KAPA‘A — The Hana Dragons, making a trip over to Kaua‘i from Maui for a four-game series with each Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation member, split its two games Saturday at the Bernice Hundley Gym at Kapa‘a High School. The Dragons bested
KAPA‘A — The Hana Dragons, making a trip over to Kaua‘i from Maui for a four-game series with each Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation member, split its two games Saturday at the Bernice Hundley Gym at Kapa‘a High School.
The Dragons bested the Island Voyagers 46-36 in the afternoon matchup behind 14 points from Kemamo Kaupe.
Island was in the game throughout and was content to play a slower pace in the early going. The Voyagers’ 2-3 zone seemed to confuse the Dragons and limited their quality shot attempts. Neither team got much offense going and Island held a 6-5 lead after the first quarter.
Brandon Taylor scored the first five points for Island in the second quarter, including one three-pointer.
The Voyagers were controlling both backboards until the five-minute mark of the second quarter, when the Dragons began asserting themselves and pulling down every missed shot attempt on each end. They also began to utilize the full-court press after every made basket, which would be a stumbling block for Island for the rest of the game.
Hana held a 14-13 lead at the half, before Kaupe took control in the third, looking for his shot and knocking down jumpers. Island’s Canaan Higa was doing his best to match Kaupe’s efficiency, breaking the press on his own and scoring from different spots.
Higa would lead all scorers with 16 points.
After three quarters, Hana had increased its lead to 28-23 and began to pull away early in the fourth. Ahu Krause knocked down back-to-back jumpers, allowing the Dragons to set up their press which continued to stifle the Voyagers.
They extended their lead into the teens, before Island made a few late buckets to create the final 10-point margin.
Each team showed good sportsmanship late in the game. Hana’s Pule Krause and Island’s Higa each fouled out, then went to the opposing bench and shook hands with each team member before rejoining their own team for the game’s final minutes.
In Hana’s first game of the day, it was beaten by the Kapa‘a Warriors, 49-32.
Kapa‘a, in its home gym, was led by Duke Bauli with 17 points and Sean Shigematsu with eight. The balanced scoring attack allowed the Warriors to pull away and take the early-morning victory.
The 5th Annual Kapa‘a Varsity Basketball Tournament will tip off at 3 p.m. Monday, as teams from McKinley, King Kekaulike, Kamehameha DII and LeJardine will be in the bracket with the KIF squads.
Island will face King Kekaulike at 3 p.m., followed by Waimea vs. McKinley at 4:30 p.m., Kapa‘a vs. LeJardine at 6 p.m. and Kaua‘i vs. Kamehameha in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m.
The championship game for this tournament is scheduled to be played at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
