WAIMEA — After leading for most of the game, Kaua‘i couldn’t hold on, as Waimea stormed back for the 46-39 victory last night at the Clem Gomes Gymnasium. With the win, the Menehune jump into a first-place tie with the
WAIMEA — After leading for most of the game, Kaua‘i couldn’t hold on, as Waimea stormed back for the 46-39 victory last night at the Clem Gomes Gymnasium.
With the win, the Menehune jump into a first-place tie with the Warriors at 1-0. Meanwhile, the defending champion Red Raiders moved back another step at 0-2 in first round play.
Waimea’s first lead of the contest didn’t come until the 2:50 mark in the third, as freshman sensation Cheri Kua drove for two, which gave her squad the 26-25 advantage.
But Kaua‘i senior Sheri Gebauer answered on the next possession with a jumper for the 27-26 lead. Waimea senior Mallorie Hepa, who’s not up to 1000Fince her knee injury, played tough all night, especially when it counted.
At the end of the third, Hepa’s driving bucket gave the Menehune the 32-31 lead.
Waimea maintained the advantage throughout the fourth, but Kaua‘i fought back towards the middle of the final period. However, the Menehune went up by five at 40-35 with two minutes to go and never looked back, en route to the victory.
Hepa led the way for Waimea with 14 points. Joanna Jacinto followed up with seven points, and Moani Durant and Melissa Moreno contributed with six markers each.
Rachel Taira paced the Red Raider charge with 16 points. Gebauer added six points in the loss.
In JV action, the Menehune also prevailed, 44-41. Waimea cruised ahead in the first quarter 17-6, but the Red Raiders put together a 14-2 run in the second quarter for the 20-19 lead at the half. Shana Tafiti, Jimena Loseto, Kori Masuda, Carie Inouye, and Nicole Fujimoto all had a hand in the come-back.
The Menehune led the rest of the way, as Kaua‘i threatened, but could not break through the Waimea shield. Resha Banasihan was the difference maker at the free throw line with big shots towards the end of the contest.
Banasihan led the Menehune in the scoring department with 12 points.
Sasha Kaohi added 10 points in the win.
Inouye led all scorers with 14 for the Red Raiders and Tafiti contributed with seven markers.
KIF basketball continues on Tuesday with the Warriors battling the Menehune at the Bernice Hundley Gymnasium, for first-place in the KIF.
The JV game starts it off at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity contest follows 20 minutes after the completion of the JV game.
