Tribune-Herald
Tribune-Herald
Waiakea got the win it needed to secure its postseason fate, while Kealakehe also gave itself a shot in the arm during the final day of the Big Island Interscholastic Federation water polo regular season.
Jillian Hughes scored her fifth goal of the match in overtime and the Warriors beat Hilo 7-6 on Saturday in Waimea to clinch the final spot in the league playoffs.
Hughes was busy in the extra sessions. In the first OT, she scored the break a 6-6 tie. Then she fouled out in the second OT, but Waiakea held on and will take on top-seeded Kamehameha at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the BIIF semifinals at Kona Community Aquatic Center. The rival Warriors faced off later in the day in Waimea, with Kamehameha winning 18-5.
In another playoff preview, Hannah Hewitt netted five goals as the Waveriders earned their best victory of the season by beating Hawaii Prep 11-9. Naomi Tomlinson added a hat trick for Kealakehe, which will carry a four-game winning streak into its 3 p.m. semifinal against the Ka Makani at KCAC.
Not much has separated the teams this season heading into a match that likely will be for the league’s final berth at the Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournament, provided regular-season champion Kamehameha wins its semifinal. Both the Ka Makani and Waveriders are 7-3 after splitting the season series, though HPA carries the second seed by virtue of its three-goal victory against Kealakehe earlier in the season.
The final is scheduled for noon Saturday at KCAC.
The high-scoring duo of Anu Nihipali and Bhillie Luciani continue to power HPA. Both seniors had a pair of hat tricks Saturday, with Luciani scoring eight times in a 16-12 win against Konawaena.
The scoring recap:
Waiakea 7, Hilo 6, OT: In addition to Hughes’ five goals, Kirsten Nakamura and Grace Kalili both scored for the Warriors (4-6).
Ginger Carlson led the Vikings (1-9) with four goals and Alana Flaherty and Ashleigh Kahawaiola’a Daffron notched a goal apiece.
Kealakehe 11, Hawaii Prep 9: Besides getting a combined eight goals from Hewitt and Tomlinson, Mehana Pilago found the net twice and Riley Carson also scored.
Nihipali led the way with five for the Ka Makani, Luciani added three, and Jellian Cuartero had one.
Kamehameha 18, Waiakea 5: Acacia Trusdell powered the Warriors (10-0) with four goals and Cassidy Fratinardo collected a hat trick. Paula Imoto, Pua Wong, Sydney Plunkett and Michelle Fratinardo netted two goals apiece, and Hali’a Nahale-a, Esther Kerr and Katelynn Kubo also tallied goals.
After having already locked down a state berth, Kamehameha is seek to wrap up its fourth straight undefeated league season.
Zoey Chang (three goals) and Kirstie Flores-Oishi (two) provided Waiakea’s offense.
Kealakehe 13, Konawaena 6: Pilago set the pace with five goals, Hewitt, Tomlinson and Carson each had two, and Sarah Somsanguansit and Aimee Caldwell added one each.
Katie Andrade scored three times for the Wildcats (1-9), Chloe Delaney added two and Victoria Birrenbach one.
Kamehameha 18, Hilo 1: Cassidy Fratinardo put in four goals and Plunkett recorded a hat trick for the Warriors, who also got contributions from Kubo (two goals), Baba Manoha (two), Imoto (two), Nahale-a (two), Trusdell (one), Duchess Rapoza (one) Shola Kahiapo (one).
Riley Cabarloc scored for the Vikings.
Hawaii Prep 16, Konawaena 12: Luciani’s eight goals and hat tricks by Amanda Stark and Nihipali offset Konawaena’s best offensive showing of the season.
Mikala Fernandez sparked the Wildcats with four goals, Andrade, Delaney and Mahealani Yoshida scored two apiece, while Cameron Linden and Kristen Hiromasa each had one.
Cuartero added two for HPA.
Results submitted by Dorothy A. Staskawicz
WATER POLO
Standings
W-L
Kamehameha 10-0
Hawaii Prep 7-3
Kealakehe 7-3
Waiakea 4-6
Hilo 1-9
Konawanea 1-9
Saturday at Waimea
Waiakea 7, Kealakehe 6, OT
Kealakehe 11, Hawaii Prep 9
Kamehameha 18, Waiakea 5
Kealakehe 13, Kealakehe 6
Kamehameha 18, Hilo 1
HPA 16, Konawaena 12
Playoffs
At Kona Community Aquatic Center
Friday’s semifinals
Kealakehe vs. Hawaii Prep, 3 p.m.
Waiakea vs. Kamehameha, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday’s championship
Semifinal winners, noon