WAIMEA — In a game of early runs and lots of defense, the Waimea Lady Menehune improved to 2-1 in the season’s second round with a 38-28 victory over the Kaua‘i Red Raiders, Tuesday night at the Waimea High School
WAIMEA — In a game of early runs and lots of defense, the Waimea Lady Menehune improved to 2-1 in the season’s second round with a 38-28 victory over the Kaua‘i Red Raiders, Tuesday night at the Waimea High School Gym.
This now sets up a must-win for Waimea when they head to Kapa‘a on Friday night to take on the Lady Warriors (3-0). A victory would force a playoff against Kapa‘a to determine the season’s second-round champion.
After a very slow start saw Waimea fall behind 7-0 and unable to get itself going offensively, it finally turned things around more than six minutes into the game.
At the 1:53 mark of the first quarter, Jayme Jacinto knocked down a 3-pointer to get the Menehune on the board. It was just the beginning of what would become one of the most impressive runs of the season, as Waimea continued to score the next 20 consecutive points, punctuating the 23-0 run with an Erin Connelly driving layup.
The Raiders finally ended their scoreless streak with a Kawehi Louis-Diamond 3-pointer, followed by a fast-break layup from Kristle Henry to Jennifer Grady, and headed to the locker room trailing 25-12.
The teams combined to score just six points in the third quarter and Waimea went into the fourth leading 27-16.
The Raiders scored the first two buckets of the fourth quarter, capping an 8-2 run that brought them to within seven points at 27-20, leading to a Waimea timeout.
The Menehune didn’t let the lead shrink more than that for the rest of the night as Connelly scored six of her game-high 14 points in the final frame.
Kelsey Cadiente did her best to bring Kaua‘i back with a late rally, knocking down a three, then collecting a steal and hitting a jumper to make it a 36-28 game, but Connelly found herself wide open downcourt and a long outlet pass gave her a layup and created the final tally.
Jacinto followed Connelly in scoring with nine points for the Menehune, with Vakeesha Lagazo and Cheyanne Duarte each scoring four.
Searra Kaohi knocked down a 3-pointer for her only score of the game and Shayna Alop and Krysta Kali each scored two.
Cadiente had a team-high 11 points, nine of them coming in the fourth quarter. Kristle Henry did not get many good looks throughout the game and finished with seven points.
Louis-Diamond had four, while Janessa Grady, Jennifer Grady and Uila Langi each scored two points.
In the JV game earlier in the evening, Kaua‘i dominated the second half in a 52-33 victory.
Casey Anacleto was once again the game’s top scorer with 28 points — 20 coming in the second half.
Waimea held a 21-19 lead at halftime, but was outscored 33-12 in the second half.
Nicolei Banasihan topped the Menehune scoring with nine points.
As far as the varsity scenarios are concerned, In essence, the Lady Menehune will have to beat the Lady Warriors three straight times, starting Friday night, to claim the KIF season championship.
Kaua‘i’s varsity season is now complete, though the JV will be in action Friday at the Kaua‘i High School Gym to take on Island School in an exhibition game starting at 5:30 p.m.
The Kapa‘a-Waimea battle will get underway following the 5:30 p.m. JV contest at the Kapa‘a High School Gym.
