BIIF football semifinals pushed back a week by Ana threat

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Playoff week has turned into a bye week.

Playoff week has turned into a bye week.

Because of the threat of Tropical Storm Ana, the Big Island Interscholastic Federation on Wednesday postponed the Division I and II football semifinals, which were to be held Friday and Saturday, until next week.

To accommodate the reshuffling, football coordinator Kalei Namohala announced the BIIF has scheduled a doubleheader Oct. 24 at Paiea Stadium at Kamehameha in Keaau. At 5 p.m., Keaau plays Hilo in a Division I semifinal, with a Division II semifinal between Honokaa and Kamehameha to follow. Also on Oct. 24, Hawaii Prep will take on Konawaena at 7:30 p.m. in Kealakekua in a Division II matchup.

The Waiakea-Kealakehe Division I semifinal was rescheduled for Oct. 25, starting after a 5 p.m. junior varsity game at Waverider Stadium.

Among the BIIF volleyball matches cancelled was the much-anticipated clash of unbeatens between Kamehameha and Konawaena on Friday night in Kealakekua.

Four other matches were nixed, including the final regular-season contests for Kohala (3-10) and East-Pac (3-10), who were tied for the sixth and final playoff spot in Division II. East-Pac, which beat the Cowgirls in five sets in Kapaau on Oct. 6, earned the sixth seed and visits Honokaa at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of the playoffs.

Kohala was to have visited Hilo (11-2) on Saturday, while East-Pac was scheduled to host Makua Lani (0-13).

Also, a BIIF cheerleading competition scheduled for Thursday at Waiakea was moved to Wednesday.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo postponed Saturday’s men’s and women’s soccer home matches against Chaminade, but no announcement was made regarding the volleyball team, which begins a stretch of three matches in three days on Thursday night at home against California Baptist.

As of Wednesday evening, the Battle of the Islands roller derby tournament Friday and Saturday was still on, pending a County decision on whether Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium would remain open.

On Tuesday, the County cancelled the Keiki Triathlon in Kailua-Kona.

This weekend’s football postponements push back the Division I and II championship until Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The Hawaii High School Athletic Association playoffs begin Nov. 7.