LIHU‘E — When you’re in the zone, no one can stop you, just ask Michael Jordan. Kaua‘i junior Rachel Taira tore up the twine last night at the Raiderdome with 26 points, which included four three-point bombs, that touched nothing
LIHU‘E — When you’re in the zone, no one can stop you, just ask Michael Jordan.
Kaua‘i junior Rachel Taira tore up the twine last night at the Raiderdome with 26 points, which included four three-point bombs, that touched nothing but net and catapulted her team to the 49-29 win over the Menehune.
The victory put the Red Raiders in great position at 2-0 in the second round. The first round champion Waimea squad fell victim to a Kaua‘i team which ran on all cylinders.
But at the start, the Menehune controlled the tempo and held the halftime lead at 21-19. Sophomore guard Moani Durant had the hot hand early on for the Menehune. Freshman point guard Josey Jacinto also helped out the Waimea cause in the first half.
Meanwhile for the Red Raiders, Taira and senior Ulu Kelekoma kept the score close.
In the second half, Kaua‘i took full control, as Sherri Gebauer scored on a twisting drive and converted the free-throw for the unconventional three-point play and the 25-21 lead.
Then it was “Taira Time!” The Red Raider junior nailed three trifectas throughout the third period, which ballooned the margin to 34-26 with just under two minutes to go.
Kaua‘i cruised the rest of the way and played keep away from the Menehune, which couldn’t mount any sort of comeback.
Besides Taira’s 26, the Red Raiders were paced by Gebauer with 10 points. Durant had 12 to lead the Menehune and Josey Jacinto chipped in with 8 points.
On the JV side, the Menehune utilized 15 big points from Sasha Kaohi in a 40-27 win over the Red Raiders.
Waimea led from the start and pulled out to a 29-20 lead at the end of three quarters.
Tatum Gonsalves put up 10 points in the win. Sheana Mata played strong on the defensive side of the ball for the Menehune.
Carie Inouye led the way for the Red Raiders with 11 points.
KIF girls’ basketball continues on Tuesday, April 26, with the Warriors visiting the Menehune, starting at 5:30 p.m.
