WAIMEA — Kauai High bounced back after falling short in the season opener last week. The Red Raiders varsity boys basketball team defeated the Menehune, 70-43, Wednesday evening at Waimea High School. The Red Raiders (1-1 KIF) outscored the Menehune
WAIMEA — Kauai High bounced back after falling short in the season opener last week.
The Red Raiders varsity boys basketball team defeated the Menehune, 70-43, Wednesday evening at Waimea High School.
The Red Raiders (1-1 KIF) outscored the Menehune 18 points in the first half and nine in the second half. Yoshioka said though the offensive performance boded well, it was the defense that stood out to him.
“Team, hard work and defense. That’s what we preached after the first game. What we weren’t doing (in the last game) is what we did tonight,” said Kauai head coach Ipo Yoshioka. “The kids came to play, and we just keep coaching and teaching. We can only hope that what we teach gets applied, and it takes care of itself after that.”
Kauai sophomore guard Gunnar Burkman was the team’s leading scorer with 20 points, 15 of which were made outside the 3-point line. He also had four assists and three steals.
“We just had more confidence in this game. We came out with more energy,” Burkman said. “Last game, we started off slow and then we picked it up in the second half. This game, we started off like that and ended like that. That was the good thing.”
Both teams were about even at the free throw line. The Red Raiders were 11-24 from the line and Waimea (0-1 KIF) was 13-29.
Waimea head coach Chris Acoba said the loss was because of two factors — one of which is missed free throws. The other is turnovers.
“Any coach would expect something better, thinking we had a chance to win,” Acoba said. “I was telling them if we take away the turnovers and (made) free throws, we’d have a much closer game. One of our players went 4-13 (at the free throw line), so that’s nine points. And I think we had over 20 turnovers. That’s 40 points.”
Acoba added perhaps his players put too much pressure on themselves.
“Hopefully, we can get the butterflies out of them — get them to realize it’s just a regular basketball game like they play community basketball,” he said. “Don’t have to go back to the drawing board, but work on what we did wrong.”
Yoshioka said he doesn’t expect to win future games versus Waimea this season by this wide a margin again despite this result.
“They’re a better team than that. We’re going to see Waimea three more times, and it’s not going to be like this,” he said.
Kauai junior guard Bryce Johnson-Cormack had 18 points, 11 in the third quarter, seven rebounds and two steals.
Menehune sophomore guard DJ Pabre had 16 points, five assists and two steals for Waimea. Senior forward Seaton Farias had nine points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Kauai also won the junior varsity game, 47-31. Red Raiders freshman guard Christopher Cromartie had 10 points. Sophomore guard Taylon Yadao scored eight points for the JV Menehune.
“Tough game. Waimea came out with things that was unexpected,” said Red Raiders JV coach Danilo Tutop. “It was a good challenge. The kids adjusted in the second half. The first half was kind of ugly, kind of tough.”
Waimea will play at Kapaa (1-0 KIF) on Jan. 6. The JV game will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity will follow. Kauai High will play at Kapaa on Saturday, Jan. 9.
