Sometimes the best practice is no practice at all. A climb up K2, a cozy swim to Ni’ihau, a hike through caves surrounding Kabul – these are some things you can do to clear your head of the pains of
Sometimes the best practice is no practice at all.
A climb up K2, a cozy swim to Ni’ihau, a hike through caves surrounding Kabul – these are some things you can do to clear your head of the pains of practices, many of which turn into losses.
O.k., maybe the Waimea Menehune girls basketball team didn’t need a drastic change in scenery to get back on track, but two days and a bit of rest were enough to turn their KIF season around.
“We told them to take a couple days off, think about what adjustments need to be made and come back fresh,” said Coach Elton Montemoyer to his girls.
And it worked.
The Menehunes beat the undefeated Kapa’a Warriors 35-29 Tuesday night to even all three teams at 1-1 in the second round and breathe new life into the KIF championship run.
The Menehunes always had the firepower to compete with the Warriors, but in recent weeks, many wondered if they could beat anyone but themselves. How do you compare their 26-25 loss to a Kapa’a team fielding only six players, to Tuesday’s win against a stocked Warrior’s squad?
“We can’t give Kapa’a second and third shots,” said Montemoyer. “Girls like Danielle Hill, Kanoe Arinaga and Tania Tasic are tough to beat on the boards…we had to limit their offensive rebounds and give ourselves the extra chances.”
Montemoyer also said that getting everyone involved helped boost the Menehune offense, noting that seven players scored at least one point and none of them scored in double-figures.
Just off of injury, Kellie Montemoyer hit a key bucket to start the Menehune momentum. Jenny Morita played valuable minutes, Erin Castillo nabbed key rebounds, Ashley Vea was able to get isolated for one-on-one chances, Ashley Mier got some key buckets and Melody Manuel, always determined on the floor, scored nine points to lead the Menehune onslaught. Lorraine Lagoc and Virginia Aguilar combined for 10 rebounds, part of the reason Hill, Tasic, Arinaga and Jasmine Stevenson were offset under the basket.
But what should also be emphasized is the one aspect that keeps the Menehunes in every game until the fourth quarter: They don’t give up.
Held without a field-goal in the first quarter and down by six at the half, the Menehunes could have unlaced their sneakers along with their chances at second round honors. But they scorched through the second half at Bernice Hundly, outscoring the Warriors 11-2 in the third and 6-5 in the fourth to run away with their first second round victory.
Now the question is, can they continue their winning ways?
“The win definitely helped our confidence and the girls know they can do it,” said Montemoyer. “We just have to win the second round and try to force a KIF Championship game with Kapa’a. We know everything is possible.”
