The buzz from Tuesday’s edge of your seat battle between Kaua‘i and Waimea is still in the air, but that result set up an even bigger game Friday night at the Clem Gomes Gymnasium in Waimea. The Menehune and Warriors,
The buzz from Tuesday’s edge of your seat battle between Kaua‘i and Waimea is still in the air, but that result set up an even bigger game Friday night at the Clem Gomes Gymnasium in Waimea.
The Menehune and Warriors, who are both 2-1 in first round play, put everything on the line for first round bragging rights.
On Tuesday at the Raider-dome, the low-scoring juggernaut came down to free-throws with no time left on the clock.
Waimea sophomore guard Moani Durant received a pass from a teammate and dribbled towards the right side of the half-court line. With the clock running down to zero, a Kaua‘i player closed in on Durant and the collision occurred between the two individuals.
Lenny Rapozo Jr., an official at the contest, blew his whistle and signaled that Durant was fouled right before the time ran out. The Menehune multi-sport athlete was then directed to the foul line all by herself for three free-throw attempts. With a lot on the line inside the pressure-filled Raiderdome, Durant looked nervous in her first two attempts, but she calmly nailed the third shot for the 37-36 win.
For Waimea it was total bliss, but for the defending champion Red Raider squad, it was all tears. In their first match-up with the Warriors, the Menehune trailed from the start. Kapa‘a’s lone senior Samdi Makepa led the way in the first stanza. At the half, the Warriors led 29-19 and they continued to pour it on in the early parts of the second half. Kapa‘a’s Joliann Arzadon led the way, totaling 10 points on the night. Kennilyn Nakamura and Brittney Carvalho combined for 17 points.
Meanwhile, Durant, Cheri Kua, Josey Jacinto, and Joanna Jacinto paced the Menehune charge. Kieren Pond and April Johnson are the keys to the Warrior attack. Both are big guards who can do it all. If Pond and Johnson have big games, the Warriors will come out on top, but don’t count out Waimea, who comes into the game with a ton of momentum. The JV game starts at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity girls hit the court 20 minutes after the conclusion of the JV contest.
