WAIMEA – The Waimea Menehune opened the 2002 high school basketball season with a three-game win streak. Desmond Rodrigues scored a team high 10 points to lead the Menehune to a 46-45 victory over Pahoa Saturday on the last day
WAIMEA – The Waimea Menehune opened the 2002 high school basketball season with a three-game win streak.
Desmond Rodrigues scored a team high 10 points to lead the Menehune to a 46-45 victory over Pahoa Saturday on the last day of the Waimea Invitational at Clem Gomes Gymnasium.
The Menehune (3-0), who hadn’t practiced with their full roster until earlier in the week due to the football and volleyball State Championships, defeated Kaahumanu Hou, 55-40, on Thursday and Word of Life, 62-43, on Friday.
The Kaua’i Red Raiders (3-0) had similar success in Waimea, beating Word of Life, 79-63, on Thursday and Pahoa, 74-66, on Friday. The Raiders continued their perfect run with a 73-38 win over Kaahumanu Hou last night.
Kapa’a (1-2), which lost its first two games of the tournament, defeated Word of Life, 58-55, on Saturday.
The Menehune rarely gave up the lead in the first three quarters, but after committing 5 of their 14 turnovers in the fourth, they found themselves trailing, 42-38.
Menehune forward Casey Kaohilaulii hit two consecutive three-pointers with under 2 minutes remaining to give Waimea the lead, and Rodrigues maintained it with a steal on Pahoa’s final possession.
Along with 10 points, Rodrigues had 3 steals and 5 rebounds. Jordon Dizon scored 8 points and had 6 rebounds, Kaohilaulii finished with 8 points and 2 rebounds and forward Austin Alquiza added 6 points. Alquiza led the Menehune in rebounds with 10.
Guard Jay Parinas chipped in 6 points and 1 rebound, Josh Vinzant had 4 points, and Akeem Allen and Jeremy Manuel each had 2 to round out the Menehune scoring.
Pahoa was led by Ashley McGuire and Bronson Ganir, who each scored 10 points.
Jaemar Sibucao added 9 points, Kawika Kobayashi had 5 and Owen Flores and Keone Aiu each had 3.
