Big Island's Kealakehe finally breaks through

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

In the past two seasons, Kealakehe entered the Big Island Interscholastic Federation tournament as the top seed. Twice it did not represent its league in the state tournament.

Papali'i

"It's sweet redemption for us," Kealakehe fourth-year coach Sam Papali'i said. "To finally win, it is the monkey off our back. It's been frustration because we've been favored the last two years. Coming in this year, I told the team, 'Just hang in there. We're under the radar right now. You guys just continue to persevere and step it up, when it counts, that's when we gotta win.' "

The bonus for the first-time BIIF champions is that it will play host for Friday's quarterfinal against Leilehua, the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's third-place representative. But there is still another proverbial monkey to shoo away. The BIIF is the only league not to win a game in the state tournament, which started in 1999.

The Waveriders are expecting the same support they got when they traveled to Hilo in Friday's BIIF championship.

"Our fans are going to be loud," he said. "We want the loudest noise-makers to come out. Our fans came all the way out to out-cheer the Hilo group."

Meanwhile, for the second consecutive year, the Maui Interscholastic League's Division II representative will enter the tournament with a losing record. The Pac-Three Titans are 3-4 overall, 2-4 in the MIL. Their only two league wins were against newcomer Kamehameha-Maui. Last year, Lahainaluna had a losing record, yet won its opening-round game.

First-year coach Jim Klaczak said the MIL is a tough league, hence the losing records of Lahainaluna last year and his team this year. The Titans got hammered by Division I champion Lahainaluna and Baldwin, but lost close games to King Kekaulike (36-27) and Maui (35-31).

"Even though we had a losing record, we were battle-tested," Klaczak said. "Our problem with the record was that we played in the MIL. We had to play Lahainaluna and Baldwin and we played well against the two other Division I schools. It's all part of the growth process. The thing that hurt us was we had so many open dates. We would gain something after playing a game, then we would have a week off."

The Titans will play Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation champion Kaua'i at Vidinha Stadium on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The KIF is the only league that is entirely Division II; last year, the Red Raiders won the KIF and represented their league in the Division I tournament.

In an injury update, Leilehua quarterback Bryant Moniz sustained badly bruised ribs in Saturday's 14-10 win against Castle in the third-place game of the OIA tournament, but he is expected to play Friday's game at Kealakehe, Mules coach Nolan Tokuda said.

Moniz, a sophomore quarterback who passed for 2,284 yards and 22 TDs this season, got hurt after a 1-yard gain on a fourth-and-1 at the Leilehua 47 with about 2:15 left in the game that prolonged Leilehua's drive. Castle regained possession with 25 seconds remaining, but failed to move the ball after four incomplete passes. Moniz returned to take a knee to kill the final seconds of the game, then went to Pali Momi Medical Center for observation. He was released later that night.

Tokuda said Moniz's mother told him it would hurt her son more if he did not play. Tokuda said Moniz will ice the ribs today and tomorrow and just observe practice until Wednesday.

The Mules will be without defensive lineman Vai Tamafuta (6-foot, 320), who left Saturday's game with a sprained ankle, Tokuda said.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.