KEA‘AU 64 – ST. JOSEPH 37
The Cougars’ boys varsity team dominated the Cardinals during their season opener Friday night at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Kea‘au outscored St. Joseph 21-6 in the first quarter, 32-16 in the second and 43-21 in the third.
KHS was led by the scoring of Arvin Gonzales, who dropped 13 points. Thayne Nakoa also contributed 11 points for the Cougars.
SJS was led by Amari Wiedemeier with 15 points and Koen De La Cruz with ten points.
St. Joseph (0-1) will be back in action on Wednesday, playing away at Kohala High.
The Cougars are now 1-1 in BIIF play, and will face their next test on Thursday (Dec. 14), hosting Hilo High (4-0).
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WAIAKEA 81 – HPA 40
Waiakea High’s girls varsity basketball team notched its fourth straight win, moving to 5-0 in BIIF play and 8-2 overall after defeating HPA on Thursday night in Waimea.
The high-scoring bout was a battle between point guards Brooke Samura (HPA) and Jolie Mantz (WHS). Mantz had a gargantuan outing, dropping 38 points. Samura accounted for nearly all of Ka Makani’s points, scoring 31.Waiakea’s Pua‘ena Herrington also put up 19 points.
Waiakea will next face its toughest test of the season thus far, playing away Monday at Konawaena High (3-0 BIIF, 9-2 ovr.).
HPA (1-2 BIIF, 3-4 ovr.) will take a three-week break, returning to action Jan. 4 with a home matchup against Kealakehe High.
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HILO 64 – KEALAKEHE 27
The Hilo High boys varsity team crushed the visiting Waveriders on Friday night, moving to 3-0 in BIIF play.
The Vikings quickly put distance between them and Kealakehe, outscoring the Waveriders 35-16 during the first two quarters.
Payton Pana led Hilo with 19 points. Ikena Leao scored 12, and Jason Biruetta and Jared Fuerte each scored 11.
Kealakehe was led by Demarion Ollaway with 18 points.
Hilo’s next outing will be 7 p.m. Wednesday at home against Pahoa High (2-0).
Kealakehe (0-2) will return to the isle’s leeward side on Saturday (Dec. 16) to face KS-Hawai‘i (0-0 BIIF, 1-1 ovr.).
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KSH 57 – KA‘U 3
The Warriors’ girls varsity team returned from a week off to notch a massive win over visitor Ka‘u High on Thursday night.
Top scorers for KSH were Keanu Huihui with 22 points and Maela Honma with 19 points. Caliyah Silva Kamei sank a three-pointer for the Trojans’ only bucket of the game.
Now 3-0 in BIIF play and 5-4 overall, the Warriors’ next showing will be Saturday at home against Hilo (0-3).
Ka‘u fell to 1-3 after the loss to KSH, and will face Kealakehe for its next outing — Saturday in Kailua-Kona.