Everyone at the Raiderdome last night knew what Kapa’a guard Garrett Danner could do. What they didn’t know was that he couldn’t do it without a healthy group of guys around him. Danner scored 25 points on 6-9 shooting and
Everyone at the Raiderdome last night knew what Kapa’a guard Garrett Danner could do.
What they didn’t know was that he couldn’t do it without a healthy group of guys around him.
Danner scored 25 points on 6-9 shooting and notched five assists, six steals and seven rebounds to lead Kapa’a to a 62-47 win over the Kaua’i Red Raiders Tuesday night – its first win of the KIF season.
The return of guard Asher Cole (2-3, 5 points, five assists) and forward Kailli Panui (5-5, 12 points, four rebounds, one steal) may have helped relieve some pressure on G-D, who struggled in his outing against the Waimea Menehunes, and it may also have been the key to lifting the Warriors from its early 0-2 slump.
At any rate, the Warriors played hard-nosed basketball for the first time this season, and the results showed on the scoreboard.
Despite five early turnovers in the first quarter, the Warriors jumped to a 14-10 lead with 1:36 left on four Danner buckets and a key block and assist from Cole.
The Warriors were up eight after one, 18-10.
Kapa’a kept rolling in the second.
The Warriors played tight on defense, forcing seven Red Raider turnovers in the second period, and pushed the lead to 25-15 with 4:32 left in the period.
Kaua’i guard Lionel Tomacder came alive.
T-Mac, who recorded a brilliant performance with 21 points on 8-12 shooting, seven rebounds, five steals and one assist, brought the Red Raiders within five points on two steals in the waning moments of the half.
The score was 35-28 after two.
Although Kaua’i began protecting the ball better in the second half, the team couldn’t overcome its early deficit. The Warriors wouldn’t have it. In a back-and-forth quarter highlighted by a Panui steal and bucket in the final second, the Warriors led 47-38 after three and would roll the rest of the way.
G-D hit the last of his three field goals from beyond the arc and two free-throw buckets down the stretch to lift Kapa’a to its first win of the season.
The Warriors were able to pull out the win without its big-man, Seth Yamomoto (the rumor: he forgot his mouth-piece?), and also capitalized on the limited minutes of Jason Sahara, who sat for much of the game due to a few early fouls.
