WAIMEA – The Waimea boys Junior Varsity team took a half game lead in the young KIF basketball season with a hard-fought 45-35 victory over the visiting Warriors on Tuesday. The victory is the Menehunes second of the season and
WAIMEA – The Waimea boys Junior Varsity team took a half game lead in the young KIF basketball season with a hard-fought 45-35 victory over the visiting Warriors on Tuesday.
The victory is the Menehunes second of the season and puts them a game up on the idle (1-1) Kaua’i Red Raider squad that comes calling to the Clem Gomes Gym this Friday at 5:30 p.m. Coach Dawson Carvalhos’ Warriors, who played well throughout most of this contest, fall to 0-2.
Kapa’a’s Ryan Cram tipped in an offensive rebound and Jesse Noone and Cram converted free throw tries to give the Menehunes a 4-1 lead at the onset of the first.
Waimea scored on three consecutive possessions before a Noone field goal trimmed the lead to 7-6. Menehune post Akeem Allen scored with :03 left to put Waimea up 9-6 after one period of play.
A Devin Machado steal and lay-up conversion again cut the lead and the Menehunes responded with three scores to go up 15-8. The next three possessions resulted in free throw opportunities for both squads; stand-out Waimea freshman guard Aaron Hesapene converted two tries and Warrior point Noone (2 for 2) and Machado sank one of two chances.
Jeremy Manuel converted a spinning jumper to put Waimea ahead 19-11 and Kapa’a’s Kaylan Dolor responded with his only field goal of the contest. Two Andres Emayo free throws with 1:19 to play in the half gave Waimea a 21-13 edge into the locker rooms.
Cram’s basket off a perfect Machado dish was the first score in the second half for Kapa’a, but John Palacio hit a baseline jumper to regain the 8-point home lead.
John Karrattis’ jumper off the right wing after two missed Warrior free throw opportunities was answered by Chris Baltizars’ charity conversion. An excellent Emayo drop pass to Casey Kaohelaulii resulted in a 27-16 lead for the blue and white.
Both teams remained scoreless until the 4:13 mark, where Austin Rosa found Noone alone on the perimeter and drained the chance to bring Kapa’a within nine. The Warriors reeled off the next 6 points to cut the lead to three but Allens power lay-up ended the quarter with Waimea surviving the onslaught 29-24.
The Warriors would battle to within four in the final period, but they were unable to convert on consecutive Waimea thefts and a pair of Manuel free throws thrust Waimea ahead 35-26.
Kevin Castillo basket and Hesapene lay-up extended the Menehune lead to 39-29 with 2:45 to play. The next minute saw Waimea convert 1 of 4 charity tosses and the Warriors make 3 of 4 chances from the line.
With both coaches emptying their benches in the final minute, Kapa’a’s Kiah Imai hit 1 of 2 free throw tries and Kalima Leong dropped the Warriors final goal through the hoop to end the contest at 45-35.
