KAILUA-KONA — The BIIF water polo postseason doesn’t begin until next Friday, but a playoff atmosphere was in full effect for the regular season finale at Kona Community Aquatic Center on Saturday.
KAILUA-KONA — The BIIF water polo postseason doesn’t begin until next Friday, but a playoff atmosphere was in full effect for the regular season finale at Kona Community Aquatic Center on Saturday.
The main event on the three-game slate put undefeated Hawaii Prep against six-time defending BIIF champion Kamehameha-Hawaii.
Despite being down 6-4 at half, Ka Makani (10-0) exploded to outscore the Warriors 11-1 in the final two quarters to come away with a 15-7 victory. The win puts an exclamation point on Hawaii Prep’s undefeated season — its first since 2007.
“This is what we have been getting ready for. It was a hard fought game and we knew Kamehameha was not going to let us slack off,” Hawaii Prep head coach Greg McKenna said. “We can’t take anything for granted. We know if we see them again they are going to come out fired up.”
Ava Jean Johnston and Janelle Laros did the heavy lifting offensively for Ka Makani, each tallying four goals apiece.
With a group of speedy, talented swimmers, Hawaii Prep has racked up 20-plus goals on multiple occasions this year. However, it has been the defense that McKenna has been most pleased with.
“Our focus has always been our defense,” he said. “It’s our defense that really creates opportunities on the counter attack.”
McKenna also credited the hard work the girls have put in, and singled out the leadership of senior captains Elizabeth Jim and Louisa Duggan as a reason Ka Makani have able to take their game to the next level.
“We love intense fun. That has been our motto,” Duggan said. “If it’s intense and we are still able to have fun — it just works. I’m proud of all our girls. We are really excited for BIIFs.”
Kamehameha (8-2) head coach Dan Lyons was anything but worried after the loss. With his Warriors program becoming a fixture at the state tournament, the veteran head coach knows the only games that matter start now.
“We always want to compete, but we also wanted to get everyone in today. Other than practice, this was our last opportunity to get a lot of the girls in the pool,” Lyons said, citing that his group of 21 will probably be cut down closer to 10 in the postseason. “I saw a lot of good things and a lot of things we have to work on.”
Kamehameha could have technically wrestled the No. 1 seed away from Hawaii Prep with a win, but would have had to beat Ka Makani by 14. Hawaii Prep won the first matchup against a shorthanded Kamehameha’s squad 20-7.
Alyssa Pelanca scored four for Kamehameha in the loss.
Meanwhile, Konawaena (4-6) needed a win against Hilo (2-8) to prevent a play-in game for the league’s final playoff spot. The Wildcats left no doubt they belong in the postseason, downing the Viks 15-8.
Bailey Walters scored five times and Aaliyah Butler added four to push the Wildcats into the playoffs.
Ashleigh Kahawaiola and Kaylyn Ellis-Hookano each had three tallies for Hilo, which saw its season end at 2-8.
The game with the least amount of postseason implications provided the most unexpected result of the day.
On the outside looking in on the playoff picture, Waiakea ended its season on a high note, knocking off Kealakehe 9-8 for its second win of the season.
Reina Kuwaye-Tamanaha scored with less than a minute left to give the Warriors the victory.
Hannah Tomlinson tallied six of the Waveriders (4-6) eight goals in the loss.
BIIF tournament
Hawaii Prep will be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and already have an automatic bid to the HHSAA tournament. They will play fourth seeded Konawaena at 3 p.m. in the opening round at Kamehameha.
Kamehameha will be the No. 2 seed, but still has a shot to be the top-seeded team out of the BIIF for states if they can reel off a seventh league title in a row. Their opening round opponent will be Kealakehe at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The Waveriders edged the Wildcats for the third seed thanks to goal differential.