WAIMEA — Asleep for three games and now awakened after a thrilling 40-38 barn burner win over the Menehune are the Kapa‘a Warriors, who finally found a way to win after losing three straight games. “The kids and my coaching
WAIMEA — Asleep for three games and now awakened after a thrilling 40-38 barn burner win over the Menehune are the Kapa‘a Warriors, who finally found a way to win after losing three straight games.
“The kids and my coaching staff stepped up big time tonight,” Warrior head coach Gary Kodani said after the game.
The Kapa‘a coach also noted that he got a big boost from one of his role players.
“Diane Toy is all heart and she played her heart out tonight; she gives 100all the time and tonight it really showed,” Kodani said.
Although she didn’t finish with the highest amount of points, Toy made the all important three-pointer with just under three minutes to go, which tied the contest up at 32 a piece.
Kapa‘a forward Danielle Creamer also left her mark on the Menehune home floor with big buckets down the stretch. The 5’11” junior finished up with eight points on the night.
But after being down by as many as 12 points in the second half, the Warriors never gave up.
“This was a must win game for us, kind of like a stepping stone, but we were possibly looking for some divine intervention,” Kodani mentioned. The Warriors led 15-12 at the half, behind the play of Kennilyn Nakamura, Kieren Pond, April Johnson, and Brittney Carvalho.
Waimea senior Mallorie Hepa found the range in the third period, with two trifectas and freshman point guard caught the three-point bug and nailed one from beyond the arc as the buzzer sounded at the end of three, which put the Menehune up 29-17. The fourth period was more of a slugfest than anything, with both teams trading blows. After trading free throws, the score was knotted up at 37 a piece with under 30 seconds to go.
A breakdown on the Menehune defense allowed Creamer to sneak behind the Waimea defenders for the easy lay-in, which gave the Warriors the 39-37 advantage with 10 seconds on the clock. Moani Durant, the Menehune top scorer, was invisible throughout the contest, but she connected one of two shots from the charity stripe, but Michelle Toy followed up with one of two from the line, which gave the Warriors the 40-38 lead with just seconds remaining. Waimea’s Joanna Jacinto threw up a prayer, but it wasn’t answered, as the ball slammed the backboard and Kapa‘a stormed the court in jubilation with the 40-38 victory.
In an upset win, the Menehune JV squad nipped the Warriors, 32-29. After leading the contest 19-12 early in the third period, the Menehune marched back and tied the contest up at 26 a piece with four minutes on the clock, as Tatum Gonsalves connected on a jumper.
Kapa‘a’s Leilani Laranio answered with a bucket, which kept her team close, but Gonsalves and the Menehune were too tough. The 5’6″ freshman was unstoppable in the end en route to the win.
Teammate Sasha Kaohi made important free-throws with just a few ticks on the scoreboard, which gave Waimea the 32-29 lead and win. Kapa‘a’s last chance shot by Caroline Troutman fell short.
