By MATT GERHART
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
KEAAU — Kamehameha had all but punched its ticket to another BIIF title game after Bryana Ebbers ran down a throughball and slipped a shot past Makua Lani’s diving goalkeeper for a three-goal lead in the first half.
Easy does it — the Warriors’ 6-0 victory Thursday in the Division II semifinals was equal parts thorough and methodical.
And now for the hard part. Kamehameha has been here before … and before and before and before, only to fail each time against Hawaii Prep.
Ebbers, a senior, isn’t just tired of losing to HPA, she’s “exhausted.”
“It’s been an ongoing thing for four years, and before that, too,” she said. “But I’m ready. I think we’re all ready.
“It’s time to end the streak for them.”
Ka Makani did their part with a 5-0 victory against Honokaa in the other semifinal, setting up a championship match at 5 p.m. Saturday at Kealakehe High between the six-time champion and the four-time runner-up.
“The returnees are definitely excited, especially the ones who have played the last three years,” Warriors coach Gene Okamura said. “It should be a good one.
“We have the ability this year.”
In his debut season last year, the Warriors (6-3-1) stayed close in the final, at least on the scoreboard, losing 2-0. In reality, though, Kamehameha was intent to pack it in defensively and play conservatively.
Okamura hinted a schematic change was in the works this time around for a more experienced Kamehameha team.
“I think we’re going to be more attacking, go forward and stay organized in the back,” Ebbers said.
Kamehameha clinched its ninth consecutive berth to the HHSAA tournament, a streak that dates back to the Warriors’ 2008 state championship season. Kamehameha’s last BIIF title came in 2009, and HPA began its indomitable run a year later.
Ka Makani won the team’s regular season meeting, 2-0 at Kamehameha on Dec. 12.
“I think we learned we could compete with them for sure,” Okamura said.
He was happy to able to get his starters rest in the semifinal.
During the Warriors’ 3-1 victory Jan. 23, the Lions (4-5-1) put home a goal on their only scoring chance of the match. For good measure Thursday, Kamehameha didn’t allow any scoring chances on goalkeeper Cyrene Andaya.
Ebbers and senior Kekai Wong Yuen scored in the first half, and they took turns setting up one another with crosses in the second half as each finished with two goals.
Hiwa Brown netted a goal for Kamehameha, and when Courtney Kelii capped the scoring, one fan at Paiea Stadium echoed what many were probably thinking: save some for Saturday.
“We have to execute,” Ebbers said. “We are all on the same page.”
The Lions and Dragons will vie for a state spot at 3 p.m. Saturday in the third-place match.
Hawaii Prep 5, Honokaa 0: Jordan Zarate put home two goals early in the second half to break open a 1-0 match in Waimea, and Ka Makani reached the BIIF title game for the 10th year in a row.
Emi Higgins accounted for the only score of the first half, and Emma Taylor and Marlie Mandaguit tacked on goals in the second half.
“Honokaa stayed back a little bit with just one or two players up top,” HPA coach Steve Perry said. “We talked about moving the ball a little quicker and had some success.”
Emi Higgins, Taylor, and Mandaguit also scored for two-time state champion Ka Makani (8-1-1), and Taimane Kamaka earned the shutout against the Dragons (2-7-1).
Ka Makani, Perry said, won’t be resting on its laurels Saturday.
“We don’t talk about last year, we didn’t even talk about December,” he said.
