LIHU‘E — With Hawai‘i funny man Frank Delima in attendance, it was still no laughing matter, as Kaua‘i took the KIF’s first round title with a 71-47 win last night at the Raiderdome. Senior center Futi Tavana scored 20 and
LIHU‘E — With Hawai‘i funny man Frank Delima in attendance, it was still no laughing matter, as Kaua‘i took the KIF’s first round title with a 71-47 win last night at the Raiderdome.
Senior center Futi Tavana scored 20 and senior point guard Jeremy Manuel netted 18 to lead the Red Raiders. Both were as sharp as ever against the Menehune, who couldn’t keep up with Kaua‘i’s full-court pressure.
Calsen Agrade had the hot hand for Waimea with 16 points, which included three trifectas. Brendan McDaniels dialed in two three-pointers en route to his 10 point total.
Kaua‘i jumped out to a 15-6 advantage in the first quarter and the lead ballooned to 21-8, thanks to Josh Bradbury’s hoop plus the foul shot with 1:38 to go in the initial period.
But Waimea stormed back at the mid point of the second, as McDaniels drilled a three and Max Hadwin drained a 10-footer to pull the Menehune within eight at 28-20 with just over three minutes to go in the first half.
Manuel’s two buckets made the score 38-25 just before the half, as Kaua‘i distanced itself again. At the half, the Red Raiders led 38-28.
Tavana grabbed the spotlight in the third period with basket after basket for the 55-39 lead at the end of three.
Manuel brought out the old school moves in the fourth quarter with nifty passes and Michael Jordan-like moves. At the 3:20 mark, Tavana finally slammed home his first dunk of the season for his 20th point of the evening.
Both teams unloaded their benches towards the end of the fourth, with the game all but over in favor of the Red Raiders, 71-47.
Kaua‘i also came through with the win in the junior varsity matchup with Waimea, 55-44. The win tied up the JV battle, as Kaua‘i avenged an earlier loss to the Menehune.
Tyrus Ceria-Lux led the way for Kaua‘i with 15 points. Jeremy Robinson had nine and Bradley Semana contributed with seven points for the Red Raiders.
Bradley Frasco was Waimea’s top scorer with 13 points. Roldan Villanueva put up 11 and Daniel Lizama had six for the Menehune.
KIF basketball dribbles its way to the Clem Gomes Gymnasium on Friday, as Kapa‘a faces Waimea in the first round finale. The JV starts at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity contest follows 20 minutes after the completion of the JV joust.
