The start of BIIF Division II play for the Ka’u girls basketball team has been nothing short of encouraging.
Mei Lin Galban Kin In scored 10 points and Reishalyn Jara added nine Monday night as the Trojans came back to beat Hawaii Prep 47-41 in Pahala.
Ka’u evened its record at 2-2 in defeating a Ka Makani team that’s in a similar position. Both are looking to become upstarts in a Division II, which features a pair of traditional powers going through a transition and wide-open race for two state berths.
Maja Burdova scored 16 points for HPA (0-3) which led 20-16 at halftime, and Mariah Borce added 13.
Kianie Medeiros Dancel chipped in with eight for Ka’u, which was overwhelmed as expected against Konawaena and Waiakea of Division I earlier in the month. But the Trojans righted the ship last Saturday in beating Pahoa (0-4), just one of the four winless D-II teams.
Another is Kohala (0-2), which visits the Trojans for a game Wednesday night. Honokaa (0-1), last season’s BIIF runner-up, has a small roster this season and even defending state champion Kamehameha (1-1) appears to be rebuilding as it replaces four starters.
Ka’u last reached the BIIF semifinals in 2017, but it’s already surpassed its win total after going 1-9 last season, when the Cowgirls and Ka Makani were the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds.
Keaau 37, Pahoa 13: Joy Galamay scored 10 points and Britney Calhoun added nine as the host Cougars eased to a 3-0 start to the season.
April Gamponia scored seven points for the Daggers, who trailed 20-9 at the break and managed just two points apiece in the third and fourth quarters.
Saturday
Damon Romero scored 25 points Saturday night in Pahala, and Pahoa opened its boys season with a 55-51 victory against Ka’u.
The Daggers got going after scoring only nine points in the first quarter, trailing by five. They were down 27-25 at the half before outscoring the Trojans 30-24 the rest of the way.
Shesley Martinez led Ka’u with 18 points and Izaiah Pilanca-Emmsley added 15.
In JV, Ka’u won 58-23.
Girls
Kianie Mederios and Heidi Vidal scored seven points apiece as Ka’u clamped down on Pahoa for a 47-25 victory.