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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, June 11, 2006

More DII tourneys coming

Advertiser Staff

The Division II wave has now swept up girls soccer and boys basketball.

A proposal to add DII state tournaments in those two sports this coming school year was unanimously approved by an 83-0 vote yesterday at a general assembly of the Hawai'i Interscholastic Athletic Directors Association at the Wailea Beach Marriot.

The measure still must receive final approval by the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association's executive board on Wednesday, but it is expected to pass without much opposition.

"I think it's a step forward," said Konawaena athletic director Lyle Crozier. "The smaller schools will now have a better chance to go to a state tournament, and that's what we're in this business for — to give more kids an opportunity to play."

In 1965 and 1966, and from 1970 to 1982, the HHSAA held a "Single-A" basketball state tournament for smaller schools. But between 1982 and the 2003-04 school year, there were no such state tournaments in any sport.

Division II state tournaments for football, softball and girls basketball were added that year, then inaugural DII tournaments for boys and girls volleyball were held this past school year.

An HHSAA committee on Division II made the recommendation to add DII boys basketball and girls soccer.

Big Island Interscholastic Federation executive director Ken Yamase said his league submitted a proposal to also add DII baseball, but it was defeated. He cited gender equity numbers as the probable reason a Division II boys soccer tournament was not added.