BIIF Gets ‘Home Court’ at DII State Tourney

OC16/Hawai’i High School Athletic Association Division II Girls Basketball Championship bracket.

This year’s OC16/Hawai’i High School Athletic Association Division II Girls Basketball Championship tournament doesn’t have television coverage or extra media hype around it.

For Kamehameha-Hawai’i and Kohala, however, it brings a perk to the table that Big Island Interscholastic Federation schools haven’t been able to enjoy in the history of the DII tournament: home court advantage.

For the first time, the Division II tournament will be held on the Big Island, with Kea’au and Waiakea high schools hosting games from Wednesday through Saturday this week. The semifinal and championship games will be at Kea’au’s Cougar Gymnasium.

BIIF champion Kamehameha-Hawai’i will be the biggest beneficiary of staying home, since its trek from Kea’au to its game site at Waiakea on Wednesday is less than 15 minutes away. The Warriors, who went 10-11 overall and 8-4 in the BIIF, received the tournament’s second seeded spot and will face either Waipahu or St. Francis on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinals. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio’s AM 850 in Hilo and AM 790 in Kona.

Meanwhile, Kohala (9-7, 7-5) won’t have to board a plane to compete in this year’s tournament. However, their cross-island trek will begin on Wednesday when the Cowgirls face Kauai Interscholastic Federation champion Kapa’a at Kea’au High. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be heard on ESPN Radio.

Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Hawai’i Baptist received the top seed for this week’s tournament. Kaimuki, Oahu Interscholastic Association champion, was seeded third, and Maui Interscholastic League winner Moloka’i was ranked fourth.

OC16/HHSAA Division II Girls Basketball Championship schedule

Wednesday

at Kea’au High School

McKinley vs. Damien – 5 p.m. (ESPNHawaii.com)

Kapa’a vs. Kohala – 7 p.m. (ESPNHawaii.com)

at Waiakea High School

Mid-Pacific vs. Hanalani – 5 p.m.

Waipahu vs. St. Francis – 7 p.m.

Thursday

at Kea’au High School

McKinley/Damien loser vs. Kapa’a/Kohala loser – 3 p.m.

McKinley/Damien winner vs. #1 Hawai’i Baptist – 5 p.m.

Kapa’a/Kohala winner vs. #4 Moloka’i – 7 p.m.

at Waiakea High School

Mid-Pacific/Hanalani loser vs. Waipahu/St. Francis loser – 3 p.m.

Mid-Pacific/Hanalani winner vs. #3 Kaimuki – 5 p.m.

Waipahu/St. Francis winner vs. #2 Kamehameha-Hawai’i – 7 p.m. (ESPNHawaii.com)

Friday

at Waiakea High School

Consolation championship – 3 p.m.

Kea’au bracket fifth place semifinal – 5 p.m.

Waiakea bracket fifth place semifinal – 7 p.m.

at Kea’au High School

Kea’au bracket semifinal – 5 p.m.

Waiakea bracket semifinal – 7 p.m.

Saturday

at Kea’au High School

Fifth place – 2 p.m.

Third place – 4 p.m.

Championship – 6 p.m.