The final regular season BIIF boys basketball games were played this week, setting the stage for the upcoming KTA/BIIF championship.
Division I and II semifinals will tip off on Tuesday.
In DI, No. 1 seed KS-Hawai‘i will host No. 4 Waiakea High at 6 p.m. KSH went 5-0 in BIIF DI play, routing Waiakea 68-36 during their last encounter in late December. At 6-6 overall and 2-3 in BIIF DI, WHS eked into the playoff thanks to the bottom two teams in BIIF DI — Kea‘au and Kealakehe — being below .500.
KSH is led by the scoring of Kawohi Huihui (17.2 ppg) and Kiai Yasso (14.7 ppg). Yasso is also one of the isle’s top distance shooters, sinking 23 three-pointers this season. Waiakea’s top scorers are Josiah Amuimuia (12 ppg) and Thayden Sweat (8 ppg).
Over the South Hilo district line, No. 2 seed Hilo High (10-2) will host No. 3 Konawaena High (8-4) — also at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The Vikings and Wildcats last clashed two months ago, and home standing Hilo won 54-46.
Hilo has been a dominant force in DI, its only losses being close ones to KSH and defending DII state champion Kohala High. Peyton Pana (16.7 ppg) and Ikena Leao (11.3 ppg) have terrorized Hilo’s competition inside the paint, while Jared Fuerte has done so from outside the arc.
The Wildcats have been hot and cold this season, but mostly hot. Led by Abraham Ogata (16.6 ppg), Konawaena ended its season on a five-game win streak. The Wildcats’ four losses were to Hilo, Kohala, Pahoa and KS-Hawai‘i.
Speaking of Pahoa, the No. 2-seeded Daggers will host No. 3 Honoka‘a in DII semifinal action at 6 p.m. Tuesday. This matchup will settle what has been a season-long standings rivalry between the two green teams — which intensified this week as Pahoa defeated Waiakea to nab the No. 2 standing from Honoka‘a — as the Dragons suffered a narrow loss to Konawaena.
The Daggers have one of the most balanced lineups on the isle — powered by the athletic Canete brothers (Kyran and Joefry Trez), three-point specialist Donivan Lynch, mid-range shooter Kaumualii Gancinia and big man Hunter Paio.
Honoka‘a is also led by a pair of nimble brothers — Mauloa and Kukia Tagabi — and sports a balanced roster, featuring David Aiona, Jastyn Babino and Elijah Kaupu-Alip.
The last time Pahoa and Honoka‘a faced off was three weeks ago in Hamakua, and the Dragons won 71-66.
At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, DII No. 1 seed Kohala will host No. 4 Hawaii Prep.
Ka Makani (6-8) will face the gargantuan Cowboys — who are 7-0 in BIIF DII play.
Led by 2022-23 ScoringLive All-Hawaii Player of the Year Layden Kauka (20 ppg) — now a sophomore — Kohala dismantled HPA 71-32 in their most recent matchup, Thursday evening.
Ka Makani is led by the scoring of Bruce Lee (13.7 ppg) and Cam Root (10.7).
The BIIF title rounds will be held Friday night at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
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WAIAKEA 56 – SJS 33
The Warriors and Cardinals played the regular season’s final outing, as home standing Waiakea defeated SJS 56-33 on Friday night.
Koen De la Cruz led St. Jo with 16 points. Haven Dewees scored a game high 19 points to lead the Warriors, trailed by teammate Noah Tyrin with ten points.
The Cardinals’ season ended winless at 0-12.
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HILO 65 – CLA 18
The Vikings ended their regular season with a big home win over Christian Liberty Academy on Thursday night.
Pana and Fuerte led Hilo with 17 points each. Fuerte sank a whopping total of five three pointers, fourof which were during the first half of the game.
Jeziah Mahaulu led the Canefire with 18 points and went four-for-four at the free throw line.
CLA’s season ended at 1-11, its lone win being 53-46 over St. Joseph School two weeks ago.
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KA‘U 71 – SJS 61
The Trojans also ended their season on a high note, pulling away from St. Jo to win on Thursday in Hilo.
De la Cruz scored a game high 20 points. Ka‘u was led by Tyson Kuahia-Faafia with 16 points and Rhyder Ahmed with 15 points.
Ka‘u wrapped up its season 3-8.
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KONAWAENA 72 – HONOKA‘A 60
A big fourth quarter led to the Wildcats breaking a tie and defeating the home standing Dragons on Thursday.
Because of this loss, Honoka‘a dropped from the No. 2 standing in BIIF DII to No. 3.
Ogata led Konawaena with a game high 28 points. Kukia Tagabi led Honoka‘a with 23 points — trailed by Mauloa Tagabi with 15 points and Aiona with 11.
