WAIMEA – Shooting the lights out is exactly what the Kapa’a High School Warriors’ varsity boys’ basketball team members did last night in their 65-59 upset win over the first-round champion Waimea Menehune squad. The Warriors blistered the field, making
WAIMEA – Shooting the lights out is exactly what the Kapa’a High School Warriors’ varsity boys’ basketball team members did last night in their 65-59 upset win over the first-round champion Waimea Menehune squad.
The Warriors blistered the field, making 63 percent of their shots, while converting an amazing 62 percent of their three-point attempts.
Meanwhile, the Menehune, who were playing most of the night without the services of their leading scorer, Brendan McDaniels, couldn’t muster up any type of offense on the evening.
The senior guard was still suffering from an injury sustained during Friday’s game against the Red Raiders. Chad Barba and Chris Newcomb did a good job trying to fill the offensive output of McDaniels, but Kapa’a was just too tough. Barba (20) and Newcomb (13) combined for 33 points.
Kapa’a senior Nate Beralas had the hot hand from the start, and drilled four three-pointers on his way to a game-high 21 points.
Mike Lindsey chipped in with 16 points, and Greg Ragsac added nine in the win.
Kapa’a controlled the contest from the start, as Beralas and Lindsey dominated on both ends of the floor. At the half, the Warriors’ lead ballooned to 36-25, but Waimea made a run towards the end of the third quarter, as Alden Lahip sailed in a three-pointer, putting the Menehune down by single digits at 46-37.
Kapa’a cruised the rest of the way, and converted crucial free-throws for the first win of the second round.
The Warriors moved to 1-0 in the second round (2-3 over-all), and Waimea dropped to 0-1 in the second stanza (4-1 overall).
In the junior-varsity contest, Waimea rebounded after losing two straight games to defeat Kapa’a, 43-39. Hayward Halog led all scorers with 13 points for the Menehune, and teammate Daniel Lizama added eight.
John Beralas and Kekoa Prem dropped in 11 points each for the Warriors. The Menehune are now 3-2, and the Warriors are 2-3.
KIF basketball continues on Friday, with Kapa’a battling Kaua’i High at Bernice Hundley Gymnasium on the Kapa’a High campus.
