Kaua’i goes on attack, emerges with KIF win KAPA’A — During a handful of Kaua’i second-quarter possessions, the sound system at the Kapa’a Gym let out a few distracting tunes. KIF Hoops Kapa’a 46 Kaua’i 52 It seemed an effort
Kaua’i goes on attack, emerges with KIF win
KAPA’A — During a handful of Kaua’i second-quarter possessions, the sound system at the Kapa’a Gym let out a few distracting tunes.
KIF Hoops
Kapa’a 46
Kaua’i 52
It seemed an effort to exploit the Warriors’ home-court advantage to the fullest.
It was unsuccessful. Kaua’i shook off the music, played its most aggressive KIF basketball this season and grabbed a 52-46 victory.
R-J Pillos emerged from his shell to lead the Red Raiders with 16 points and help his team to a 1-0 record in the KIF second round (2-3 overall).
“We’re still working on trying to minimize our breakdowns,” Red Raiders coach Alex Pascual said. “We did a much better job of that.
“We were much more aggressive.”
As for the hosts, Kapa’a played well in spurts. It charged to a 14-5 lead to start the game, but crumbled under its own weight and Kaua’i’s pressure.
With full-court defense and Pillos’ shooting, the Red Raiders went on an 8-0 run to start the second quarter. The Warriors regained some composure and the teams played evenly to the intermission.
But the Warriors could not sustain their level of play in the third quarter. Kaua’i went deep into its bench for fresh bodies, unlikely scorers and a lead it would not relinquish.
“We have the luxury of a good bench,” Pascual said. “So we can put a lot of pressure on our opponents.”
Reserve Rodney Morden (five points, two rebounds) scored the Raiders’ final three points of the third quarter to put his team ahead 38-31.
Early in the fourth quarter, Kaua’i’s Lionel Tomacder (11, three) exploited Kapa’a’s pressure defense, taking his man to the hole for a layup and a 42-34 bulge.
Kapa’a’s Kaili Panui (12) then strung five consecutive points together to close the gap to 42-39. But the Warriors were never able to get over the hump.
Kaua’i sunk 8-of-8 free throws in the final four minutes to seal the game.
“We work very hard in practice,” Pascual said. “And it’s nice to see the effort come together at game time like this.
“We don’t really like reading all of these things about all our negatives in the newspaper. But I told the boys you have to earn the positives.”
Jason Kashiwabara scored 13 points and snared seven rebounds for Kaua’i. Rhyan Greenleaf led Kapa’a with 13 points and five boards.
The Red Raiders also won the JV game, 44-37. More on the game will follow in Monday’s Garden Island.
Kaua’i 52, Kapa’a 46
Kapa’a
Player Points Rebds.
Kaili Panui 12 2
Garrett Danner 2 0
Allen Iloreta 0 0
Rhyan Greenleaf 13 5
Chris Lary 3 3
K. Hendricksen 7 1
Ed Roessler 0 0
Kekoa Chun 5 3
Asher Cole 2 0
Austin Alapai 1 0
Jeffrey Gimenez 1 1
Kaua’i
Player Points Rebds.
Alec Reichle 0 0
Alec Carbonel 0 0
Koa Navarro 0 0
L. Tomacder 11 3
J. Kashiwabara 13 7
D. Medeiros 4 3
R-Jay Pillos 16 0
Rodney Morden 5 2
Jason Sahara 3 3
T. Keopuhiwa 0 0
