WAIMEA — The Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders entered Tuesday’s game against the Waimea Menehune with a perfect 4-0 on the season, while the Menehune entered 0-4 looking for its first win. The Menehune would finish the game disappointed, as
WAIMEA — The Kaua‘i High School Red Raiders entered Tuesday’s game against the Waimea Menehune with a perfect 4-0 on the season, while the Menehune entered 0-4 looking for its first win.
The Menehune would finish the game disappointed, as the Red Raiders got ahead early and didn’t look back and walked away with a convincing 46-27 win.
The first half was primarily about defense, with both teams not shooting the ball well and struggling to get to the rim.
The two teams were off to a slow start: They didn’t hit shots in the first quarter, with Kaua‘i’s Kristle Henry netting 5 points and putting her team up 12-4 at the end of one.
The second quarter was more of the same for the Red Raiders, holding Waimea to just three points while charging ahead to a 21-7 lead.
The second half began on a different note — Waimea and Kaua‘i were off to a hot start, and the Red Raiders were able to put up 23 points, while the Menehune put up 12. Once again it was the guard combination of Henry and Casey Anacleto who hurt the opposing team, scoring 17 of those 23 points in the third. Waimea got scoring from a host of players, including Nicole Palacio, who hit a three point shot in the third and finished with a team high 8 points.
Paige Connelly once again put forth a solid effort for the Menehune adding 6 points and plenty of activity in the paint. Tiana Apilado played a nice game at the guard spot chipping in with 5 points.
Anacleto and Henry both lead all scorers with 14 points each, with Anacleto hitting two shots from three point land. Not to be overlooked was the inside play from Rianna Ralston and Kawehi Louis-Diamond, who each had 6 points.
A scary moment came in the fourth quarter with 3:14 left when Henry went up for a rebound and fell to the floor face down and didn’t move much until the trainers came out onto the floor.
They kept her neck still and put her onto a stretcher until members of the fire department and emergency medical technicians arrived. She received a loud ovation and optimistically gave a thumbs up to the crowed as she was carried out.
“It seemed to be precautionary,” said Kaua‘i High School Athletic Director Ross Shimabukuro on Tuesday. On Wednesday Shimabukuro confirmed that Henry is OK, but has a soar neck.
Despite the dangerous incident, Kaua‘i was able to gather itself and finish the rest of the game to remain undefeated at 5-0. The Red Raiders will play Kapa‘a on Friday.
Waimea moves to 0-5 on the year and will wait to play Kapa‘a on Jan. 15.
In junior varsity action, the Menehune took care of business with an easy 44-24 win over Kaua‘i.
• Rick Killeen, sports writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 237) or sports@thegardenisland.com.
