Posted on: Tuesday, January 15, 2002

Week of upsets leaves no unbeatens in BIIF basketball

Advertiser Staff

A crazy week in Big Island Interscholastic Federation boys basketball left the 12-team league with no undefeated teams.

The wildness started Jan. 8, when Kea'au shocked perennial power Hilo, 34-32. Kea'au, just outside Hilo, is in its third year as a high school and only its second year of varsity competition.

The team has no seniors. Hilo, which was ranked No. 5 in last week's Advertiser Top 10 poll, has won two state championships in the 1990s.

Hilo (3-2) lost again Friday, to crosstown rival Waiakea, 62-56.

Also Friday, defending league champion Honoka'a (3-1) upset previously unbeaten Kealakehe, 36-33.

The next day, Kealakehe (4-1) turned the tables on St. Joseph, edging the previously unbeaten Cardinals, 58-56.

Kohala (3-1) also suffered its first loss Friday, 57-53 to Konawaena (2-2).

Even the teams that dodged upset bids did so by narrow margins.

St. Joseph (3-1) slipped past Ka'u, 68-65, Pahoa defeated Hawai'i Prep, 60-57, and Honoka'a survived Kea'au, 40-38.

The big matchup this week pits Waiakea (3-1) at St. Joseph Friday.

• On the Valley Island, the first Maui Interscholastic League showdown saw Lahainaluna defeating Baldwin, 62-44. The Lunas (5-0) will play at Maui (5-0) tomorrow night at 7.