Waiakea Girls Basketball Tourney Kicks Off Hoops Season

***Updated at 3:35 p.m. to include the score of the game between Waiakea and Waimea.***

Thursday night marked the unofficial start to the girls high school basketball season on the Big Island as six teams hit the floor for the Waiakea High School Girls Basketball Tournament.

In the opener, Maui High School defeated Kea’au 69-24. Senior Liana Tanaka scored a game-high 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting. She also grabbed seven steals. Freshman Neil Mae Bumanglag added 16 points and three steals.

Kea’au, under veteran coach Mark Pocock, showed many glimpses of potential throughout the game. The Cougars lost leading scorer Taylor Pocock to graduation, but return senior Jasmine Segobia and add another senior, Ranchell Berinobis, to the fold.

Those positive glimpses were masked by the team’s 43 turnovers and 4-for 27 shooting from the free throw line.

Senior Macey Mokuhalii scored nine points while freshman Alyssa Padilla added six.

In the second game, defending Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division I champion Konawaena suited up just five players against Kamehameha-Hawai’i, last year’s state runner-up in Division II. The numbers game didn’t matter as the Wildcats rolled past the Warriors 64-20.

Chanelle Molina scored 18 points to lead the Wildcats.

In the nightcap, Waimea defeated Waiakea 62-60.

Waiakea High School Girls Basketball Tournament

Thursday’s scores

Maui 69, Kea’au 24

Konawaena 64, Kamehameha-Hawai’i 20

Waimea 62, Waiakea 60

Friday’s schedule

Waimea vs. Kea’au – 4:30 p.m.

Maui vs. Kamehameha-Hawai’i – 6 p.m.

Konawaena vs. Waiakea – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule

Kamehameha-Hawai’i vs. Waimea – 11:30 a.m.

Waiakea vs. Kea’au – 1 p.m.

Konawaena vs. Maui – 2:30 p.m.

Hilo junior varsity vs. Waiakea junior varsity – 4 p.m.

Maui vs. Waiakea – 5:30 p.m.