KEALAKEKUA – The Cowboys look ready to defend their state title.
Kohala’s big three of O’Shen Cazimero, La’akea Kauka and Koby Agbayani combined to score 58 points as the Cowboys put an exclamation point on the end of their regular season, taking down Konawaena 74-49.
While the Wildcats were able to put up a good fight against the Cowboys’ pesky, high-pressure defense, Kohala was ultimately able to put Konawaena away with a dominant third quarter, outscoring the Wildcats 25-13. Kauka (19 points) opened and closed Kohala’s scoring in the quarter with bookend 3-pointers.
“We’re a pretty tough team,” said Cazimero, who scored 22 points. “We’re real committed, real hardworking team. We rely on our defense.”
Taven Hiraishi led the Wildcats with 14 points and Coby Molina had 11.
Konawaena will host Hilo on Friday in its BIIF D-I semifinal; tip time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
The 7-0 Cowboys, meanwhile will prep for Friday’s BIIF D-II semifinal against Pahoa. While Kohala has already beaten the Daggers 63-13, they’re taking nothing for granted as they begin their postseason run.
“We just take it a game a time, try to get better every day and get ready for the BIIFs,” Kohala’s head coach Kihei Kapeliela said. “We’ve played Pahoa before, but that’s why they play the game.”
Agbayani scored 17 points.
As the postseason begins, Cazimero likes his team’s chances to defend their title.
“We have a pretty tough team this year… Last year, we would have had a chance at taking states again. Class of 2021, we’ve been doing this for them. We feel bad; we got a whole season taken away. We’ll do it for them.”
Waiakea 62, Ka’u 27: AJ Doll led three scorers in double figures with 13 points as the balanced Warriors won at home to complete a 4-3 regular season.
Royden Ratific-Justo added 12 points and Jeff Mantz had 11 for Waiakea, which will be back at its gym Thursday for a BIIF D-I first-round playoff game against Keaau.
Kaimana Kaupu-Manini scored nine for the Trojans (2-5), who play a Division II semifinal against either Honokaa or Hawaii Prep on Friday in Pahala.
Saturday
Kohala 82, Honokaa 38: O’shen Cazimero scored 24 points and Jace Hook added 14 as the Cowboys rolled in Kapaau.
Kinohi Lindsey led the Dragons (3-3) with 10 points and Justin Pascua and Bubba Ching each had nine.