KALAHEO — Ashley Mier and Lorraine Lagoc ignited the spectators with key buckets in the final quarter, but the effort came too late as the Westside Hornets dropped the contest, 35-23 Wednesday night in Kalaheo to set the stage for
KALAHEO — Ashley Mier and Lorraine Lagoc ignited the spectators with key buckets in the final quarter, but the effort came too late as the Westside Hornets dropped the contest, 35-23 Wednesday night in Kalaheo to set the stage for the championship showdown Monday night in Kalaheo. With both coaches Maynard Shea and Antonio Pope on O‘ahu with their 14 Under Westside Hornets team playing in a tournament there, Kalaheo coach Steven Matsumoto stepped in, one spectator relishing the opportunity to see coach Matsumoto match wits against coach Dennis Aquino of the Lihu‘e Raiders. Following an 18-7 first half run led by Raiders’ Sherrie Gebauer and Ulu Kelekomo tapping in six points apiece, the Hornets launched a second half comeback effort including an explosive 14-8 fourth quarter that fell short, 16-17, the Raiders getting six more digits from Gebauer who finished with a game-high 12 points in the win.
Rachel Taira added nine points, helping Gebauer with five second half points. Kelekoma ended with her six points followed by A.J. Silva and Cherisse Rapozo each adding three, Rapozo’s value coming in the battles under the net with Hornets’ Meredith Hudson. Darcie Allianic’s pair closed the books. “I can smile, now,” Lagoc said following the game. And, with good reason as she topped the Hornets scoring with eight points, five coming in the final quarter including a quick launch from beyond the three point line.
Mier followed with five, Virginia Aguilar was limited to three points despite strong effort in heavy traffic to snare rebounds, and pairs from Ashley Vea, Chasen Sherman, and Meredith Hudson getting help from Tori Kagawa’s digit to round out the math.
The Raider win will pit Lihu‘e against Da Malahini coached by Fran Constantino for the championship of the 19 Under girls league, Da Malahini having the distinction of handing the Raiders their only loss in the season. Coach Candace States’ Gogo Girls managed to outpoint Da Malahini 15-12 in the second half behind four points from Danielle Creamer and three points each from Kieren Pond and Michelle Toy, but a critical missed Gogo breakaway layup combined with a string of empty free throws saw Da Malahini hold off the Gogo Girls, 26-21 in a defensive slugfest. Headed by Janna Soto and Moani Durant, Da Malahini held a 14-6 halftime lead, Soto notching five buckets including a trey with Durant adding a pair of field goals while holding the Gogo Girls scoreless in the second period. Coach States called a needed time out that started the rebuilding as Kapa‘a began chipping away at the eight-point deficit, the Gogo Girls going into a controlled game to milk each possession for a score only to have Da Malahini respond defensively to keep the Gogo Girls at bay. Soto finished with eight points to lead Da Malahini with Tiana Samio, Durant, and Rikki-Lee Knapp-Magno each chipping in six points for the win. Creamer topped the Gogo Girls’ effort with six points followed by Ihilani Yama finishing with four points. Pond, Toy, and Rachael Ganir each added three, and a pair by Kela Caspillo rounded out the numbers. Tipoff for the championship game takes place at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center starting at 6 p.m. with the Gogo Girls and the Westside Hornets vying for third place followed by Da Malahini and the Raiders battling for the title.
