LIHU’E — Kapa’a junior Poe Gantt played the game of her life against Kaua’i last night, draining two big buckets down the stretch, which handed the Warriors a 43-39 win against Kaua’i last night. Gantt, who led the Warriors with
LIHU’E — Kapa’a junior Poe Gantt played the game of her life against Kaua’i last night, draining two big buckets down the stretch, which handed the Warriors a 43-39 win against Kaua’i last night.
Gantt, who led the Warriors with 14 points on the evening, found the hoop on consecutive attempts with less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter, which gave her squad a 2-0 first-round record.
The two-time defending KIF champion Red Raider squad dropped to 0-1 and the idle Menehune also sit at 0-1.
Kapa’a held a small edge from the start and at the halfway mark, the Warriors climbed ahead 25-21.
With three minutes to go in the game, Kapa’a was up 39-37, but Kaua’i’s Kassy Morishige drained two free throws to tie the contest up at 39-39.
Then it was all Gantt, who finished off the Red Raiders for the 43-39 win.
Kennilyn Nakamura put up 10 points for the Warriors.
Ho’onani Dennis, who drained five three-pointers, finished up with a game-high 16 points.
Last year’s KIF player of the year, Rachel Taira, tallied seven points in the loss.
In the JV contest, Kapa’a outlasted Kaua’i, 43-28, thanks to 15 big points from Sarah Tangalin.
Wailana Borrero paced Kaua’i with seven points.
KIF girls basketball heads to the Clem Gomes Gymnasium on Tuesday, with Kaua’i battling Waimea.
The JV game begins at 5:30 p.m., with varsity action starting 20 minutes after the completion of the JV contest.
