and represent the Big Island well.”
Honokaa 16 7 9 8 — 40
Kamehameha 11 13 5 16 — 45
Third place
* Hawaii Prep 56, Ka’u 32: Sophomore Chancis Fernandez scored 22 points as the Craig Kimura-coached Ka Makani clinched the BIIF’s third and final state D-II tournament berth.
Teammates Nani Lum, Shayla Ignacio and Eliyah Fernandez each added seven points in a solid HPA attack.
Senior Pilialoha Kailiawa scored 12 points and senior Janessa Jara 11 to lead the Mark Pocock-coached Trojans (4-9).
HPA 14 16 13 13 — 56
Ka’u 7 5 12 8 — 32
BIIF champion Warriors
Garrett Arima is assisted by Shannon Poe and Nelson Wong
The players on the championship squad are seniors Chelsea Poe, Bobbi Montibon, Shaylyn Kahawai and Britni Napiha’a; juniors Namele Naipo-Arsiga, Keana Kaohimaunu, Tiffany Pacheco and Britney Kenui; sophomores Casey Poe and Shaila Apele; and freshmen Riana Arima and Makamae Gabriel.
Tourney notes: The BIIF Girls D-I and II basketball tournaments are sponsored by KTA Super Stores. … Ka’u High hosted the girls D-I and II tournaments. Hilo High will host the boys D-I and II tournaments this week, with the semifinals and finals on Friday and Saturday nights at Hilo Civic. … BIIF executive director Lyle Crozier announced that Wednesday’s boys tournament’s opening round includes a doubleheader at Hilo Civic. At 6 p.m., it’s East No. 2 St. Joseph vs. West No. 3 Honokaa in a D-II contest, followed by East No. 2 Hilo vs. East No. 4 Keaau in a D-I battle at 7:30 p.m. … Kamehameha’s Bobbi Montibon made five 3-pointers in the Warriors’ 54-36 win over Hawaii Prep in the semifinals.
