BIIF Boys Hoops: DI Semifinal Seeds Locked Up

Kamehameha-Hawai’i and Kealakehe played in the semifinals of the 2015 BIIF Boys Basketball Tournament. File photo by Josh Pacheco.

With just a few days remaining in the Big Island Interscholastic Federation boys basketball season, the race for a spot in the league tournament is still on the line in Division II, while all four seeds in Division I have been decided.

In Division I, Waiakea clinched the top seed in next week’s BIIF boys basketball tournament with its 82-73 win over Honoka’a on Tuesday. The Warriors can clinch the outright regular season championship and a state tournament berth on Thursday with either a win at Kohala or a Konawaena loss at home against Ka’u.

Regardless of the result of Konawaena’s game on Thursday, the Wildcats will be the second seed in the league tournament. Kamehameha-Hawai’i is locked in to the third seed, and Hilo clinched the final spot in the tournament, thanks to Kealakehe’s loss against Konawaena.

In Division II, three teams are still in the hunt for the top seed. Honoka’a currently sits at the top with a 7-4 record. The Dragons will visit Pahoa, who sits at 5-5, on Thursday, witih a Honoka’a win knocking the Daggers out of the running for the top seed and into limbo for a berth in the semifinals.

Hawai’i Preparatory Academy is also in the running for the top seed, aided by a win over Honoka’a earlier this season. Ka Makani has two games remaining, matching up with Kamehameha-Hawai’i on Thursday and Pahoa on Saturday.

If both Honoka’a and Hawai’i Prep win out, the top seed in the semifinals would go to Ka Makani and the automatic state berth to the regular season champion would be determined at the league tournament. HPA can earn a state berth with two wins and a Honoka’a loss, while the Dragons can get the berth with a win and a Ka Makani loss. Pahoa cannot earn a state tournament berth, but can get the top seed with wins over both Honoka’a and HPA.

Kohala may hold the key to the race for the final berth in Division II. The Cowboys would be eliminated from contention with a loss on Thursday against Waiakea. A win would keep them alive, but either a pair of losses by Pahoa or a loss by St. Joseph would be needed to give the Cowboys a shot at the postseason.

BIIF Division I boys basketball standings

Waiakea (18-3, 11-0) – at Kohala on 2/4

Konawaena (17-5, 10-1) – vs. Ka’u on 2/4

Kamehameha-Hawai’i (19-4, 8-3) – vs. Hawa’i Prep on 2/4

Hilo (11-14, 6-6)

*Kealakeke (4-18, 4-7) – at St. Joseph on 2/4

*Kea’au (12-9, 4-7) – vs. Laupahoehoe on 2/4

BIIF Division II boys basketball standings

Honoka’a (17-11, 7-4) – at Pahoa on 2/4

Hawai’i Prep (10-7, 6-4) – at Kamehameha-Hawai’i on 2/4, vs. Pahoa on 2/6

Pahoa (9-8, 5-5) – vs. Honoka’a on 2/4, at Hawai’i Prep on 2/6

St. Joseph (13-15, 5-6) – vs. Kealakehe on 2/4

Kohala (7-14, 4-7) – vs. Waiakea on 2/4

*Ka’u (1-19, 1-10) – at Konawaena on 2/4

*Laupahoehoe (0-14, 0-11) – at Kea’au on 2/4

*- eliminated from playoff contention