Hilo High may be narrowing the gap on BIIF powerhouse Kealakehe, but the large gap at the HHSAA Division I tournament remains.
Michael Watson scored a natural hat trick and finished with four goals Wednesday, and Radford downed the Vikings 5-1 in the first round at Oahu’s Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex.
Hilo (11-5-0), the four-time BIIF runner-up, has lost all seven of its state openers dating back to 2009.
“The state level is a high intensity and offer players who provide different variety,” Vikings coach George Ichimaru said. “We need to adapt to that level.
“Athletically, we are there.