For local fans, there’s nothing like the BIIF championships at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, where new legends are born and old rivalries are renewed.
For local fans, there’s nothing like the BIIF championships at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, where new legends are born and old rivalries are renewed.
On Thursday in the Division II semifinals, it’s No. 1 seed Honokaa (9-3) vs. No. 4 Ka‘u (4-9) at 2:30 p.m., followed by No. 2 Hawaii Prep (8-4) vs. No. 3 Kohala (8-4) at 4 p.m.
As the BIIF regular season champion, the Dragons already have a berth to the HHSAA D-II tournament, which will be held Feb. 15-17 on Oahu.
In the Division I semifinals, it’s No. 1 Konawaena (12-0) vs. No. 4 Keaau (8-4) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, followed by No. 2 Kamehameha (10-2) vs. No. 3 Waiakea (9-3) at 7 p.m.
The Wildcats already have a spot to the HHSAA D-I tournament, which starts Monday, Feb. 13 with first-round games.
For the first three games, the lower seeds are underdogs.
In the regular season, Honokaa thumped Ka‘u 52-22; HPA walloped Kohala 51-32; and Konawaena defeated Keaau 48-42.
The last matchup of the night between the Kamehameha Warriors and Waiakea Warriors figures to be another classic.
In the first meeting, Kamehameha took down the defending BIIF champs 79-76, surviving after Calvin Mattos’ last-second 3-pointer for a tie rimmed out.
Last season, Mattos reminded everyone why he was later voted the two-time BIIF player of the year.
The 5-foot-9 guard, who also carries roles as inspirational leader and playmaker, scored 20 points in a 68-66 win over Hilo in the BIIF semifinals and 24 points in a 60-40 victory over Konawaena for the championship, Waiakea’s first since 2009.
The Wildcats are probably hoping to meet Waiakea in the championship. The Warriors spoiled their bid for a title three-peat. And there’s nothing like a revenge dish served cold in front of a packed crowd.
Also, on the basketball court, it’s the best BIIF rivalry going between the ’Cats and Warriors, who lost to Konawaena in the semifinals in 2015.
In 2014, the Wildcats beat them for the BIIF title. But at least, Waiakea reached states that year as the league runner-up.
Wait, there’s more. In 2013, Konawaena edged Waiakea 59-58 in the BIIF semis, keeping coach Paul Lee’s team home again.
But before an old rivalry can be renewed, the stage is set for someone from either Kamehameha or Waiakea to make big noise in the BIIF semifinals.
If Konawaena pulls rank against Keaau, then the Warriors vs. Warriors battle become a do-or-die deal for the league’s last state berth.
Here’s a look at the four games:
Kamehameha vs. Waiakea
The defending champs lost three starters from last season. Kamehameha lost four but there’s not much drop-off because of superb depth.
Second-year coach Vince Ulloa’s team is built around 6-4 junior Nalu Kahapea, the lone returning starter and a two-way force.
The Warriors look to Kahapea first not only to score but also to tag fouls. When the double team arrives, there are a ton of kick-out shooters, including Payton Grahovac.
Coming off the bench in his instant offense role, Grahovac knocked down four 3-pointers for 12 points against Waiakea.
As a rebound collector, Kahapea has numerous floor burners to pass to in transition: Solomon Escalante, Isaiah Nakoa-Oness, Isaiah Ignacio, Kastle Quiocho, and Cullen Cariaga.
If there’s any BIIF boys team that resembles the Konawaena girls, it’s Waiakea because each plays with the same strategy: win the quarters.
The Warriors don’t always make the extra pass to turn a good shot into a better one like coach Bobbie Awa’s Wildcats. Then again, no in the state matches that execution, a reason her ’Cats are three-time state champs.
However, Waiakea holds the ball, just like Konawaena, to not only protect a lead in each quarter but also to prevent picking up unnecessary fouls, a key tactic but one often overlooked.
