BIIF Snags Top Seeds in HHSAA Hoops Tourneys

Big Island Interscholastic Federation schools Kamehameha-Hawai`i and Konawaena have successfully defended their league championships from last season. Starting Wednesday, they will look to defend their state championships as well.

The Hawaiian Airlines / Hawaii High School Athletic Association Girls Basketball Championship brackets were announced late Saturday night with both schools holding top seeds in their respective tournaments.

Konawaena, winner of the last two state titles, received the number seed after defeating Hilo High School by 24 points in the KTA Super Stores / BIIF Girls Basketball Division I Championship Saturday night. The Wildcats received the seed over Kamehameha-Kapalama, the Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion. KS-Kapalama went 16-0 during the season.

Konawaena’s early challenge could potentially come from Mililani High School. The OIA runner-up Trojans beat Konawaena in November at the Lahainaluna tournament, which is still Kona’s only loss of the season. Mililani first has to get by Kaiser in the opening round.

Kamehameha-Hawai`i earned the top seed in the Division II tournament following their 49-48 thrilling victory over Honoka`a in the KTA Super Stores / BIIF Girls Basketball Division II Championship Saturday. The Warriors finished the season by going 9-3 in league play and 14-6 overall.

Joining the Wildcats in the Division I tournament is Hilo High School. The Vikings will open the tournament on Tuesday night when they face Roosevelt at Radford’s Jim Allegre Gymnasium. The Vikings are making their first state tournament appearance since 1996. The winner of that contest will face Leilehua, the Oahu Interscholastic Association champion, who earned the third seed in the championships.

Division I Bracket. Courtesy: Hawaii High School Athletic Association.

Maui Interscholastic League champion Lahainaluna captured the fourth seed. They could potentially face Konawaena in the semifinals as long as both teams win their opening game on Wednesday.

Two other BIIF squads join Kamehameha-Hawai`i in the Division II tournament. League runner-up Honoka`a makes their third consecutive appearance in the tournament. They face McKinley High School on Tuesday at Kalani High School. Awaiting the winner is Hawai`i Baptist Academy, the ILH champion.

Division II bracket. Courtesy: Hawaii High School Athletic Association

The next game at that site features BIIF third-place team Kohala, who earned their first Division II state tournament berth Saturday with an easy victory over Hawai`i Preparatory Academy. The Cowgirls will face Kailua High School with the winner matching up with second-seeded Kauai High School.

Kalaheo is the fourth seed in the Division II tournament. They face either Molokai or Hanalani in Wednesday’s quarterfinal round.

Tuesday’s basketball schedule

Division I

5:00 p.m. – Maui vs. Waianae (Radford HS)

5:00 p.m. – Iolani vs. Kaimuki (McKinley HS)

7:00 p.m. – Hilo vs. Roosevelt (Radford HS)

7:00 p.m. – Mililani vs. Kaiser (McKinley HS)

Division II

5:00 p.m. – Honoka`a vs. McKinley (Kalani HS)

5:00 p.m. – Moloka`i vs. Hanalani (Kaimuki HS)

7:00 p.m. – Kailua vs. Kohala (Kalani HS)

7:00 p.m. – University vs. Saint Francis (Kaimuki HS)