LIHUE – The Red Raiders (3-1) defeated Kapa’a Tuesday night in an exciting 46-42 contest to pull a half-game ahead of the idle Waimea Menehunes (2-1) in KIF junior varsity basketball action. The Warriors jumped out to an early 6-2
LIHUE – The Red Raiders (3-1) defeated Kapa’a Tuesday night in an exciting 46-42 contest to pull a half-game ahead of the idle Waimea Menehunes (2-1) in KIF junior varsity basketball action.
The Warriors jumped out to an early 6-2 lead on the strength of two Ryan Cram field goals and a Jesse Noone jumper, but Kaua’i responded with nine points and held Kapa’a scoreless in the final 4:55 of the first period. Freshman Kekoa Crowell erupted for three baskets and a free throw conversion to put the Raiders up 9-6 and Lance Okasakis jump shot from the charity line drew twine as time expired to extend the home teams lead after one to 11-6.
The Warriors cut the deficit to one in the second, only to be answered by Okasakis spinning juke and subsequent basket to put the Raiders up 16-13 with 2:04 left in the half. They shut down the Warriors over the final four minutes of the second period and scored an additional seven points to push the lead at intermission to double digits, 23-13.
Cadientes three-point bomb opened the scoring in the third and a Futi Tavana put-back gave the hosts their biggest cushion at 28-13. Point guard Jesse Noone took over the Warrior offense for four consecutive scores while Kaua’i’s Max Hadwin calmly responded with a pair of free throws for a 30-21 advantage.
Cram and Crowell traded buckets before Gavin Lofstedts charity try again pushed the lead to ten, 33-23. Kapaas Chris Baltizar picked up a basket off a Cram assist and, after a Raider turnover, Cram hit a monster bucket just over the outstretched reach of the towering Tavana underneath. A Jon Smith free throw with :23 to go in the period left the hosts up 34-27 at the end of three quarters.
Alone on the left wing, Smith buried his three-point try to open the final frame. Baltizar answered with a pair from the line but Smith hit the shot of the game as his weaving lay-up through heavy traffic dropped to give the home team a 39-29 advantage with just over six minutes to play.
With the Raiders utilizing the clock looking for high percentage baskets and Kapa’a unable to answer, both teams were held scoreless until Warrior Kalima Leong’s downtown rainbow found the bottom of the net. Noones back-down over Tavana cut the lead to 39-34 and a Devin Machado steal and driving lay-in left the visitors down three at the 3:15 mark.
With both squads battling fiercely on the boards, Kauai failed to find the mark despite three offensive rebounds on the next possession.
A perfect entry pass from Cram resulted in Austin Rosas first score and Kapa’a within one, 39-38.
Coach Buzzy Cox wisely settled his young charges down in a subsequent time-out and the Raiders went back to their offensive strongman Tavana to reclaim the lead with a strong move in the paint, 43-42. Following a Raider theft, Tavana went to the line but missed his free throw opportunity. A Warrior lane violation gave him a second chance however and he buried 1 of 2 tries to put Kaua’i up by two.
Matt Palaroans huge steal and lay-in following a Warrior time-out with :32 left proved to be the final margin of victory. A Kapaa three-point try just rimmed out and two missed attempts underneath ended the wild affair with the home team winning their third straight, 46-42.
The loss drops the Warriors to 0-3 for the season and theyll try again for that elusive first victory as they host the Waimea Menehunes at 5:30 p.m.on Friday, January 18th, at the Bernice Hundley Gym.