Then there’s the legend of Calvin Mattos, whose best shot is his right-handed floater. He’s left-handed and may be the only hoopster in BIIF history whose strong hand is second to his weaker one.
That makes him such a tough cover in transition or half-court because if a defender hedges one way Mattos goes the other.
The bigger the game the better he plays as recent history shows. Mattos also scored 24 points, including 21 in the second half, against Kamehameha and would have had 27, if not for a rim out.
In the rematch of Warriors, the winner gets into the championship. Kamehameha last pocketed the BIIF title in 2012. The loser can fan the flames of a growing rivalry between the two.
“We’ll try to do all we can to get that state berth,” Ulloa said. “Waiakea is the defending champs. It’ll be tough, but we’re ready.”
Konawaena vs. Keaau
The last time the Cougars were in the BIIF semifinals was in 2009 when they toppled Kamehameha 48-36 to earn a state berth.
In 2013, Keaau lost to Waiakea 43-42 in a play-in game for the No. 4 seed to the BIIF playoffs, and then Jun Pagala took over as coach in 2015.
The Cougars fell into a pattern of losing close games and missed out for the No. 4 seed to Kealakehe in 2015 and to Hilo last year.
One of the most overlooked stats is free throw shooting. Far too often, teams don’t realize that’s the easiest way to score — next to layups and putbacks, obviously higher percentage shots because both are closer to the basket.
In a game that changed the direction of its season, Rico Handy made 15 of 20 free throws for 24 points in Keaau’s 64-61 overtime win against Hilo.
Then the Cougars lost to Konawaena but stunned HPA on the road, 51-29, behind Handy’s game-high 15 points.
The key for Keaau is if Handy can get dribble-penetration against Konawaena’s forest of athletic defenders.
If shots don’t fall, then the Cougars need to put on their running shoes because the Wildcats are the best in the business at turning rebounds into transition layups.
Konawaena is also the BIIF runner-up, an unsatisfying finish and also took three titles from 2013 to ’15.
HPA vs. Kohala
Can the sixth man make a difference?
Not the first player off the bench but a team’s encouraging crowd support.
For decades, Kohala has built a reputation for having the best fans, at least on the boys side. The Cowboy faithful show up in force. Even if the numbers are small, due to those parents still working, the vocal volume compensates.
The old joke about the best BIIF fans goes: 9 out of 10 people would agree with the exception being someone who recently moved from the mainland.
However, there’s nothing like a punch in the stomach to get a team going. HPA lost its last home game to Keaau. It was a bummer for seniors Dylan Ngango Dikobo, Dane Francis, Sean Donnelly, and Vuk Djurdjevic.
The Cowboys, who didn’t make the postseason a year ago, last reached states in 2015 while it’s been two straight seasons at home for the redemption-minded Ka Makani.
Honokaa vs. Ka‘u
Of all the games, this one looks like the biggest mismatch.
However, when a team plays together and plays hard magical things can happen.
In fact, the Trojans experienced both ends of that scenario.
Hilo beat Ka‘u 74-53, outscoring the Trojans 51-31 in the second half. It was Old School Viking Basketball at its finest: ball-sharing and hard work on both sides of the ball.
On Monday, Ka‘u outlasted St. Joseph 49-46 in a play-in game for the BIIF tourney’s No. 4 seed because the Trojans did the same thing to earn their first trip to the league semifinals.
Maybe old rivalries are renewed or even better maybe new ones are born with performances that become the stuff of legend.
At Hilo Civic
Thursday
Semifinals
Division II
No. 4 Ka‘u vs. No. 1 Honokaa, 2:30 p.m.
No. 3 Kohala vs. No. 2 Hawaii Prep, 4 p.m.
Division I
No. 4 Keaau vs. No. 1 Konawaena, 5:30 p.m.
No. 3 Waiakea vs. Kamehameha, 7 p.m.
Friday
Division II final, 6 p.m.
Division I final, 7:30 p.m.