LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i High School outscored Waimea High School as they finished with two players netting 13 points apiece while Waimea had one player in double digit scoring as Kamu Kawaihalau led the boys in blue with 11 points. Alec
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i High School outscored Waimea High School as they finished with two players netting 13 points apiece while Waimea had one player in double digit scoring as Kamu Kawaihalau led the boys in blue with 11 points.
Alec Reichle exploded for 13 second-half points to add to Va‘afuti Tavana’s 13 points to lead the Red Raider effort that fell short.
But, the Menehune were able to capitalize on Red Raider turnovers and in the final minutes, held on to the lead to clinch the KIF boys basketball season, 44-39 before a standing-room only crowd at the Raiderdome on Lala Road.
Kaua‘i opened with a Tavana bucket, but then ended chasing the Menehune until close to the end of the period when Tavana put the Raiders in the lead with his second field goal of the quarter, 9-6 only to have Waimea’s Casey Kaohelauli‘i knot things up, 9-9 with a trey at the buzzer.
The see-saw battle continued in the second quarter with the Raiders opening on six unanswered points only to have the Menehune chip away and deadlock the contest behind a Jordon Dizon bucket at the 1:47 mark.
Another Dizon charity pair pulled Waimea into the lead as Tavana could only split a free throw pair at the half n 17-16, Menehunes.
Waimea gained control over the court in the second half, and despite the Raiders taking over behind Reichle buckets, the Menehune deadlocked the contest for the final time at the 1:08 mark behind a Chad Barba bucket.
Following Kawaihalau, Dizon added eight points with Barba, Kaohelauli‘o, and Lanikai Kanahele each ending the night with six digits.
Kaua‘i got valuable help from Aren Raca in clearing the paint, and added five points to the scoring, Josh Bradbury finishing with four points.
Brendon McDaniels finished with 18 points to lead a trio of double-digit scoring Menehune in the JV 49-44 win.
Brysen Andaya added 11 points and Dana Tayco chipped in ten points to lead the Menehune victory that came despite Kaua‘i outscoring Waimea in the first, third, and fourth quarters.
Nate Beralas took the lead scoring for Kaua‘i, finishing with 16 points in the loss with Ira Nishi contributing eight points. Jesse Slade, normally Kaua‘i’s top shooter, was held to five points.
