HPA Controls Boards to Advance in League Tournament

Ula Brostek scored 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Hawai`i Preparatory Academy to a 47-34 win over Ka`u in the quarterfinals of the KTA Super Stores / Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II Girls Basketball Tournament.

Brostek, the daughter of former NFL lineman Bern Brostek, was a key factor in HPA’s comeback victory. Against the Trojans’ full court pressure, she found many opportunities to break away from the defense to create easy scoring opportunities. Brostek also hustled around the basket to collect her 14 rebounds, bested only by teammate Anna Juan’s 17. Ka Makani dominated the glass, out-rebounding Ka`u 43-15.

The Trojans struggled from the field throughout the first half, shooting 7-for-27. Their lone offensive bright spot in the first 16 minutes came from post player Tori Beck, who scored eight of her team-high nine points in the opening half. Beck shot 3-for-4 from the field and was the central focus of the offense from her high post position.

Ka`u (2-13, 1-10 BIIF) stayed in the game thanks to a high amount of turnovers by HPA. The hosts turned the ball over 17 times in the first half, partly a result of losing their starting point guard due to injury. Tiana Bertleman-Tabac injured her ACL in the team’s regular season finale against Honoka`a on Saturday, making the road to a state tournament berth a bit more difficult.

Ka`u took the lead for the first time in the third quarter when Shaylin Navarro hit a midrange jumper to give the Trojans a 23-22 lead with 4:25 left in the frame. The lead extended to four on the next posession when Casey Koi banked in a three from the top of the arc.

With a quarter to go and the game tied at 30, the Trojans suddenly went ice cold. Ka`u shot 1-for-15 from the field and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. The visitors also converted only two of their six free throw attempts in the loss.

Also in the victory, Tiana Reynolds scored 15 points, nine coming in the first half, and Juan added seven points to compliment her 17 rebounds.

With the win, HPA advances to the Division II semifinals to face East top seed Kamehameha-Hawai`i on Friday. Tip is at 3:00 p.m. from Kealakehe High School. The winner will earn a berth in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association / Hawaiian Airlines Girls State Basketball Championships.

Ka`u 7 10 13 4 – 34

Hawai`i Prep 7 13 10 17 – 47

BIIF girls basketball scoreboard

Kohala 49, Pahoa 44

Friday’s tournament schedule

Hawai`i Preparatory Academy vs. Kamehameha-Hawai`i – 3:00 p.m.

Kohala vs. Honoka`a – 4:30 p.m.

Kealakehe vs. Hilo – 6:00 p.m.

Waiakea vs. Konawaena – 7:30 p.m.