McKinley will forfeit tomorrow's first-round game of the O'ahu Interscholastic Association Red playoffs against 'Aiea.

McKinley athletic director Neal Takamori said the forfeiture is a result of the team using an ineligible player. He declined further comment, only saying "it is something we have to deal with at the school level."

'Aiea automatically advances to next week's quarterfinals against Castle.

Since the ineligible player's participation would have affected McKinley's record and standing, the next eligible team was Kaimuki. But OIA executive secretary Dwight Toyama said Kaimuki declined to play because it had already turned in its equipment and cited a safety issue since the players would have only one day to practice. He added that it also would not have been fair to 'Aiea, which had been preparing to play McKinley.

"You have to give McKinley credit for turning themselves in," Toyama said.

McKinley also is forfeiting the junior varsity game against 'Aiea for the same reason.

Last week Waipahu forfeited against Moanalua when the Marauders had only 19 players left after about half the team served a one-game suspension for breaking team rules.

Meanwhile, West No. 5 seed Leilehua (3-3 OIA) takes on East No. 4 Farrington (3-3) at 'Aiea stadium tonight at 7. It will be televised live on OC-16.

Also, the White's No. 1 seed will be at stake tonight when Radford (6-0) travels to Campbell (5-1). A win by Radford, ranked No. 9 in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media, clinches the top seed for the Rams, a No. 2 seed for Moanalua (6-1) and sends Campbell down to No. 3.

A Campbell victory would create a three-way tie for first, and seedings then will be determined by coin toss.

As for the White's No. 4 and final playoff berth, three teams — Kaiser (3-3), Kalaheo (2-4) and Waialua (2-4) — are still in contention.

Kaiser is in the driver's seat because all it has to do is beat Waialua tomorrow to clinch the fourth berth.

Kalaheo must beat Waipahu and have Waialua beat Kaiser to force a three-way tie. And then all are at the mercy of a coin toss.

ILH SHOWDOWNS

First place has proved to be a very slippery place in the Interscholastic League of Hono-lulu, and even a pair of big showdowns tomorrow won't seal the deal for the winners.

No. 1-ranked Punahou (6-1 overall, 3-1 ILH) faces No. 3 Kamehameha (6-2, 3-1) in the 7:30 p.m. feature game at Aloha Stadium. No. 4 Iolani (6-2, 3-1) and No. 7 Saint Louis (4-3, 2-2) play at 4:30.

Iolani, as a Division II team, must finish with an equal or better record than the top DI team and then win a playoff to claim the overall crown.

Since the ILH season began on Sept. 17, no team has held on to first place for more than two weeks.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com and Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.