The Oahu Interscholastic Association playoffs aren’t a mirror of the NBA’s postseason format, but it is pretty darn close.
For decades, late-season play has been rewarded in OIA basketball. Nearly every team qualifies for the playoffs. Win and you’re in. Unlike the ILH and MIL, though, consistent success in the OIA doesn’t merit an automatic state-tournament berth, which opens things up for more teams to have shot at the big dance.
It drums up drama. Judging from the roaring crowds at the OIA girls basketball playoffs, there will be thrillers aplenty from Waialua to Hawaii Kai when the boys playoffs tip off on Saturday.
Because the state tournament was bumped up earlier recently, the OIA playoffs are bunched together, four rounds in a five-day span. Having a prepared roster, a deep bench of seasoned lettermen, can really make the difference in the 2021-22 playoffs.
Losers on Saturday in the OIA Division I play-in (pig tail) round are done for the season. Winners advance to Monday’s quarterfinals. The quarterfinal winners earn state-tournament berths, while the losers duke it out for the remaining (fifth) state berth.
OIA boys basketball
Division I playoffs
Saturday, Feb. 12
Opening round (play in)
W4 Radford vs. E5 Kalaheo, 6:30 p.m., McKinley gym
W6 Nanakuli at E3 Roosevelt, 6:30 p.m.
E6 Moanalua at W3 Kapolei, 6:30 p.m.
W5 Campbell at E4 Kaiser, 6:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 14
Quarterfinal round
Radford-Kalaheo winner at E1 Kailua, 6:30 p.m.
Roosevelt-Nanakuli winner at W2 Leilehua, 6:30 p.m.
Kapolei-Moanalua winner at E2 Kahuku, 6:30 p.m.
Kaiser-Campbell winner at W1 Mililani, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 15
Semifinal round
At Moanalua
Kailua/Radford/Kalaheo winner vs. Leilehua/Roosevelt/Nanakuli winner, 5 p.m.
Kahuku/Kapolei/Moanalua winner vs. Mililani/Kaiser/Campbell winner, 7:30 p.m.
Consolation bracket
Kailua/Radford/Kalaheo loser vs. Leilehua/Roosevelt/Nanakuli loser, 6:30 p.m., at higher seed
Kahuku/Kapolei/Moanalua loser vs. Mililani/Kaiser/Campbell loser, 6:30 p.m., at higher seed
Wednesday, Feb. 16
Championship game, 7:30 p.m., Moanalua gym
Third-place game, 6:30 p.m., at higher seed
Fifth-place game, 6:30 p.m., at higher seed
In D-II, Kaimuki made a late-season run to claim the top seed in the East over Kalani. That means the Bulldogs get to host a semifinal matchup against the Waialua-Farrington winner on Monday with a state-tourney berth at stake.
A late-season skid means Kalani hosts Waianae, the West’s third-place team in D-II, and the winner will truck on to Waipahu in Monday’s semifinal.
OIA Division II playoffs
Saturday, Feb. 12
E3 Farrington at W2 Waialua, 6:30 p.m.
W3 Waianae at E2 Kalani, 6:30 p.m. (after JV game)
Monday, Feb. 14
Semifinal round
Waialua-Farrington winner at E1 Kaimuki, 6:30 p.m.
Kalani-Waianae winner at W1 Waipahu, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 16
Championship game, 5 p.m., Moanalua gym
Why are the playoffs at Moanalua? They can’t have the #1 seeds host or play at a neutral site?
#1 seeds only host the quarterfinals at home, they don’t get home court throughout the playoffs!
Moanalua is the chosen site for semi & championship games as if they were playing at the Stan Sheriff or Blaisdell arenas.
The OIA needs to change this! What’s the use of going undefeated the whole season if your going to play away. Hawaii basketball is @$$ backwards…