Two teams will be hungry for their first win of the KIF girls’ basketball season, as the Red Raiders look to avenge an opening game loss to the Warriors and the Menehune will try to start off their 2005 campaign
Two teams will be hungry for their first win of the KIF girls’ basketball season, as the Red Raiders look to avenge an opening game loss to the Warriors and the Menehune will try to start off their 2005 campaign with a victory.
The two squads battle tonight, starting at 5:30 p.m. with JV action. The varsity game commences 20 minutes after the completion of the JV contest.
The Red Raider and Menehune JV teams are also searching for that elusive first win of the season. Kaua‘i fell to Kapa‘a, 38-34, behind 11 points from Leilani Laranio and eight from Roselynn Ebinger. On the other hand, the Menehune want to join the Warriors in the undefeated ranks with a win over the Red Raiders.
Varsity head coach Elton Montemayor, who is also the Menehune boys’ basketball coach, is more than ready to kick off the season at the friendly confines of the Clem Gomes Gymnasium.
“We have four seniors, so we’re a little inexperienced, but we do have a good mix of height and speed,” Montemayor said.
Waimea’s four seniors are Mallorie Hepa, Jessica Jacinto, Chantel Briones, and Melissa Moreno.
All four players will be counted on to lead the way for the Menehune. Hepa, who is still recovering from a knee injury, will see limited action this season.
“At the start, we thought she wouldn’t come out to play, but she came to us and said that she wanted to play,” Montemayor said.
Hepa was a KIF all-star last season and the best inside player, with her speed and quickness, two of her biggest strengths, but since her injury, she hasn’t been the same.
“She still favors it (the knee) and if she’s going to do well this year, it’s going to depend on if she can build up confidence, despite the injury,” Montemayor said.
Briones and Jacinto are veterans in the Menehune system and their leadership will be vital to the team’s success. Moreno, who sat out last season, is an all-star softball player, and is a smart and athletic player, who will put up good minutes for the Menehune.
Briones will miss today’s game with a minor cold.
According to Montemayor, freshmen Cheri Kua, Brytney Yadao-Lanning, and Josie Jacinto will see a lot of playing time this season.
“Cheri and Brytney are solid down in the low post area, plus they’re really athletic, and Josie is a really smart player,” Montemayor said.
Sophomore Chasen Sherman, a whirlwind on the court, will also see a ton of action at the point guard spot. Sherman is a great ball handler and can also put the ball in the hoop when she wants to. Moani Durant and Anna Jacinto are role players, who could make the difference for the Menehune this season. Glen and Kellie Montemayor, and Ashley Vea will be the Menehune assistants this year.
On the other side of the coin, Kaua‘i head coach Dennis Aquino faces a tough challenge against the Menehune.
“All three schools will contend for the KIF title this season, and our challenge will be to get our new players up to speed with our four returnees (Ulu Kelekoma, Sherri Gebauer, A.J. Silva, and Rachel Taira),” Aquino wrote in an email.
Kapa‘a, the youngest of the three squads, features just one senior in Samdi Makepa. But youth didn’t stop them from a win against the Red Raiders in the KIF girls’ basketball opener. Junior guard Kennilyn Nakamura was tough as nails with a team-high 19 points. April Johnson, a tough cookie as well, netted nine in the win.
Despite the loss, Kaua‘i’s Kelekoma, last season’s KIF player of the year, topped all scorers with 21 points. Taira, another returnee, followed up with 15 points in the loss.
Up by as many as 12 points, Kapa‘a wasn’t able to put the finishing touches against the defending champion Red Raiders. Kaua‘i’s full-court press gave the Warriors problems through-out the second half, which contributed to the comeback, but in the end, the Warriors prevailed.
Kelekoma and Taira caught fire early in the fourth and cut the lead to single digits. Kapa‘a sophomore Kieren Pond played big in key situations and the inside play of Poe Gantt and Brittney Carvalho kept Kaua‘i off the boards throughout the night.
