Brandon Ching | ScoringLive
February 7, 2020, 11:06pm
Game of the Week
Konawaena, Iolani win convincingly to reach final dance
Konawaena's Caiyle Kaupu and Iolani's Lily Lefotu Wahinekapu each had big games in the semifinals to lead their respective teams to Saturday's championship game. CJ Caraang | SLKAKAAKO — Winning streaks will be on the line as the top two teams in the Hawaiian Electric Girls Basketball Power Rankings meet for all the marbles.
Top-ranked Iolani returns to the state title game after getting by No. 3 Waiakea, 57-44, while in the first semifinal game, No. 2 Konawaena was too much for No. 5 Kahuku, 56-39 to set up the anticipated matchup.
The Raiders are seeking back-to-back titles for the first time since 1996 while the Wildcats are in the hunt for their first state title since 2018 and 10th overall.
"We're excited to be in the championship game. I think three girls were on the team that made it. It's a new experience for almost all of them so it's pretty cool for them," Konawaena co-coach Dawnyelle Awa said.
Tip-off for the Snapple Division I Girls Basketball Championship is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena.
Iolani denied Konawaena last year in the state semifinals with a 43-22 win.
The two teams met earlier in the preseason tournament at McKinley back on Nov. 14 with the Raiders winning handily, 54-26. The Wildcats did not have a double-digit scorer in that game.
It's all but a distant memory.
"They're tough. They have two of the best players in the state, hands down" Iolani coach Dean Young said of Kaliana Salazar-Harrell and Caiyle Kaupu. "Both are challenging to stop in different ways and look what Caiyle did tonight, she was on a mission and we have our work cut out for us."
Konawaena has come a long way and is currently on a 14-game winning streak while Iolani is on a seven-game winning streak since its only loss to Maryknoll back on Jan. 14. All good things must come to an end for someone.
