Kalaheo, Kona on collision course
By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
Girls basketball fans thirsting for a Division I state championship atmosphere probably won't have to wait for Friday's Hawaiian Airlines/Hawai'i High School Athletic Association title game.
When: Division I tomorrow through Friday; Division II Thursday and Friday Where: Stan Sheriff Center Admission: $9 adults, $5 students (K-12) and senior citizens (age 62 and over) Parking: $3
An unusually strong bracket could set up two showcase quarterfinals Wednesday night, likely matching defending state champion Konawaena (13-0) against perennial power Kalaheo (13-2) at 6, followed by O'ahu Interscholastic Association champ Kahuku (14-1) vs. Interscholastic League of Honolulu runner-up Iolani (10-2) at 8.
Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball Championships
"Our side is loaded — those would be two blockbuster games," Kalaheo coach Chico Furtado said. "But obviously we can't look past (first-round opponent) Baldwin. Roosevelt already taught us that lesson."
It was Roosevelt's 52-51 upset of Kalaheo in the OIA quarterfinals that set up this unique state tournament scenario. Kalaheo shared the OIA Eastern Division title with Kahuku and had a seven-game win streak entering the league playoffs, but was stripped of its home-court advantage after an incident between one of its fans and a referee.
After losing to Roosevelt at Radford, the Mustangs won two elimination games to qualify for the state tournament as the OIA's fifth-place team.
Thus Konawaena's reward for repeating as Big Island Interscholastic Federation champion and earning the state tournament's No. 2 seed potentially is a quarterfinal opponent that some regarded two weeks ago as the best team in the state.
"It would be a pretty tough matchup for us," Konawaena coach Bobbie Awa said, "but they gotta get past Baldwin first."
Tournament schedule
Division I
Tomorrow
First round
2:30 p.m. — Kaua'i vs. Roosevelt
4:15 p.m. — Baldwin vs. Kalaheo
6 p.m. — Honoka'a vs. Kaiser
8 p.m. — Farrington vs. Iolani
Wednesday
Consolation bracket
11 a.m. — Kaua'i/Roosevelt loser vs. Honoka'a/Kaiser loser
12:45 p.m. — Baldwin/Kalaheo loser vs. Farrington/Iolani loser
Quarterfinals
2:30 p.m. — No. 4 Lahainaluna vs. Honoka'a/Kaiser winner
4:15 p.m. — No. 1 Punahou vs. Kaua'i/Roosevelt winner
6 p.m. — No. 2 Konawaena vs. Baldwin/Kalaheo winner
8 p.m. — No. 3 Kahuku vs. Farrington/Iolani winner
Thursday
11 a.m. — Consolation game
12:45 p.m. — Consolation game
6 p.m. — Semifinal
8 p.m. — Semifinal
Friday
12:45 p.m. — Consolation final
2:30 p.m. — Fifth place
4 p.m. — Third place
8 p.m. — Championship
Division II
Thursday
Semifinals
2:30 p.m. — St. Francis vs. Seabury Hall
4:15 p.m. — Kalani vs. Kamehameha-Hawai'i
Friday
11 a.m. — Third place: Semifinal losers
6 p.m. — Championship: Semifinal winners
Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.
