WAIMEA—The Kapa’a High School wahine basketball team opened the Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation (KIF) season on a winning note under a new coach, Michael Ban, as they emerged from the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea with a 45-40 win over the
WAIMEA—The Kapa’a High School wahine basketball team opened the Kaua’i
Interscholastic Federation (KIF) season on a winning note under a new coach,
Michael Ban, as they emerged from the Clem Gomes Gym in Waimea with a 45-40 win
over the Waimea High School Menehunes.
Surviving a quick Menehune lead
coming off a pair of free throws from Kailana Soto, the Warriors never looked
back as Trichael Pangan paced the Kapa’a ladies to a 13-6 first quarter
lead.
The Warriors staved off at least three threats from the Menehunes
throughout the defensive slugfest.
Faced with four members of their roster
not being able to make the opening game, the Menehunes managed to outshoot the
lady Warriors in two of the four quarters, and tied the Warrriors 13-13 in the
final stanza, but the effort fell short in the loss.
The Menehunes also
outgunned the lady Warriors on the free throw line 7 points on 13 attempts
compared with the Warriors’ 3-for-8 charity showing.
Pangan stalemated the
contest 6-6 at the 4:21 first quarter mark as she tucked in a second effort
basket, and following a pair of free throws from Waialana Quisano, sparked the
7-0 point run to the buzzer with 5 points.
The Menehunes held the Warriors
scoreless for almost three minutes of the second period, and managed to pull
within a pair of the Warriors with a trey by Soto at the 1:47 first half mark,
but Kapa’a answered with baskets by Ashley Farias and Jordyn Danner to keep
Waimea at bay 23-17 at the half.
Erika Iwai pulled the Menehunes to within
a basket in the third period with a second effort basket, but the Warriors
surged ahead on a trey and a field goal by Danner for the 32-27 Kapa’a lead at
the end of three quarters.
Jennifer Fukino brought the Menehunes to within
two, 38-40 at the 2:36 mark as she capped a 5-point Waimea scoring surge with a
pair of free throws, but the effort fell short as the Menehunes succumbed to
missed passes and free throws as Kapa’a put the icing on the win behind a trey
by Ashley Farias with less than a minute remaining.
Warrior scoring was
spread between three leaders as Danner topped the roster with a game high
15-point effort followed by Farias and Pangan with 11-point contributions.
Erin Hanada added four and Quisano and Kainani Torio each added a
pair.
Soto topped the Menehune scoring with 13 points followed by Iwai’s
12-point showing. Robyn Manuel tucked in 7 points including a 1-for-2 showing
at the free throw line, and Fukino and Charis Castillo each added four in the
loss.
Mytra Dileonardo and Shayna Carvalho had strong defensive efforts for
the Warriors along with the scoring Warriors. Jodi Kimura, Desiree Dennis, and
Sunny Jane Dela Cruz also saw action for the Menehunes.
The Menehunes
travel to the Raiderdome on Friday, March 24, for the second contest in the
fledgling season as they take on the Red Raiders who will be inaugurating their
new coach, Penny Vess. Tipoff time for the JV game is at 5:30 p.m. with the
varsity game starting twenty minutes following the completion of the JV
contest.
