LIHUE – With only a half-game separating the two and this being their final regular season encounter, there was a sense that Friday night’s KIF junior varsity basketball clash between the league-leading Kaua’i Red Raiders and Waimea Menehunes would have
LIHUE – With only a half-game separating the two and this being their final regular season encounter, there was a sense that Friday night’s KIF junior varsity basketball clash between the league-leading Kaua’i Red Raiders and Waimea Menehunes would have an intense sense of urgency about it.
The two squads did not disappoint.
Fans were treated to a tightly-contested nail-biter between the league’s two most improved teams as Kaua’i battled back to tie the game at 39-all at the end of regulation on Tab Matsumotos picture-perfect three-point play and eventually emerged with a hard-fought 49-45 victory in double-overtime.
The victory, coupled with the cancellation of the Menehune’s previous contest, essentially clinched the 2002 Kaua’i Interscholastic Federation Junior Varsity title for the Raiders.
Six-point leads by both squads came and went in regulation as Waimea patiently worked for high-percentage lay-ins and Kaua’i responded with deadly perimeter marksmanship.
Kekoa Crowells free throws with 1:44 to play in the second four-minute overtime period gave the Raiders a 46-44 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Menehune guard Lance Kauwe dropped one of two from the charity line to cut the lead to one and both teams missed sets of free throws on consecutive possessions as the pressure mounted and the swiftly growing crowd grew proportionally vocal.
Jon Smith’s bucket a minute later pushed the home teams lead to four before Crowells free throw with :12 showing proved to be the final margin of victory.
Crowell led the Raiders winning offensive effort with 11 points while Waimea’s Jeremy Manuel led all scorers with a game-high 14.
The Red Raiders improved to 5-2 with one game remaining (next Tuesday’s visit to Kapa’a’s Bernice Hundley Gymnasium) on their schedule. Waimea dropped to 3-3 and will end their season at home next Friday against the Warriors. The previous contest between the Menehunes and Warriors was canceled last Tuesday due to excessive condensation on the gym floor and will not be made up. Game time for both contests is slated for 5:30 p.m.
