When the “Usual Suspects” are on, there’s not much the KIF can do. Danielle Hill, Kanoe Arinaga, Jasmine Stevenson and Ihilani Yama took Clem Gomes by storm Friday night, leading the Kapa’a Warriors to a 53-37 win over Waimea and
When the “Usual Suspects” are on, there’s not much the KIF can do.
Danielle Hill, Kanoe Arinaga, Jasmine Stevenson and Ihilani Yama took Clem Gomes by storm Friday night, leading the Kapa’a Warriors to a 53-37 win over Waimea and clinching the 2002 KIF Championship.
The Warriors, who ended the season with a 7-1 record, will head to the Stan Sheriff Center in Oahu to play in the HHSAA State Basketball Championships from May 14-17.
The “Usual Suspects” were unstoppable. Hill, coming off her best performance of the regular season, led the Warriors with numbers around the board: 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists and one steal.
Kanoe Arinaga, in sealing her reputation for being a dangerously well-rounded player, had 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and three steals.
Jasmine Stevenson nabbed seven boards along with her 10 points, one assist and one steal. Yama scored seven points, three rebounds, and had three steals.
Sharlene Carillo, another “Suspect” with her money jumpshot, was limited to three points, one rebound, but played a big part in the Warrior’s success all season.
The score doesn’t tell the first half story.
Kapa’a committed seven turnovers in the first quarter, but played tight enough on defense to limit Waimea to just six points before the second period.
The Warriors led 8-6 after one.
The Menehunes kept it tight until late second quarter, when the Warriors got hot.
Jacklyn Alapai and Arinaga each hit a jumper and Hill sank two free-throws to give the Warriors a 22-15 edge heading into the second half.
It all ended for the Menehunes in the third.
Hill, Arinaga and Stevenson each scored two buckets to lead Kapa’a in a 17-7 run heading into the fourth period.
The Waimea bench looked dejected, and it was all over from there.
The Warriors topped the Menehunes 31-24 in the second half, sealing the victory and taking to the East-side the 2002 KIF Title.
For the Warriors: Nichol Kunioka-Volz had two assists; Tania Tasic had three points; Tescilly MacGuire had two rebounds, one assist; Alapai had two points, one assist.
For the Menehunes, Ashely Vea had six points (three three pointers), three rebounds, one steal; Virginia Aguilar had three points, four rebounds, one steal, one block; Melody Manuel had five points, one rebound, one assist, one steal; Janna Soto had four points, three rebounds, one steal; Erin Castillo had five points, five rebounds, one block; Ashley Mier had five points, one rebound, one steal, Kellie Montemayer had three points (one trey); Jenny Morita had two rebounds, one assist.
