KEAAU – Hawaii Prep isn’t ready to give up its crown just yet.
KEAAU – Hawaii Prep isn’t ready to give up its crown just yet.
A little more healthy and a lot more resilient Saturday, Ka Makani had an answer for Kamehameha and prolific scorer Hevani Haunga this time, earning a 1-1 draw at Paiea Stadium in a possible preview of the BIIF girls Division II final.
Seven-time league champion HPA (5-2-2) showed a few cracks in its armor in the team’s first meeting, a 4-1 victory for the Warriors on Dec. 10 in which Haunga scored four times.
“We competed better, and that’s what we wanted to do going in,” HPA coach Stephen Perry said. “That first match, we made some mistakes, we didn’t play well and we weren’t well-coached.”
Emi Higgins gave HPA an early lead, breaking down the left flank in and burying a goal on a breakaway in the fifth minute.
Joey Cootey answered with the equalizer midway through for the first half for the Warriors (8-0-2), who put the finishing touches on an unbeaten regular season.
“We need to improve on a couple of things, because HPA is always getting better,” Kamehameha coach Joshua Woodard said. “I thought they came out with a little more fire than us.”
Perry said HPA played better team defense to neutralize Haunga, who entered the match with 11 goals.
“Kamehameha has a lot of weapons, ” he said. “We dodged a couple of bullets but hung in there.”
Ka Makani is also healthier than it was earlier in the season, though Jordan Zarate, one of the BIIF’s best players, is out for the season after knees surgery.
“I’d say we’re in better shape,” Perry said.
Kamehameha had a go-ahead goal taken off the board in the second half because of a hand ball.
Both teams host Division II semifinals Jan. 25 with a any eye on hooking up again Jan. 27 at Paiea Stadium in the championship. Top-seeded Kamehameha plays Honokaa, while HPA draws Makua Lani.
“We’d love to see (Kamehameha) again, but we’ve got some work to do,” Perry said.
Konawaena 0, Waiakea 0
The draw served as a win for the host Warriors (4-3-2), who stayed in a tie for second with the Wildcats and still hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Waiakea can lock down the No. 2 seed – and home match in the Division I semifinals Jan. 24 – with either a win against Makua Lani on Jan. 21 or a loss by the Wildcats on Wednesday.
Hilo 8, Honokaa 1
Lauree Anne DeMattos scored two goals on her senior day at Hilo Bayfront, and Jordyn Pacheco netted a hat trick with a three-goal spree spanning the first and second halves.
Alyeemomi Amaral scored the first two goals for the Vikings (8-1), and Glory Medeiros added a goal.
Terri Connors scored for the Dragons (3-6).
Makua Lani 5, Keaau 0
The Lions improved to 3-5 with the road win.
Boys
Hawaii Prep 4, Hilo 2
Ka Makani overcame their first halftime deficit of the season to remain undefeated.
In Waimea, Kento Komatsu, Jake Schneider, Chris Whitfield and Big Padraos tallied goals for HPA (9-0), which will continue its bid for a perfect season on Tuesday at Kealakehe.
Kalei Tolentino-Perry staked the Vikings (5-3) to a 2-1 halftime lead with a pair of goals.
“Great game,” HPA coach Rich Braithwaite said.
Konawaena 2, Waiakea 2
Hunter Lewi and Eric Marban Sanchez scored to help the visiting Wildcats draw within a point of Keaau in the Division I playoff race.
The Cougars (5-6) can clinch the No. 4 seed with a win Tuesday at home against Waiakea in their regular-season finale. If Keaau loses or draws, Konawaena (4-5-2) can get to the playoffs with a victory against Makua Lani in its finale Jan. 28.
Michael Scott and John Grover tallied goals for the Warriors (6-3-1).
Makua Lani 5, Keaau 0
The Lions improved to 4-5-1 with the road win.
Ka’u 2, Kohala 1
Brennan Nishimura netted the go-ahead goal just before halftime in Pahala as the Trojans (3-5) moved within three points of the Cowboys (4-5) in the Blue division.
Kobe Moses opened the scoring for Ka’u, and Louis Arraujo briefly tied the match with a goal for Kohala.